Sound does not work on Instagram: what to do

Instagram is a great platform for posting video content. However, users occasionally encounter an issue where their sound does not work on Instagram, even if they try the volume keys, tap the crossed out speaker, and open the video. This situation can be frustrating as it prevents you from enjoying the content on your Instagram feed.

Fortunately, this is a fairly easy problem to fix in most cases. If you are having problems with Instagram sound not working, let’s look at the steps you can take to fix it.

Please note that certain videos or stories do not include any sound. In this case, you will see the “Video has no sound” marker at the bottom left.

How to fix sound not working on Instagram

1. Check the Bluetooth headphones/earbuds to make sure they work

Not receiving any sound on Instagram may be related to your Bluetooth headphones or earphones, even if you are not using them. For example, if Apple AirPods have “Automatic Ear Detection” turned off, the sound will go to the headphones whether they are in your ear or not, as long as they are paired with your iPhone.

A similar problem occurs with many wireless speakers. The speaker volume is low, you forget to unpair it from your smartphone, or the sound goes to another device.

Here’s how to fix this problem:

1. Go to the Bluetooth menu of your smartphone, check if there are paired speakers/headphones,

   

2. and tap a device to disconnect it.

   

2. Restart the device

Simply restarting your device can often reload any processes that were not running properly. This action may fix your audio problems.

To determine if this is the case, restart your smartphone to remove errors and junk files that could prevent sound playback.

Press and hold one of the volume rockers and the side button simultaneously for iPhone X and later until you see the Power slider. Move the slider to turn off the phone, then press and hold the side button and release it when the Apple logo appears.

For older iPhones (iPhone 8 and earlier)– Press and hold the Side/Top button to display the power slider. After turning off the smartphone, press the side/top button again to turn it back on.

For Android: Press and hold the power button for a few seconds until the power options appear, then tap reboot or reset. If you are using a newer Android phone, you may need to hold down the volume and power buttons to restart the device.

3. Update Instagram

Instagram frequently releases updates and bug fixes that fix various issues within the app. In the past, many users have reported issues with music playing in stories or sound playback in general. This situation is the reason why you need to check for an update.

1. Launch App Store or Play Store, navigate to Updates either My apps and gamesand swipe the list to find Instagram.

   

2. Hit the Update button next to the app, and Instagram will confirm that the latest version is installed.

4. Update iOS/Android operating system

If your phone’s operating system (OS) software is not up to date, you may face problems when using various applications, including Instagram. Here’s a quick guide to software updates on iOS/Android.

For iOS:

1. Launch Settingstap on Generaland select Software update.

   

2. Tap Download and install and wait a few minutes for the iPhone to update. You may be asked to confirm that you want to install the software. In this case, touch Install either OK in the pop-up window.

   

For Android:

1. Press the gear icon to access Settingsenter the System menu and select About of the phone.

   

If you use samsung galaxyyou should search Software updates instead of the System. On Pixel smartphones, you need to tap Advances instead of About phone. Either way, you should easily find the Download and install option.

5. Check Instagram Outage Detector

Several users responded to our article during the same time period and stated that they had a sound problem that lasted for several days. Although it did not affect everyone, a massive blackout is easy to detect using fall detector.

1. Visit the site and write instagram in the search box.

   

This step will tell you if other people are having the same problem as you and will shorten your troubleshooting time. If there is a major problem, you can report it to Instagram or wait. Otherwise, continue troubleshooting or report it to instagram.

6. Check the hardware

Has your smartphone recently been submerged in liquid? Did you drop it? If yes, a hardware issue may be preventing your phone from playing sound.

To test things out, try playing sound with other apps, like YouTube, SoundCloud, or Spotify, and make sure the volume is at maximum. Hopefully, you will be able to hear the sound from the built-in speakers.

Otherwise, try cleaning the speakers with a toothbrush or soft-bristled brush. Assuming this doesn’t work, you may need to take your phone to a repair shop to have the speakers replaced.

8. Clear Instagram cache

Deleting the Instagram app can fix the problem. This basically erases stored data, similar to restoring an app. You can always choose to delete and reinstall the app on your phone, but clearing the cache is a simple solution you can try:

For Android:

1. Access your phone Settings and touch Applications, Application managereither Apps and notificationsdepending on your Android version.

   

2. Scroll down and tap instagram.

   

3. Tap on clear cache.

   

The steps above won’t delete your information in the app, although you may need to sign in again once you’ve cleared the cache.

For iPhone:

Unfortunately, iPhone users must delete the app to clear the cache. You can long press the app icon until it moves and click the x to confirm or review the settings.

1. Go to your iPhone Settings menu and touch General.

   

2. Tap on Storage either iPhone storagedepending on your iOS version.

   

3. Scroll down and select the instagram application.

   

4. Then touch Delete application. You will need to confirm the deletion.

   

Once the above process is done, you can return to the App Store and reinstall the application. Make sure you have your iCloud password to download and your Instagram login credentials.

9. Check your phone settings

Finally, there’s another thing you can check: your sounds. Both iOS and Android have separate settings for how your phone distributes sound. Of course, you’ve probably tried turning up the volume, but it’s not uncommon (especially after a system update) for your sounds to be directed to the wrong speaker. For example, if your phone is connected to the headset, you are not likely to hear it.

1. Open Settings on your phone and write sounds in the search box (iOS users should open Settings and scroll down slightly to bring up this box.)

   

2. Once you have selected your selections, review the applicable ones. For example, Accessibility in both operating systems it can ruin the sound. Make sure all sounds are on.

   

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Unfortunately, there are many reasons why sound may stop working on Instagram. Fortunately, now you know the best solutions if the sound is not working on Instagram.