How to Fix Sound Not Working on iPad.
If you’re experiencing intermittent or recurring audio issues with your iPad, there are a few fixes you can try to fix. We will introduce you to each of them.
iPad speaker issues are usually software-related and mostly occur due to misconfigured audio settings, audio control glitches, and buggy system software.
If your iPad has no sound, you’ll start by troubleshooting individual instances of the problem and then moving on to fixes that fix system-wide audio issues.
1. Disable Silent Mode on iPad
You most likely have silent mode active if your iPad isn’t playing sounds only for notifications and alerts, such as incoming iPhone and FaceTime calls.
To disable silent mode, swipe down from the top right corner of the iPad screen to open the Control Center. Then tap the bell icon if it is active.
Note. Older iPadOS devices, especially iPads from 2013 and earlier, have a physical mute switch next to the volume buttons, similar to the iPhone and iPod touch. Use it to disable silent mode.
Another feature that can block sounds on your iPad is Do Not Disturb or Focus mode. Open the Control Center again and turn off the Do Not Disturb/Focus icon.
2. Review iPad Sound Settings
iPadOS offers several customizable audio options for incoming calls and notifications. Review them and make sure you set them up the way you want.
To do this, open the Settings app and tap Sounds. Then check that the “Ring & Alerts” slider is set to audible level and that categories such as “Text Tone” and AirDrop are set to “Alert Tones” instead of “None”.
Also, turn on the toggles next to Keyboard Clicks and Lock Sounds if you want audio feedback when you type or lock.
Then go to Settings > Notifications. Then click on any app that can’t generate notification sounds and make sure the toggle next to Sound is not inactive.
3. Force-Quit and Reload App
If your iPad only has audio issues with a specific app, like Music, YouTube, or Netflix, try force quitting the app and restarting it.
To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the iPad screen to open the app switcher. Then remove the corresponding card, restart the app via the home screen or app library, and try to play the video again.
4. Update App With Audio Issues
If audio issues for a particular app persist, consider checking and applying any new app updates. To do this, open the App Store, click Search and search for an app such as Netflix. Then click the Update button to install any pending updates.
The only way to update native apps like Music and TV is to update iPadOS. More on this below.
5. Disconnect Bluetooth Devices From iPad
If you’re using wireless headphones with your iPad, turning them off ensures that your iPad sends sound to the built-in speakers. For example, if you have AirPods, place them in the charging case to turn them off.
Also, turn off your iPad’s Bluetooth module. To do this, open the control panel and tap the Bluetooth icon.
Note. iPadOS can automatically connect to AirPods and Beats when playing music or video on iPad. If you want to stop this, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the Information icon next to your wireless headset. Then set “Connect to this iPad” to “When I last connected to this iPad”.
6. Get Out of Headphone Mode
If you occasionally use Apple EarPods or other third-party wired headphones with iPad, there is an issue where the tablet may be stuck in headphone mode despite being disconnected. Hence, this mutes the sound for the built-in speakers.
To confirm, look for the headphones symbol on the volume indicator while pressing the volume up or down buttons. If your iPad is stuck in headphone mode, here’s what you should do to fix it:
Plug the headset back into your iPad briefly and remove it. Clean your iPad’s headphone jack or charging port. The best way to do this is to apply several short bursts of compressed air. Keep the spray nozzle at a safe distance to avoid damage to internal components. Restart or force restart your iPad (more on this below).
7. Toggle Mono Audio On/Off
Mono audio is a feature that combines the left and right audio channels to create the same sound from all speakers on your iPad. Turning it on and off helps reset the audio system and fixes minor software-related audio issues.
Open the Settings app and tap Accessibility > Audio & Video. Then toggle mono sound on and off.
8. Restart iPad to Fix No Sound
Restarting your iPad is a quick and effective way to fix a lot of system issues that come up in iOS and iPadOS. So do it if you haven’t already.
To restart any iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, or iPad mini, simply open the Settings app, select General > Shut down, and drag the power icon the right to turn off the device. When the screen goes completely dark, press and hold the side/top button to turn it back on.
9. Force-Restart Your iPad
If restarting your iPad doesn’t help and you keep encountering an annoying issue like iPad stuck in headphone mode, consider force restarting. This means powering down your iPad’s internal components and dealing with additional issues that interfere with system software.
If your iPad has a Home button, press and hold the Home and Power buttons at the same time until iPad restarts. If not, quickly press and release the volume up button and then the volume down button; immediately afterwards by holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.
10. Update iPadOS
Your iPad’s speakers may stop working due to persistent bugs and glitches in system software. Apple usually fixes them in newer system software releases, so we highly recommend that you update your iPadOS to the latest version.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and click Download and Install to update your iPad. If you’re running a beta version of iPadOS, consider upgrading to the stable version of iPad instead.
11. Reset Your iPhone Settings
If your iPad’s audio issues persist, consider resetting iPadOS to factory settings to resolve conflicting configurations and other underlying issues that could be the source of the problem. You won’t lose any data other than saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords.
To do this, open the Settings app, go to General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset and tap ” Reset network settings<“. /gap>. If that doesn’t help, use the Reset All Settings option to return all settings on your iPad to their defaults.
What Else Is on the Cards?
You can resolve audio issues on iPad by following a fair amount of troubleshooting steps. But if the issue persists, it could be due to a defective speaker, so your next option is to contact Apple Support or make an appointment at the Genius Bar.
In the meantime, you can always backup your data to iCloud or Mac/iTunes and factory reset iPad in DFU mode to solve the problem yourself.
How to Fix Sound Not Working on iPad
How to Fix Sound Not Working on iPad