For folks who are deaf or hard of hearing, there is a well-thought-out Accessibility feature called “Music Haptics” in iOS 18. When it comes into action, iPhone dances along with the music, playing a variety of haptics such as taps and textures in sync with the currently playing music. Having given this new add-on a good run on my iPhone, I must say that it does work as expected. Sadly, that’s not the case for a handful of users who have reported that the iOS 18 Music Haptics is not working on their iPhone. If it’s malfunctioning for you as well, now is the right to fix it so that your music time no longer suffers.
Fix iOS 18 Music Haptics Not Working on iPhone
So, what’s ailing Music Haptics on your iOS device? Though a software bug might be a frontrunner, things like app and song compatibility could be the main factors. Therefore, you should first focus on ticking off the basics before going on to resolve a bug or a miscellaneous software glitch.
1. Right Way to Enable and Use Music Haptics on Your iPhone
It’s worth pointing out that you have to manually activate the Music Haptics feature on your iPhone. So, ensure that it’s enabled on your device.
- On your iPhone, go to the Settings app -> Accessibility -> Music Haptics and turn it on.
- To figure out how this feature works, tap on the “Play Sample” button.
- If you have a liking for the Music Haptics, I would recommend you add the Music Haptics quick action button on the Lock Screen. Using the quick action button, you will be able to enable/disable it with utmost ease.
Furthermore, if you are willing to get the most out of Music Haptics, check out this hands-on video to unlock multiple handy ways to trigger this cool feature.
2. Currently, Music Haptics Supports Only Apple Music
Note that currently, Music Haptics works with Apple Music only. Though Apple has launched the Music Haptics API for developers, it’s going to take a while before third-party music apps will be compatible with this new Accessibility feature.
3. Does Your Song Support Music Haptics
Note that not all songs support Music Haptics. Since it’s still a work in progress, be sure to check the song’s compatibility. If a song supports this feature, you should see a “Music Haptics” label.
4. Allow “Haptics” to Play Without Any Roadblocks
Inside the “Sounds & Haptics” section exists an option to always allow the Haptics to play without any obstacles.
- Go to the Settings app on your iOS device > Sounds & Haptics > Haptics > Always Play.
5. Force Restart Your iPhone
For years, “Force Restart” aka hard reset has been my savior in fixing many annoying iOS issues. Therefore, I would suggest you give it a go on your iPhone. If the Music Haptics is being hampered by a random glitch, there is a decent chance that the hard reset will fix it.
6. Ensure That “Vibration” is Active on Your iPhone
Be sure that the “Vibration” is active across on your iPhone. If vibration has been disabled whether by accident or intention, there is a high chance that it could be hurting the functionality of Music Haptics.
- On your iPhone, go to the Settings app > Accessibility > Touch > Make sure that the toggle next to Vibration is enabled.
- If this switch is already active, turn it off > reboot your iPhone, and then turn it back on.
7. Factory Reset Your iPhone
Another reliable solution that you should try to bring Music Haptics back on track is the “Factory Reset”. For those unfamiliar, it will clean up all the custom settings on your iPhone but none of your media and data will be deleted.
- Head over to the Settings app on your iPhone -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset All Settings.
- After that, go back to the Accessibility setting and set up Music Haptics.
8. Update Software
If Music Haptics continues to malfunction on your iPhone, a software bug could be causing the problem.
- Dive into the Settings app on your iPhone -> General -> Software Update -> Download and install the update.
Has Music Haptics come back in action? Most probably, the software update will be able to get the job done. Make sure to share your feedback and the tips that have helped you rescue this music feature.
9. Delete and Install the Apple Music App
Should Music Haptics remain dysfunctional and doesn’t seem to get along with the Apple Music app, reinstalling the app may help troubleshoot the issue.
- Touch and hold the Music App icon > Remove App > Delete App and confirm.
- Head into the App Store > search for the Apple Music app and install it.
Read more: How to Clear Significant Locations on iPhone and iPad
