iPhone side-switch/mute
 

I have an iPhone 8, supplied by my company as a callout phone. It is running the latrst iOS 13.

I have an.incredibly irritating issue with it (and I'm not an Apple fan to start with, so this makes my blood boil).

The side-switch, used to silence/un-silence the ringtones, keeps switching itself to "Silent" in my pocket. This is because the edge of the switch protrudes. I then miss callout calls from work, and then the messages asking me why I'm not answering.

Up to iOS 9 there was an option to change what the switch did, but not since. I am currently having to jam a tiny piece of cut off toothpick into the switch gap and then put a little bit of duct tape over it. This doesn't usually last very long.

If I owned the phone I would superglue the switch - this is what quite a few of the internet people with the same issue have done. I can't use a phone case because then it won't fit in my crowded pocket with all my other gubbins.

Does anyone on here have the same issue and been able to sort it out more permanently than with duct tape?

Even less of an Apple fan now.

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I suspect you will need one of those rubber covers. Gear4 makes the side buttons more difficult to press accidentally, and is not too bulky.

Thanks AO. I've tried the rubber covers, but the switch still sometimes switches without me knowing, and the rubber cover sticks to my credit card wallet and pulls everything out of my pocket!
I might try using a little blob of silicone sealant. A really tiny strip of heavy duty double sided tape worked for a while, but eventually the tape came out.

Why Apple can't give an option to disable the external silence switch in the iOS is beyond me. It seems that plenty of people have the same problem. Missing calls and messages is a pretty major issue for a mobile phone, I'd say.

Get a cover with a thick rubber or plastic edge and glue something over the opening of the cover, or in the opening to keep the switch in place.

I'm an Apple convert but this does bug me too. I now use a skin case as I tend to drop them and whilst this doesn't prevent it, it does reduce it. In the past I have used silicone sealant to lock it and that works pretty well. It's easy enough to pick it out when you're finished with the phone. Black looks better than white !

I have a very thin case from Bodyguardz.

You can always allocate any of your contacts as "emergency by pass" -so it doesn't matter what position the switch is in, those numbers will always come through with the ringtone you attach to that contact...select required contact-then ringtone, then select emergency bypass-and while your there select an identifying ringtone so you know who's calling before you even pick it up...
I have the Bennyhill theme tune for our ops..:}

Aaah. I like that suggestion Nitro! As I only use it for callouts I could just allocate my work numbet and a couple of colleagues.
I'll try it!
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It might not help, depending on your pockets, but you can also set it to vibrate even when on silent - which you may or may not feel.

Trouble is, if you don't feel it vibrate, you won't need to take it out, but if you do feel it vibrating you may not want to...

There can't be many people using a smartphone these days without a cover, due to the incredible thinness of the phones (so that the companies can boast how thin it is and therefore great). The problem being that in a pocket, especially back pocket the phone can bend over a period of time, a sort of warping that the manufacturers knew about, yet still carried on producing.

It would be lovely if Apple/Samsung etc would make a phone that bit thicker, with a built-in 'cover' , that would protect the delicate electronics from damage by falling, water, dust etc. The iPhone side switch has given me problems when taking off/putting on the cover and the switch is flipped and then wonder why no-one has called.

Perhaps not an ideal situation, but I bet your local Asian cornershop phone repair shop will be able to open up your iPhone and disconnect the 'slider' so it's non-operative.

And another note-don't forget to set the ringer volume to what you want too, emergency by pass will ring at the volume you set it to-but obviously only those numbers..

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've set up a few emergency contacts on my callout phone (main work number and a couple of colleagues), but I haven't tested it yet as I'm on holiday.

I can't have anythng permanently done to the switch as the phone doesn't belong to me - it is provided by my employer (otherwise I would have superglued it already!)

A case might work, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, it makes the phone bulky and it tends to pull my credit card wallet out when I pull the phone out of my pocket (and sometimes my keys).

If only there was a simple "Disable side switch mute" option on the settings.... But Apple knows best.

Blues&twos
Also company iphone with me. I could order an apple leather case along with the phone, it's not sticky at all. It protects the switch quite well and the case is tolerable size. I know of many other cases which are inexpensive and non-sticky. It's the easiest solution of all.

I think I might have to go with your suggestion for the sake of my sanity and the continued existence - in one piece - of the phone.

Ok. Don't be shocked from the price of that Original Apple Case. That's what my experience is based on. It is perfect fit of course. There should be plenty of other cases (and with no rubber) if you care for the price.

The leather case works quite well, have used it now as well. Funny enough, never had that particular issue though, even before i used the case, no idea why. Would be really awkward if my phone suddenly starts ringing or vibrating or both, i really hate that. That is what a smart watch is for, never miss a call, but nobody else notices if you get called or messaged.

Denti, yes I have recently started using a smart watch. I have it connected to my own personal phone rather than the company one and is brilliant.
​​​​​​As you say, I can have the phone muted and not miss calls/messages.

I have finally gone for the "gunge up the switch" option on the callout phone rather than using a case. I'm sure I can pick out the silicone sealant if necessary, and I'm pretty sure my company would rather me not miss calls.