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Some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Users Report Earpiece Crackling; Cause Unclear

Some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners report crackling, ticks, or pops near the earpiece. Software is one possibility, but the cause has not been established.
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Some iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners report crackling, faint ticks or pops, and random clicking that they often locate near the earpiece. A software issue is one possibility, but the reports do not establish a cause, and Apple has not publicly confirmed a specific bug or fix.

What iPhone 18 Pro owners are hearing

MacRumors reported on September 29, 2026 that complaints had appeared in its forums and on Reddit. Users described “a crackle, a faint tick or pop, or random clicking,” and accounts involved both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Mashable also reported on October 1 that some owners described a popping noise.

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The reported situations vary: some owners say the sound happens consistently, while others associate it with app use, scrolling a website, notifications, the keyboard appearing, or cellular calls. Some also reported hearing it after switching Airplane Mode or quickly changing brightness. These are user-reported circumstances, not verified triggers or a diagnosis. The available reports do not quantify how common the sound is.

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Is it a software problem?

Software is possible, but the cause remains unclear. The cited reports do not establish whether the sound comes from software, hardware, network or reception conditions, or another factor. MacRumors described reports from owners whose replacement phones made the sound too; that anecdote does not prove a software cause.

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MacRumors noted that iOS 27.0.1 release notes did not mention a speaker fix, and some affected owners said the sound continued after updating. Mashable also reported post-update complaints. These accounts are not a controlled test, so they cannot show whether the update helps or has no effect.

Mashable said it had asked Apple for comment. It also relayed one user’s account that an Apple Store employee considered software a likely explanation. That is not an official Apple statement. The cited sources contain no named Apple spokesperson or official statement addressing this specific crackling report.

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Checks you can try safely

Apple’s general speaker troubleshooting guidance suggests checking for blocked or dirty speaker and receiver openings, removing cases or screen protectors, and, if needed, cleaning an opening with a clean, dry, small soft-bristled brush. Apple also suggests moving the Ringtone and Alerts slider and checking a call using speakerphone. These are general checks, not a confirmed fix for the iPhone 18 Pro reports.

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  1. Inspect the openings: Check that the speaker and receiver openings are not obstructed or dirty.
  2. Remove accessories: Take off the case and screen protector temporarily to see whether either is interfering with an opening.
  3. Clean gently if needed: Use only a clean, dry, small soft-bristled brush on an opening; do not treat this as a repair for an internal fault.
  4. Check sound and call behavior: Move the Ringtone and Alerts slider, then compare a call through the receiver with one on speakerphone.

Apple notes that crackling or static during calls can be related to network or reception. If the noise occurs only during cellular calls, note that pattern when contacting support; it does not by itself identify the cause.

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When to contact Apple Support

If the noise persists after the basic checks, contact Apple Support or arrange service rather than assuming a software update or speaker replacement will solve it. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max repair manual, published October 1, 2026, includes sound-issue material and a top-speaker repair procedure. The existence of that procedure does not establish that this reported sound is a hardware failure or that replacing the speaker will fix it. The cited manual is not a reason to attempt a do-it-yourself repair.

When describing the issue, record whether it happens during calls, app or media use, notifications, or more than one context, and whether the basic opening checks changed anything. This is useful context for support, not a validated diagnostic test.

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Sources

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