How is squelch adjusted so that a weak FM signal can be heard?

The squelch control is designed to mute the receiver when no signal is present, preventing you from having to listen to constant static. However, if a signal is very weak, it might not be strong enough to 'break' or open the squelch circuit. To hear a very weak signal, you must fully lower the squelch threshold until the background static is heard constantly. This leaves the audio path completely open, ensuring that even the faintest signals are passed through to the speaker. Turning up the volume (audio level) does not open the squelch, and features like 'anti-squelch' or 'squelch enhancement' are fictitious distractors.