No sound thru speaker, sometimes

[RickAgresta]

Droid X, Gingerbread 2.3.4, not rooted

The problem clears after a power down / power up cycle; that makes me think it's a software issue, not something like the TX headphone jack problem. And when the speaker isn't working, the headphones are fine.

I've checked the various volume settings, and they all look fine.

Anyone have any ideas?

On this cycle, I'm trying to launch apps and back out of them, as opposed to leaving while the app has focus by pressing the home button & launch something else. So far, either it's working, or I haven't stumbled across the situation that kills the speaker.

[chimeraX]

I am not sure whether it is a software problem or not. Do you use any sound booster apps like Speaker boost? These apps boost the volume of speaker and sometimes destroy the speaker. If you think it is a software issue, back up your data and do a factory reset. Download an app called watch dog. It is a task manager app. Use it to check whether some apps are trying to take over the memory and killing the sound. If it doesn’t work maybe the connection to the speaker is not proper. You have mentioned when the speaker is not working, the headphones are fine. Try gently poking around in the headset port with a toothpick or something (Not Metal) and see if the sound pops up. If you have headset sound, you have sound. It's a matter of getting it to the speaker.

[RickAgresta]

I am not sure whether it is a software problem or not. Do you use any sound booster apps like Speaker boost? These apps boost the volume of speaker and sometimes destroy the speaker. If you think it is a software issue, back up your data and do a factory reset. Download an app called watch dog. It is a task manager app. Use it to check whether some apps are trying to take over the memory and killing the sound. If it doesn’t work maybe the connection to the speaker is not proper. You have mentioned when the speaker is not working, the headphones are fine. Try gently poking around in the headset port with a toothpick or something (Not Metal) and see if the sound pops up. If you have headset sound, you have sound. It's a matter of getting it to the speaker.

no sound booster apps, and besides, if the speaker were destroyed, I don't see how a power down/up cycle would bring back speaker sound.

I have found that, while I can select a sound from the ringtone list as the thing I hear for an alarm (and hear it at that time), when the alarm I set goes off a minute later, there is no sound (and all other sound settings are set to allow sound, i.e., phone is not in silent mode).

I'll look into the backup and hard reset, I'm concerned about what I might lose, though -- mainly data, but also purchased apps / free-app-of-the-day apps.

thanks for the suggestions, though

[raspabalsa]

I don't know what could cause the problem with your speaker, but a hard reset is one of the first things I'd try, especially since a reboot clears the problem (meaning it's very unlikely to be hardware-related).

Rick, if you're considering a hard reset, it would be a good idea to root your device, then do a full backup with Titanium Backup. This would let you test, then partially or fully recover your apps and data.

[jigwashere]

Before doing a hard reset, I'd try clearing cache and then reset. Since you said that closing down (backing out of) apps seems to cause it rather than switching apps by going through the home screen, maybe try clearing data from what appear to be the offending apps.

Edit: I had that last part backwards, but my advice is the same-clear data from a few suspect apps.

[RickAgresta]

I don't know what could cause the problem with your speaker, but a hard reset is one of the first things I'd try, especially since a reboot clears the problem (meaning it's very unlikely to be hardware-related).

Rick, if you're considering a hard reset, it would be a good idea to root your device, then do a full backup with Titanium Backup. This would let you test, then partially or fully recover your apps and data.

problem is, the last OTA update my carrier pushed out made re-gaining root difficult, to be kind. need to boot into Linux, hop on one foot, spit and then with your eyes closed, catch a greased pig.....I have learned not to go ahead and accept updates without researching them first.....

[RickAgresta]

Before doing a hard reset, I'd try clearing cache and then reset. Since you said that closing down (backing out of) apps seems to cause it rather than switching apps by going through the home screen, maybe try clearing data from what appear to be the offending apps.

Edit: I had that last part backwards, but my advice is the same-clear data from a few suspect apps.

I have an app called Quicker that gets me to the clear cache spot, so I do that fairly often; I'll try it along with a reset.

[RickAgresta]

Before doing a hard reset, I'd try clearing cache and then reset. Since you said that closing down (backing out of) apps seems to cause it rather than switching apps by going through the home screen, maybe try clearing data from what appear to be the offending apps.

Edit: I had that last part backwards, but my advice is the same-clear data from a few suspect apps.

I have an app called Quicker that gets me to the clear cache spot, so I do that fairly often; I'll try it along with a reset.

tried the cache clear/reset, didn't help :-(

[jigwashere]

tried the cache clear/reset, didn't help :-(

I would try a series of expletives, shake my fist at it à la Kommandant Klink, and then do a factory reset. A very large glass of wine, while optional, is strongly advised (I always have a Bota Box on hand).

Good luck!

[RickAgresta]

Palm was so much easier. . . sigh