Published: October 25. 2026
Some iPhone 18 Pro owners are noticing a strange problem. Even when nothing is playing on the phone, they hear small crackling, ticking or popping sounds from the top of the screen, where the earpiece is. It can happen when you are scrolling, when a notification arrives, or even when you are doing nothing at all.
You’re not imagining it. Since late September 2026, owners of both the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pro Max have reported this, mostly from the earpiece. Apple hasn’t said what causes it, and no fix for this specific issue has been confirmed. This guide covers what owners are reporting, what you can safely try today, and when to contact Apple.
Short answer: Restart your phone, install the latest iOS update, take off the case and check the earpiece slot. If the noise continues, contact Apple Support. A future update may help, but nothing has been confirmed.
What owners are reporting
MacRumors reported on September 29 that complaints were showing up on its forums and on Reddit. People describe a crackle, a faint tick, a pop or random clicking, and many point to the earpiece, the small slot above the screen. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pro Max seem to be affected, but not everyone hears it. One Reddit user, quoted by Macworld, compared the pop to pulling out an aux cord.
The triggers are different for everyone:
- Always: some people hear it all the time.
- During use: others hear it while scrolling a web page, getting a notification, opening the keyboard or taking a cellular call.
- Odd triggers: a few say turning Airplane Mode on and off, or changing the screen brightness quickly, sets it off.
As of October 24, 2026, we couldn’t find any Apple statement, support article or repair program about this noise.
What to try first
These steps are not an official fix. They’re simple checks that may help, or at least tell you more about what’s going on.
- Restart your iPhone, then open Settings > General > Software Update and install anything that’s waiting.
- Take off the case and screen protector. Look at the earpiece slot for dust. If it’s dirty, Apple suggests cleaning it gently with a small, soft-bristled brush that is clean and dry. Never push anything sharp into the slot.
- Check when it happens. Apple says crackling during calls can come from the network or reception, so if it only happens on calls, try again later or from a different place. If you hear it with no call and nothing playing, the network is a less likely cause. Apple’s sound troubleshooting page has the full steps.
- Write down what triggers it and how often. That will help when you talk to Apple.
One more idea, and it’s unproven: Macworld quoted a Reddit commenter who said switching Mic Mode from Voice Isolation to Standard gave “way less crackling.” That is a single comment, and Apple’s Mic Mode page only explains how to change the microphone setting. It doesn’t say this affects earpiece crackling. If you want to test it, swipe down from the top-right corner during a call to open Control Center, tap Phone Controls, then pick a Mic Mode under Audio & Video.
Has Apple fixed it yet?
iOS 27.0.1. Apple’s release notes, as quoted by MacRumors, list three fixes: unexpected restarts when Face ID fails on the iPhone 18 Pro models, a color artifact in some 2x photos, and a frozen touchscreen when Notification Center and Control Center are opened together. Audio isn’t mentioned, and early feedback reported by MacRumors says the update did not help. Feedback is mixed, though: one Reddit commenter told Macworld that call crackling stopped after the update.
iOS 27.2. Apple released a release candidate to developers on October 19, and MacRumors expects the public release next week. One person on a MacRumors forum thread said the crackling disappeared after they installed the 27.2 public beta, while another person in the same thread said it didn’t help them. Two comments don’t prove anything, so wait for Apple’s release notes and your own testing.
What could be causing it?
Nobody outside Apple knows yet. Some owners say a replacement phone made the same sound, but those are individual reports and they don’t prove a design flaw. The odd triggers, like Airplane Mode or brightness changes, make some people suspect software. MacDailyNews points out that iOS 11.0.2 fixed an earpiece crackling bug on the iPhone 8 in 2017, but that is the site’s opinion about an old case, not proof of what’s happening now.
When and how to contact Apple
If the noise continues after the checks above, contact Apple. Apple’s sound troubleshooting page sends you to its Get Support page if the problem continues.
Apple’s one-year limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship. Apple may ask for proof of purchase and some diagnostic questions before service. Return windows differ by country and store, and Macworld advised owners to contact Apple before theirs ends, so check your receipt or the store’s policy.
Back up your iPhone before any service visit. When you talk to Apple, keep it short and clear:
“My iPhone 18 Pro has a crackling sound from the earpiece. It happens when [describe what you do]. I have restarted it, removed the case and installed the latest iOS. Can you test it, and what will you do if a replacement has the same problem?”
Ask the technician to test the phone in front of you. If your replacement makes the same noise, ask what the next step is.
Frequently asked questions
Is it only the earpiece, or the bottom speaker too?
Most reports point to the earpiece. Some posts don’t say which speaker, and one Reddit user said music at high volume sounded raspy. That is a single report, so treat it as a clue and not as proof.
Does this happen on older iPhones?
All the reports we found are about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. We found no confirmed reports for older models.
Can I record the sound to show Apple?
If possible, use another phone to record the sound while it happens. A recording may not capture it clearly, so describe when and where the noise occurs to Apple Support.
Will a factory reset stop it?
We found no evidence that it does. A reset wipes your data and can waste a lot of time, so only do it if Apple Support asks you to.
Is it safe to keep using my iPhone?
We found no report of the sound damaging the phone. Because the cause is still unknown, we can’t promise it’s harmless, so keep your backups current.
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