What to do if your iPad has no sound

When the sound on your iPad® isn't working or randomly cutting in and out, it can be frustrating—especially when you're in the middle of an important presentation or streaming one of your favorite shows on Netflix®.

But don't worry. At Asurion, our experts help millions of people like you resolve issues like this every day–on all their favorite devices. When tech breaks, we fix it—from frozen laptops to swollen phone batteries. Here's our guide to why your iPad has no sound and what you can do to get it back up and running.

Why is the sound on my iPad not working?

There are several reasons that could lead to the sound not working on your iPad. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Silent mode is turned on.
• A Bluetooth® accessory is connected.
• The application you're listening to isn't working.
• The speakers on your iPad need to be cleaned.
• The network settings on your iPad need to be reset.
• Your operating system needs to be updated.
• The hardware on your iPad is damaged.

How to fix no sound on an iPad

The following steps are for iPads running the iPadOS® 12 operating system or later. If you're unsure which version of iPadOS you have or how to update it, check out the “update your operating system" section of this article.

Make sure silent mode is turned off

This will quickly restore sound to your device if the mute feature is active.

1. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on your iPad.
2. Check to see whether silent mode is turned on: A red Bell icon means the feature is on, whereas a gray one means it is off. If the feature is on, tap the Bell icon to turn it off.

Keep your tablet working the way it should

Our experts can help. Schedule a repair or visit your nearest store today.

Schedule a repair

Disconnect any Bluetooth accessories

If wireless headphones or other Bluetooth accessories are still connected to your device after you're done using them, they can continue picking up a signal and cause your iPad to have no sound.

1. Tap Settings > Bluetooth.
2. If Bluetooth is turned on and paired to a device, unpair the device or turn Bluetooth off by tapping the switch.

Close applications with no sound

If your iPad has sound problems only while using a certain application, there may be a glitch in the app's software. To fix this, try closing and reopening the app to refresh it.

1. Activate the App Switcher by dragging your finger from the bottom of your home screen to the middle. A grid of recently opened apps will appear. (If your iPad has a home button, double click the home button to activate the App Switcher).
2. Find the app you wish to close, and swipe up to close it. Then reopen it to see if the problem has been resolved.

If this doesn't fix the issue, try uninstalling and reinstalling the application in the App Store®.

Check your sound settings

This will help you determine whether your iPad speakers are damaged and need to be repaired or replaced.

1. Tap Settings > Sounds.
2. Drag the Ringer and Alerts slider back and forth a few times. If there still isn't any sound or the speaker icon is dimmed, your speakers may be damaged. If this is the case, stop by for a free diagnostic at the

Clean your speakers

When dirt and debris get trapped in your device, they can clog the speakers and cause the sound on your iPad to stop working. To avoid this, make sure to clean them regularly to protect them from damage.

1. Remove any plastic film, cases, or screen protectors from your iPad.
2. Gently clean your speakers using a small soft-bristled brush. Make sure the brush is dry and clean before using (a new toothbrush works well).

Restart your device

This simple step will help reset any software issues that are causing your iPad to have no sound.

1. Press and hold the Top button and one of the volume buttons on your iPad until the power off slider appears (on iPads with a Home button, simply hold down the Top button until the slider appears).
2. Drag the slider to turn off the device, then wait 30 seconds.
3. To turn your device back on, hold down the Top button and release it when the Apple® logo appears.

Reset your network connections

If your iPad only has sound problems during Wi-Fi or cellular calls, try this step to clear out any mismatched signals.

1. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will also reset your Wi-Fi and private internet settings (if you have a virtual private network), so you'll need to re-enter these passwords once the reset is complete.

Update your operating system

An outdated operating system can occasionally cause the sound on your iPad to stop working. To avoid this, check to see if any new updates are available.

1. Plug your iPad into a power source and connect it to the internet.
2. Tap Settings > General > Software Update.
3. If a software update is available, click Download and Install > Install. If not, your device is up to date.

Factory reset your iPad

If none of the previous steps resolve the problem, it may be time to factory reset your device. This will wipe your iPad clean and help clear out viruses or more serious software issues that could be causing your iPad to have no sound. To do so and safely back up your personal information, see this article on how to reset an iPad to factory settings.