How do I fix youtube without sound on Android?

Having YouTube videos play without sound can be incredibly frustrating. This issue seems to particularly affect Android devices. There are a few common causes for YouTube no sound problems on Android:

Device sound settings being muted or lowered
YouTube app sound settings being muted or lowered

Buggy YouTube app update
App conflicts
Outdated Android OS

Faulty headphones or speakers

In this guide, we will walk through the most common fixes and troubleshooting steps to resolve no sound or audio issues when trying to play YouTube videos on an Android device.

Check Your Device’s Sound Settings

One of the most common reasons for no sound on YouTube is that your device’s sound settings are preventing audio playback. Here are some things to check:

Make sure the volume is turned up on your device by pressing the volume up button on the side. You can also go into Settings > Sound and check that the media volume slider is not muted or turned all the way down.

Check that your phone is not in silent or vibrate mode by looking for icons in your notification bar. Slide the ring/silent mode switch on the side of your device to ensure it is not silenced.¹

Go into Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb and make sure this mode is disabled, as it can mute sounds.

Under Sound settings, toggle “Also vibrate for calls” off if enabled, in case your phone speaker is set to vibrate only.

Try using the volume buttons while a video is playing to see if that unmutes the sound.

Go through all other sound and audio settings to check nothing else is incorrectly configured.

Check the YouTube App Settings

The YouTube app has its own audio and video settings that you can adjust. Here’s how to access the YouTube app settings on Android:

Open the YouTube app.
Tap your profile icon in the top right.

Select “Settings” from the menu.
Tap “General” and then “Sound.”

In the Sound settings, check that the “Sound” option is toggled on. You can also adjust the Sound quality and toggle on Video autoplay options.

If you are still having no sound issues after adjusting these settings, try toggling the Sound option off and back on again. You can also go back and forth between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if that refreshes the audio. As a last resort, clearing the app data and cache for YouTube may resolve any glitches in the app causing no sound.

Sources:

https://recoverit.wondershare.com/video-repair/no-sound-on-youtube-iphone.html

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6397026?hl=en

Restart the YouTube App

Sometimes a simple restart of the YouTube app is all that’s needed to get sound working again. You can try force stopping the app and clearing the cache to refresh the app and its data. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube and select Force Stop. Then clear the cache for the YouTube app by tapping Clear Cache.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app. Open the Play Store, go to Manage Apps & Devices > YouTube and select Uninstall. Then go back to the Play Store and search for YouTube to reinstall the latest version of the app. Reinstalling the app will wipe its data and settings and often resolves sound issues.

According to Google’s support article, restarting the YouTube app fixes no sound issues for many users (source). Reinstalling the app ensures you have the latest version, as app updates frequently include bug and performance fixes. With the app data cleared, the sound issue may be resolved upon launching the freshly installed YouTube app.

Update the YouTube App

One common reason for YouTube having no sound is that the app is outdated. Make sure the YouTube app is updated to the latest version, as developers often release fixes and patches to address bugs and issues.

To update the YouTube app on your Android device:

Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the hamburger menu in the top left corner.
Select “My Apps & Games.”

Scroll through the list of installed apps and look for the YouTube app.
If an “Update” button is shown, tap it to update the app to the latest version.
If prompted, accept any permissions or additional downloads required.

Once the update is complete, try playing a video in the YouTube app again to see if sound is now working properly. Keeping your apps updated ensures you have the latest bug fixes and optimizations from the developers.

Check for App Conflicts

Sometimes another app running in the background can interfere with the YouTube app and cause sound issues. Try identifying any apps that may be conflicting and disabling them while using YouTube.

Go to Settings > Apps on your Android device and check the list of installed apps. Look for any apps that may impact sound/media playback like streaming apps, audio recorders, or system tools. Temporarily disable or force stop these apps, then try using YouTube again to see if sound works properly.

You can also try adjusting app permissions – make sure YouTube has access to audio and microphone if disabled. Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Permissions and enable all necessary permissions. Restrict permissions for apps that may conflict with YouTube’s audio.

Checking for and resolving app conflicts is an easy fix that often resolves YouTube sound problems on Androids. Identifying problematic apps and adjusting permissions can allow YouTube to play audio without interference (1).

Update Your Android OS

One way to fix sound issues in YouTube is by updating your Android operating system to the latest version. Staying up-to-date with Android versions ensures you have the most recent bug fixes, security patches, and compatibility improvements for apps like YouTube.

Here’s how to update your Android OS:

Open your phone’s Settings app.
Navigate to System > System update or Software update. The path may vary slightly depending on your Android device.

Check if an Android OS update is available. If so, tap Download and install.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the latest Android OS update.
Once updated, restart your device when prompted.

Updating to the latest Android version can sometimes resolve app glitches like no sound in YouTube. It ensures compatibility with YouTube and other apps. Try updating your Android OS to see if it fixes the missing audio issue.

Try Different Headphones/Speakers

If you are using wired headphones, try switching to wireless Bluetooth headphones or speakers to see if that resolves the no sound issue on YouTube. Bluetooth connectivity bypasses the headphone jack entirely. If Bluetooth audio works properly, then the issue is likely with your device’s headphone jack hardware.

You can also try plugging in different sets of wired headphones or external speakers. Use headphones that you know work properly on other devices to test if the problem is with your original headphones or the phone’s headphone jack. Try wiggling the headphone plug while inserted to see if that makes any difference.

If you have the same problem across multiple wired headphones, then the headphone jack hardware on your Android device may be damaged and need repair. This can happen from frequent plugging and unplugging or exposure to dust and debris. You can visit a repair shop to have the headphone jack replaced if wired audio is important to you.

As a temporary fix, you can use wireless Bluetooth headphones or an external Bluetooth speaker to play YouTube videos with sound. Just make sure to pair your Bluetooth accessories properly with your Android device first before testing YouTube.

If you have issues with both wired and wireless audio playback, then the problem may be isolated to just the YouTube app and not a hardware problem. Continue troubleshooting the app and software fixes covered in the other sections.

Factory Reset Your Device

As a last resort, you can try factory resetting your Android device to fix issues with no sound in YouTube. This will erase all data and restore your device to its original factory settings. Be sure to backup any important data first.

To factory reset your device:

Go to Settings > System > Reset options.

Tap “Erase all data (factory reset)” – this will reset your device to factory default settings and delete all your data.
You can also choose to reset just the network settings, which may help resolve connectivity issues causing sound problems. Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
Tap through the warnings prompts to confirm the reset.

After the reset is complete, set up your device again and test if sound works properly in YouTube.

A full factory reset should wipe any software bugs or glitches and give you a fresh start. If the no sound issue persists even after a factory reset, it’s likely a hardware problem. You may need to contact the device manufacturer or replace the device if sound still doesn’t work.

Conclusion

If you are still experiencing issues with no sound on YouTube after trying all of the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, the problem may require further technical support. Here is a summary of the key fixes covered:

Check your device’s overall sound/media volume settings
Check for mute toggles or volume sliders in the YouTube app
Restart the YouTube app and test sound again

Update the YouTube app to the latest version
Check for conflicts with other apps that may be controlling audio
Update your Android operating system

Test different headphones or external speakers
Perform a factory reset as a last resort (this will erase all local data)

If none of these resolve the no sound issue, your device may require professional repair or service. You can contact the device manufacturer or your mobile carrier for technical support options. Describing the troubleshooting steps you have already tried can help the support team better identify potential hardware, software or app issues causing the problem.