If there’s no sound on your iPad, first press the volume up button while something is playing, and open Control Center to make sure Silent mode is off. Then check whether the sound is going to Bluetooth headphones, a speaker or a TV, and restart the iPad. Most “no sound” problems are one of those three things.
The steps below follow Apple’s Adjust the volume and silence on iPad guide, its no sound or distorted sound from your speaker article and Use AirPlay to stream audio. Work through them in order, testing with a video or song after each one.
In this article:
- Check the volume
- Turn off Silent mode and Do Not Disturb
- Check where the sound is going
- Test and clean the speaker
- More fixes
- If there’s still no sound
- Frequently asked questions
Check the Volume
Apple says the volume buttons control media volume while audio is playing, and ringer and alert volume the rest of the time. So if you press volume up with nothing playing, you may be raising alert volume instead of video volume.
- Start a video or song on the iPad.
- Press the volume up button on the side of the iPad a few times.
- Or open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner, then drag the volume slider up.
- Check the app itself. Some apps have their own mute button or volume slider.
You can also ask Siri something like “Turn up the volume.”
Result: the media volume is up while audio is playing.
Turn Off Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb
Apple lists two quick ways the iPad gets silenced: pressing and holding the volume down button, or turning on Silent mode in Control Center.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- If the Silent mode button is on, tap it to turn it off.
- Open Settings, tap Focus, tap Do Not Disturb, and make sure it’s off.
Apple notes that Silent mode doesn’t mute audio from music, podcasts, movies and TV shows. If only notifications and alerts are quiet, Silent mode or a Focus is the likely cause. If videos are silent too, keep going.
Result: alerts and system sounds can play again.
Check Where the Sound Is Going
Your iPad might be sending audio to Bluetooth headphones, a speaker or a TV instead of its own speakers. Apple’s AirPlay article shows how to pick the audio destination from Control Center:
- Play something on the iPad.
- Open Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner.
- Tap AirPlay in the group of controls in the top-right corner.
- Choose the iPad instead of a speaker, TV or headphones.
If Bluetooth headphones keep taking over the sound, turn off Bluetooth on the iPad to test.
If the iPad keeps switching to a TV or HomePod on its own, check Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Automatically AirPlay. Apple lists three options: Never, Ask and Automatic. Choose Never to always pick the device yourself.
Result: audio plays through the iPad speakers.
Test and Clean the Speaker
These checks come from Apple’s speaker troubleshooting article.
- Remove any screen protector, film or case from the iPad.
- Look at the speaker openings to see if they’re blocked or dirty.
- If needed, clean the speaker openings with a small, soft-bristled brush that’s clean and dry.
- Open Settings, tap Sounds, and drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider back and forth a few times.
If you don’t hear any sound from the slider, or the speaker button on the slider is dimmed, Apple says your speaker might need service.
If the slider makes sound, make a FaceTime call to test. If the call still sounds bad or has static, the problem could be your network. Try again later or from somewhere else.
Result: you know whether the speaker hardware works.
More Fixes to Try
- Restart the iPad. If the screen is frozen, use the steps in how to hard reset an iPad.
- Update iPadOS in Settings > General > Software Update.
- Check volume limits. In Settings > Sounds, under Built-In Speaker, Apple lists Volume Limit (Limit Maximum Volume) and Reduce Loud Sounds. A low limit can make the iPad seem quiet.
- Check Screen Time. If someone set up Screen Time for the iPad, speaker volume settings can be locked under Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Check Change with Buttons. In Settings > Sounds, turning off Change with Buttons means the volume buttons only control media playback.
Result: volume settings aren’t holding the sound back.
If There’s Still No Sound
If the speakers are silent everywhere but headphones work, and the Sounds slider test is silent, Apple says the device might need service. Contact Apple Support to set up service.
Before you send it in, back up your data. If you plan to sell it instead, see how to wipe an iPad clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do videos have sound but notifications don’t?
Silent mode and Focus silence alerts and notifications, but Apple says Silent mode doesn’t mute music, podcasts, movies or TV shows. Turn off Silent mode in Control Center.
Why is there no sound on just one app?
Check that app’s own mute button or volume control. Then make sure the audio isn’t going to an AirPlay or Bluetooth device.
Why do my volume buttons only change one kind of volume?
The buttons control media volume when audio is playing and alert volume otherwise. If Change with Buttons is off, they only control media.
Can a case block the speaker?
Yes. Apple recommends removing cases, films and screen protectors when you troubleshoot speaker sound.
Lost a movie you bought? See how to download a purchased movie again on iPad.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.