Broken iPhone Vibrator
Though the iPhone garners a lot of attention for its multimedia features – from browsing the Web to streaming music to playing games and running apps – a fairly traditional cellphone, vibration feature and all, lies underneath the technological sheen. Across all iterations of Apple's smartphone, users have experienced some issues with the device's vibration. You may be able to remedy a broken, failing or weak vibration mechanism yourself before seeking professional help.
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Settings
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Before blaming the vibration mechanism and taking additional troubleshooting measures, make sure your iPhone is set to vibrate when you receive a call. Enter the iPhone's “Home” screen. Tap “Settings” and then “Sounds.” To make the phone vibrate when in silent mode, turn “Vibrate” under “Silent” to the “On” position. To make the phone vibrate when in ring mode, follow the same procedure under “Ring.”
Weak Vibrations
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A broken or failing vibration mechanism may cause your iPhone's vibration feature to weaken rather than stop altogether. First, turn your iPhone off and then on again. Hold the phone's Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds and then slide the slider when the red “slide to power off” message appears. Hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears to restart the phone. If this doesn't improve the strength of the vibration, try a manual solution. Turn your iPhone over in the palm of your hand and gently tap the right-hand side of the phone, where the vibration motor is located. A few gentle taps may free a stuck or jammed motor.
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Repair Options
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For a completely broken vibration mechanism, you'll have to turn to Apple's support services. Most of the company's products come with a one-year limited warranty – enter your iPhone's serial number, found on the phone's “About” screen, at Apple's Online Service Assistant to find out about your current coverage. If repairs are in order, take the phone to an Apple Retail Store to arrange repairs or contact your service provider. You can also arrange repairs by contacting Apple Technical Support directly at 1-800-MY-IPHONE.
Vibration Apps
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Some apps address weak vibrations from the iPhone. SpringVibe, for instance, offers 43 different vibration methods and causes the iPhone to output enhanced vibration. This app allows users to customize both alert vibrations and tactile interface vibrations, in addition to customizing alert and interface sounds. Similarly, the application known as asVibra causes the iPhone to vibrate longer on receipt of SMS text messages.
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References
- Apple Support: iPhone: Ringtones
- CNET: Weak iPhone Vibrations? Just Restart
- Apple Support: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch: Turning Off and On (Restarting) and Resetting
- Apple Toolbox: Problem with iPhone 4 Not Vibrating; Fix
- The Big Boss: SpringVibe
- iPhoneFreakz: asVibra 0.1 and asVibra 0.2 - Extend the SMS Alert Vibration
Resources
- Photo Credit Michael Nagle/Getty Images News/Getty Images
