iPhone Plays Music by Itself? Try These Fixes

Imagine your iPhone unexpectedly starts playing music or audio without any input from you. This puzzling issue can be both perplexing and disruptive. However, before you start worrying, it's essential to understand that there are reasons behind this behavior and effective solutions to resolve it.

In this article, we will explore why your iPhone might be playing music by itself and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to fix this issue.

Part 1. Why is my iPhone playing music by itself?

Several factors can contribute to your iPhone playing music by itself:
⛔ Malfunctioning Headphone Controls: If you're using wired headphones with built-in controls, a malfunction might cause unintended activation of music playback.
⛔ Siri Activation: Accidental activation of Siri can lead to music playback.
⛔ Background Apps: Certain apps might trigger background audio playback without your knowledge.
⛔ Accessibility Settings: Some accessibility features might unintentionally activate music playback.
⛔ Bluetooth Connectivity: If your iPhone connects to a Bluetooth device, it might automatically start playing music.
⛔ Software Glitches: Temporary software glitches can cause unexpected behavior, including self-playing music.

Part 2. 6 fixes to iPhone plays music by itself

Here are several methods to troubleshoot and fix the issue of your iPhone randomly plays music no apps open. Try these solutions below one after another until your issue gets fixed.

1# Check earphone/AirPods

If this issue arises exclusively when you connect your earphones, it's possible that your earphone's controller might be causing the iPhone to unexpectedly initiate music playback. Inspect the controller of your earphones for any signs of damage that could trigger this behavior. If you identify any damage, consider repairing the earphones or replacing them with a new pair.

2# Stop the apps in the background

If the issue continues despite previous attempts, consider halting the background app responsible for the self-playing music on your iPhone. Occasionally, newly installed third-party apps can disrupt system processes, resulting in these unwanted occurrences. Below are the steps to cease background apps:

Step 1. Double-press the Home button (for iPhones with a Home button) or swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly (for iPhones with Face ID) to reveal the app switcher.

Step 2. Swipe through the list of open apps to locate the app causing the issue.

Step 3. Swipe up on the app's preview to close it and remove it from the background.

This action might help resolve the problem of your iPhone playing music autonomously.

3# Check accessibility settings

Switch Control is an accessibility feature that lets you control your iPhone using adaptive switches. Sometimes, if Switch Control is inadvertently activated, it might trigger actions like automatically playing music.

Go to the Settings app on iPhone > Locate and tap Accessibility > Switch Control.  Make sure that Switch Control is turned off if you don't use this feature.

4# Check for the music apps update

In case the music begins playing on its own from playlists on different music apps, such as Pandora, there's a possibility that app updates could address minor glitches encountered during usage.

To address this, proceed to the App Store and inspect for available updates. If updates are accessible, proceed to download and install them to potentially rectify the problem.

5# Reset all settings

Performing a "Reset All Settings" operation will restore the settings on your device to their original defaults. This action exclusively affects system settings and won't result in data loss on your device.

If there was an error in the system settings contributing to the self-playing music issue, utilizing the "Reset All Settings" function could potentially resolve the problem.

Step 1. Go to iPhone Settings > General > Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 2. Click Reset > Choose Reset All Settings. Enter your passcode and click Reset All Settings again to confirm your operation.

6# Force restart iPhone

Sometimes, temporary software glitches can cause unexpected behavior. A simple force restart might help resolve the issue. Depending on the iPhone model, the operations are kind of different.

iPhone 8 and later with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume + button > Perform the same operation on the Volume - button > Press the Side button and release when you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume - button and the Power button > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s or earlier: Press both the Power button and the Home button for seconds > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Bonus: Easier way to add music to iPhone via FoneTool

When you're considering transferring music from your computer to your iPhone, the conventional method involves using iTunes. Yet, this process can be quite intricate and demand a significant amount of time. It entails adding the songs to iTunes and subsequently syncing the music to your iPhone. Moreover, there's a risk of unintentionally erasing existing songs on your device due to mishandling.

So is there any other way that can help you add music to iPhone easily? Yes, FoneTool is the solution. It’s one professional iOS data management tool that can help you always put your lovely songs and all iPhone data in the right place.

Get FoneTool on your computer by clicking the icon below. Install this freeware to transfer music from PC to iPhone.

Step 1. Launch FoneTool on your computer > Connect your iPhone to computer with compatible USB cables.

Step 2. Click Phone Transfer from the homepage of FoneTool > Mouse over to PC to iPhone and click Get Started.

Step 3. Choose Music > Tap the folder icon to preview and select the music files. You can directly drag and drop music from PC to the box in FoneTool.

Step 4. Finally, make sure you have added all wanted music files > Click Start Transfer to transfer music to iPhone.

With this powerful transfer tool, you can also transfer music from CD to iPhone and other types of files with the steps above.

Conclusion

Discovering that your iPhone is playing music by itself can be puzzling, but with the fixes provided in this article, you have the tools to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. By applying the solutions mentioned above, you can put an end to your iPhone's self-playing music and enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted experience with your device.

With these tools and techniques, hope you can regain control over your iPhone's audio playback and continue enjoying your music without unexpected interruptions.