This article explains seven ways to make your smartphone vibrate. Instructions apply to Samsung, Android, and iPhone 7 and later.

How to Make Almost Any Android Phone Vibrate

Other Android smartphones have similar methods of setting a device to Vibrate mode. Select the easiest way depending on what’s available on your device. Other titles indicating a vibration mode setting may include Touch vibration, Sound Profile, or something similar.

  • Set the device to Vibrate mode through the home screen shortcuts menu.Set the device to Vibrate mode using the Volume Down key. Make sure the Volume Down key isn’t set to control media volume.Set the device to Vibrate mode through the Settings options.

How to Make a Samsung Phone Vibrate

Samsung smartphones have several effortless methods of enabling a vibration mode. Here is the easiest way.

Enable Vibrate Mode in the Notification Panel

  • Swipe down on the top of the home screen to display the Notification Panel shortcuts.
  • Among the shortcuts is a Sound icon, which is typically second after the Wi-Fi icon. If your smartphone sound is on, it’s blue and looks like it is emitting noise.
  • Tap the Sound icon until you see the Vibrate mode icon. The Samsung device should also vibrate to indicate it’s in vibrate mode.

Enable Vibrate Mode With the Volume Keys

You can also enable Vibrate mode by pressing the Volume Down key on a Samsung device until you see the Vibrate Mode icon on the soundbar and feel the vibration.

Swipe down on the top of the home screen to display the Notification Panel shortcuts.

Among the shortcuts is a Sound icon, which is typically second after the Wi-Fi icon. If your smartphone sound is on, it’s blue and looks like it is emitting noise.

Tap the Sound icon until you see the Vibrate mode icon. The Samsung device should also vibrate to indicate it’s in vibrate mode.

  • Press the Volume Down key to display the soundbar.
  • Swipe down on the soundbar to display the Audio Shortcuts menu.
  • Toggle Use Volume keys for media to the Off position. You can now use the volume keys to enter Vibrate mode.
  • Alternatively, swipe the ringtone soundbar down, tap the Ringtone icon or drag the Ringtone slider to the left to enter Vibrate mode.

Enable Vibrate Mode in Settings

Finally, you can set your Samsung device to Vibrate mode by accessing your device’s back-end settings.

If this method doesn’t work, you can set the volume keys to control sound for media. The soundbar says “Media” when you press the Volume Down key.

Press the Volume Down key to display the soundbar.

Swipe down on the soundbar to display the Audio Shortcuts menu.

Toggle Use Volume keys for media to the Off position. You can now use the volume keys to enter Vibrate mode.

Alternatively, swipe the ringtone soundbar down, tap the Ringtone icon or drag the Ringtone slider to the left to enter Vibrate mode.

  • Swipe down on the top of the home screen to open the Notification panel.
  • Tap Settings > Sounds and vibration.
  • Tap Sound mode > Vibrate.

How to Make an iPhone Vibrate

On an iPhone, you can set your phone to silent. To set your device to Vibrate mode, access the back-end settings. Here’s how to enable Vibrate mode on an iPhone.

Swipe down on the top of the home screen to open the Notification panel.

Tap Settings > Sounds and vibration.

Tap Sound mode > Vibrate.

  • Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
  • Toggle Vibrate on Silent to the On position. This ensures your iPhone is in Vibrate mode when you set it to silent using the Volume Down key.

Make iPhone Vibrate Using the Sounds and Vibration Patterns Setting

You can also scroll down to the Sound and Vibrations Patterns settings to customize the vibration type for different apps and functions, including ringtone, text time, reminder alerts, and AirDrop.

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.

Toggle Vibrate on Silent to the On position. This ensures your iPhone is in Vibrate mode when you set it to silent using the Volume Down key.

  • Tap the feature for which you want to set a custom vibration.
  • Tap Vibration.
  • Choose your preferred vibration pattern. To create a new vibration, tap Custom Vibration, then tap a unique beat.

Make Your Phone Vibrate Continuously With an App

App makers have also utilized the vibrating function on smartphones to make apps for relaxation. Many vibration apps allow users to set the smartphone vibration for an extended amount of time for purposes such as a massage for tired muscles or to help with sleep. Many apps also include settings for calming sounds for added comfort. Many apps like these are in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Tap the feature for which you want to set a custom vibration.

Tap Vibration.

Choose your preferred vibration pattern. To create a new vibration, tap Custom Vibration, then tap a unique beat.

  • Vibrator X from Vtro Studio (Android): This app includes a zero to 100 power dial to adjust the vibration level. There are also four vibration options to toggle through. Swipe right to access the relaxing sounds options. Tap User Custom to start the sound and then tap the sounds you want to hear. You can tap several sounds at once to make the experience more elaborate.

  • Body Massager Vibration App (Android): This app includes a power bar that adjusts vibration levels. There are five vibration options. Tap through the options and then adjust the speed. Press Start to turn on the vibration option you want. Press Stop to turn off the vibration.

  • iMassage U Vibrating Massager (iOS): This app has effortless power settings for starting and stopping vibration. Select Patterns to find five free patterns. You can access other ones with a premium account that costs $1.99.

  • Vibrator Massage Calm iVibe (iOS): This app has a tap to start and stop the vibration. Select Settings to find two free patterns. You can get other options with a premium account that costs $1.99.

  • Why does my phone randomly vibrate?

  • If it happens while the device is charging, you could have a faulty cable. In this case, the vibration occurs as the bad cord periodically loses and restores its connection. Otherwise, you should check your settings to ensure it’s only buzzing for notifications you really want to receive.

  • Why does my phone vibrate so loudly?

  • Depending on your phone, you can adjust the pattern or strength of vibrations, if not both. Check the vibration settings for your options; if one pattern is too loud, choose one that buzzes the phone less strongly or with a lower frequency to try to bring the volume down. Otherwise, you can also avoid putting your phone on hard surfaces like glass or wood to make the vibration quieter.

If it happens while the device is charging, you could have a faulty cable. In this case, the vibration occurs as the bad cord periodically loses and restores its connection. Otherwise, you should check your settings to ensure it’s only buzzing for notifications you really want to receive.

Depending on your phone, you can adjust the pattern or strength of vibrations, if not both. Check the vibration settings for your options; if one pattern is too loud, choose one that buzzes the phone less strongly or with a lower frequency to try to bring the volume down. Otherwise, you can also avoid putting your phone on hard surfaces like glass or wood to make the vibration quieter.

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