How to unmute a Subaru Forester?
You unmute a Subaru Forester by turning up the volume or pressing the MUTE button on the steering wheel or radio, and if a Bluetooth call or media source is muted, reselect the audio source and unmute from the screen or wheel.
Muting in a Forester can happen for several reasons—an accidental button press, a paused media source, muted navigation prompts, or a phone call routed through Bluetooth. The exact steps vary a bit by year and infotainment version, but the quickest fixes rely on basic controls and source selection. This guide walks you through the common methods to restore audio quickly and safely.
Hardware-based unmute options
These quick, physical controls work independently of connected devices and are usually the fastest way to re-enable sound.
- Turn up the volume using the head-unit volume knob; pressing the knob often toggles mute off on many models.
- Press the MUTE button (if equipped) on the steering wheel or center console to toggle sound back on.
- Tap the on-screen mute icon or adjust the volume slider on the touchscreen head unit if mute is shown there.
- Confirm the audio source is active (Radio, Media, or Bluetooth) using the head-unit or steering-wheel controls.
Using these hardware controls is typically the fastest way to restore audio. If the sound remains off after trying the above, proceed to Bluetooth and source checks below.
Unmuting Bluetooth and phone-call audio
Bluetooth-connected audio and ongoing phone calls can mute or route sound differently. Use these steps to re-share audio from the Forester’s system to your device correctly.
- If a call is active, tap the Phone button on the steering wheel or use the on-screen options to resume or unmute the call audio.
- Ensure the audio source is set to Phone or Media (not off) and adjust the volume on the head unit or via the wheel controls.
- If you can’t hear through Bluetooth, disconnect and re-pair your phone: in the Forester’s Bluetooth settings, forget the device, then re-pair.
- Check navigation or voice prompts: tap the speaker icon on the screen to re-enable voice prompts, or adjust the navigation volume in Settings if available.
If you’re still muted after reselecting sources and re-pairing, a reboot of the infotainment system can clear glitches. Consult the owner’s manual for the exact reboot method for your year and system version.
Model-year and infotainment variations
Subaru Foresters from different years use slightly different infotainment interfaces. The following notes help you apply the general steps to your specific system.
Newer Starlink systems (2019–present)
Most 2019-and-newer Foresters use Subaru’s Starlink touchscreen interface paired with steering-wheel controls. In these models, you typically unmute via the physical volume knob, a dedicated MUTE control on the wheel, or a visible mute/unmute icon on the Home or Audio screen. If voice prompts or navigation audio are muted, reselect the correct audio source (Radio/Media/Phone) and toggle mute off from the touchscreen when needed.
Older systems and non-Starlink audio setups (pre-2019)
Earlier Foresters rely more on the standard radio controls and may present fewer on-screen prompts. The same principles apply: adjust the volume, press the MUTE button if present, and verify the active source. For Bluetooth or calls, use the steering-wheel controls and head-unit menus to ensure audio is routed to the correct channel.
Summary
Unmuting a Subaru Forester generally comes down to quick hardware controls—volume knob, MUTE button, or on-screen mute icon—and ensuring the correct audio source is active, whether for radio, media, or Bluetooth calls. If problems persist, rebooting the infotainment system or re-pairing a connected device often resolves glitches. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific steps, as sequences can vary by year and trim.
