There is an app called GeneralInfo. It allows you to switch from ringer to silent without the switch. It only cost 99 cents and it works. My switch is still broken but now that I have the app it doesn't matter because I can change it on my phone.

I don't think it's the switch. I had this happen to and I posted the questions here. When I took it apart, I found they the drop had caused a connector to pop loose. I think it was the one marked #5. It's a super tiny connector. I plugged it back in and everything worked. Might be worth looking at. The instructions are on here, just follow the instructions for taking it apart and look for the #5 connector to be loose.

Go to the "Repair" section of this site and find the repair for the mute switch and follow those to take it apart. Look for that small plug and make sure it's plugged in.

You'll off course need a replacement, the part you need to replace is the headphone jack, it includes the ring/silent switch.

I've actually had this problem before. I dropped my iPhone 3GS the first week I got it (actually it fell out of my jacket pocket). The switch felt a little sticky, but it still moved both ways. Of course I was mad I had already broken an important feature as the ringer volume doesn't go all the way down otherwise.

Oddly enough about 3 months later, I was showing someone that my silent feature was broken and to my surprise, it worked! I've always wondered what stopped it from working and eventually fixed itself. Judging by "forum"'s answer it sounds like my connector was loose, too. It must have been just loose enough to not work, but still be able to slide back into place eventually.

I've just done the same thing with mine! (iPhone 3GS)

However, when I squeezed the front and back of the phone together (using thumb & forefinger) it gave it enough pressure to make the connection and the switch started to work again...and is still working!

I think the connection had just worked loose inside.

- It's a quick fix and worth a try!

Hello people gust had the same thing phone hit the floor and both volume and silent button didn't work and I tried squeezing the phone together by the buttons but only volume button worked as long as I kept squeezing it then I worked out if I lay the phone I'n my hand flat and slap the back and front of the phone at the same time as if I was clapping my hands together fairly hard for a few seconds firmly both buttons now work and all seems good but squeezing it together or any other thing I tried wouldnt make the mute button work but slapping it together hard has sorted them both so hope this helps as I read all your coments and used them to work it out so thanks to u all

The audio flex cable is probably still good. You need to disassemble the vibrate assembly to place the switch into the housing (it got knocked loose and is not aligned right). Alternatively, the switch sometimes becomes hyper-sensitive and vibrates too much. Just needs to be re-aligned (basically what happens when a new part is put in).

I refurbish iphones on ebay and the headphone jack, well, sideswitch, is the most common thing to have issues. I'm forever replacing them, but these tricks are news to me! Might save me a bit.

The general info app fixed mine - even re-enabled the switch if you can believe that.

And this is after I went to the apple store and they indicated I would need to replace the phone!!!

Dave

the switch remains in the muted position all the time

The GeneralInfo app was replaced by a new app named SilentAlert.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/silentale...

Replacing the hardware would be great, but by God there's a lot of work to get to that device. I opted for the lazy way out and used software to work around it. Not a perfect solution, but it has been working for me:

http://bluescreensolutions.blogspot.com/...

I have just wasted 2.99 on the silent alert app... It does not fix the problem. Yes I can change it not using the button but the switch still works and it still toggles from silent to loud every few seconds. Getting very annoying in my pocket!

Thanks.....

The Silent alert app worked great for me!!! Now I can actually turn my phone to silent again! I was getting super frustrating having a phone that I could never make silent, particularly during meetings! The app is now $4.99 and well worth the $!!

My silent switch was broken and SilentAlert helped me out. worth $4.99!!

Hi All,

I had exactly the same problem, I cleaned it out with a pressure cleaner.

The solution to months of trying was..

ensure the botton on the side is switched unmute then..

go to settings > general > accessibility > assitive touch.

a little dot will appear on your screen > tap it > tap device > and tap unmute

it worked for me, and finally i can hear people ringing.. however i always have to turn the acessibility button on to change from silent to loud.