Clicking noises on an iPhone 14 usually come from one of three sources: keyboard or lock sounds (turn them off in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and Lock Sound), haptic feedback from the Taptic Engine, or a faint rattle from the camera’s image stabilization when you shake the phone, which is normal. If you hear clicking or buzzing from the camera while it’s in use, clicking from the speaker during calls or audio, or noise that started after a drop, update iOS, restart, and contact Apple Support if it continues.
This guide helps you identify where the clicking comes from, walks through each fix, and explains which noises are normal and which mean the iPhone needs service.
Step 1: Figure out when the clicking happens
| When you hear it | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| While typing | Keyboard sound or haptic feedback |
| When locking the screen | Lock Sound |
| When scrolling pickers, toggles, or long-pressing | System haptics |
| When shaking or tilting the phone while it’s off or asleep | Camera stabilization parts moving (normal) |
| When the camera is open, with a shaking image | Camera module problem or vibration damage |
| During calls, music, or videos | Speaker distortion, a damaged speaker, or a Bluetooth problem |
| At random, near the top of the phone | Face ID or proximity hardware, or a loose component |
Fix 1: Turn off keyboard clicks and the lock sound
- Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Tap Keyboard Feedback and turn off Sound (and Haptic, if you don’t want vibrations).
- Go back and turn off Lock Sound.
Turning on the Ring/Silent switch also silences keyboard clicks and the lock sound.
Fix 2: Turn off system haptics
The Taptic Engine produces tiny taps that can sound like clicks. In Settings > Sounds & Haptics, turn off System Haptics. Individual haptics, like those for keyboard or ringtones, have their own settings.
Fix 3: Understand the camera rattle
If you gently shake your iPhone 14 while the camera is closed and hear a faint rattle or click from the camera area, that’s typically the optical image stabilization system moving freely. It’s normal on modern iPhones and disappears when the camera app is open because the system locks in place. It doesn’t affect photos.
Fix 4: Fix clicking or shaking while using the camera
- Update iOS in Settings > General > Software Update. Soon after launch, some iPhone 14 Pro owners saw the camera shake and buzz in third-party apps, and Apple fixed that with an iOS update.
- Close the camera app (swipe up from the bottom and swipe the app away), then restart the iPhone.
- Test the built-in Camera app with each lens. If it clicks and the picture shakes in every app, the camera module may be damaged.
- Avoid mounting the phone on motorcycles or other strongly vibrating vehicles. Apple warns that high-amplitude vibration can damage the camera’s stabilization and autofocus.
Fix 5: Fix clicking from the speaker
- Clean the speaker grilles with a soft, dry brush.
- Remove the case to see if it’s rubbing or vibrating.
- Lower the volume slightly; clicking at max volume can be distortion.
- Turn off Bluetooth to rule out a connected device.
- Check Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual and Settings > Music > EQ; try turning EQ off.
- If the noise happens in every app, the speaker may be damaged, especially after water exposure.
Fix 6: Restart, update, and reset settings
- Force restart: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Install any iOS updates.
- If the clicking seems software-related, try Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Your data stays, but settings reset.
When to get the iPhone checked
- The noise started after a drop or water exposure.
- The camera image shakes, or you hear buzzing when the camera is open.
- Clicking comes with heat, battery swelling, or a screen that lifts. Stop using the phone and contact Apple right away.
- The noise continues after all the fixes above.
Use the Apple Support app or website to run diagnostics or book a repair. An iPhone 14 may still be covered if you have AppleCare+; otherwise, repair costs depend on the part.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my iPhone 14 camera to rattle?
A faint rattle when the phone is shaken and the camera is off is normal. A loud rattle, or clicking while the camera is on, isn’t.
Why does my iPhone click when I scroll?
That’s haptic feedback from pickers and some app interfaces. Turn off System Haptics to reduce it.
Can a screen protector or case cause clicking?
Yes. A loose case, or a screen protector with a lifted edge, can click when pressed. Remove it to test.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.