Top 11 Ways to Fix Notification Sounds Not Working on iPad

Notifications keep you up to date with content updates on installed apps. For some apps like messaging and email, everyone relies on notification. What if someone doesn’t get notified when a new message or email arrives? Many Apple iPad users are alarmed because they are not getting any notifications from the apps. Their tablet does not make a sound when they receive a notification. Let’s check out various ways to fix notification sound not working on iPad.

There could be various reasons behind notification issue on iPad, such as Do Not Disturb mode, low alert sound, paired Bluetooth devices, and more. For some, the problem can be fixed with a simple reboot. Others may need to reset iPad settings.

The solutions mentioned here work on all iPad models – iPad Pro, iPad and iPad mini. Let’s see what works for you.

1. Restart iPad

As with mobile phones, you should start the troubleshooting process by restarting your Apple iPad. Sometimes, a simple fix like restarting the iPad will bring the notification sound back. Press and hold the physical power button to restart iPad. Then slide the Shut down slider to turn off the iPad. Once completely powered off, press and hold the power button again to turn it on.

2. Check iPad Volume

Several times, the iPad is either muted or the volume is low. This makes people think there is a problem with notifications.

You can control iPad volume in several ways. For starters, press the Volume up button on the side of the iPad several times to increase the volume. A volume slider will appear to show the volume. Make sure it’s high.

However, this is not enough. By default, the volume buttons only control the media volume, not the ringer and alert volume. You need to enable the ability to change the volume from them in the settings. That’s why you need to increase the warning sound from the settings. For this, go to Settings > Sounds. Increase the volume using the slider under Ring and Alerts. If you want to control the volumes with the volume buttons, enable or disable the Change with buttons setting as needed.

Next, check the silent mode. To do this, open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen. Look for the bell icon. If it’s red, it means mute is enabled on your iPad. Tap the bell icon to disable the sound and activate the ringtone mode.

Pro Tip: If ringer mode is already enabled, mute it once and then disable mute.

3. Plug in the Headphones

If you regularly use wired headphones with your iPad, they may also be the cause of iPad notification problems. Sometimes the iPad thinks it’s still connected to the headset and that’s why you don’t hear any notification sounds. To fix this, plug the end of the headphone cable into your iPad’s headphone jack and unplug it. Hopefully, notification sounds will start working again on your iPad.

4. Check iPad Notification Settings

Apple offers several settings to customize notifications on iPad. You may have accidentally disabled the app notification completely or changed a setting that caused the notification sound to not work.

To fix it, follow these steps:

Stage 1: Open Settings on your iPad and go to Notifications.

Step 2: You will see the Show Previews setting. Tap on it and select Always.

Stage 3: Under Notifications, you will find the list of installed apps. Tap on the app with notification sounds not working.

Step 4: Make sure the toggle next to Allow Notifications under the problematic app is enabled. Next, enable the toggle next to Sounds.

If you are experiencing other notification issues, you can enable various options here. For example, if you want notification badges, enable the switch next to Badges. Similarly, if you want notifications to appear on the Lock Screen, tap on Lock Screen option and also tap on Banners to enable banner style notifications. Also, keep it under Always Show Previews. Keep everything active for optimal notification sounds.

Another way to quickly enable notifications is from your iPad’s Notification Center. Open Notification Center. Now swipe left slightly on the app notification to reveal various options. Tap on Manage. Tap on Conspicuously Deliver and Open to enable all notifications for the app.

5. Check Custom Notification Sound

Do you use custom notification alerts? We recommend switching to a system tone for now. If that works, something is wrong with your custom tone. To change the notification sound, go to Settings > Sound. Tap the required sound type that is giving you trouble and select an alert from the system sounds.

Pro Tip: If notification sounds are not working for a particular contact, choose a system tone from them instead of a custom tone, or choose a different custom tone.

6. Disable Do Not Disturb Mode

Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is another major reason why notification sound doesn’t work on iPad. When this mode is enabled, you will not hear any notification and call alert sounds. So you need to disable it as shown below and check other settings related to it.

Stage 1: Open Settings on your iPad and go to Do Not Disturb.

Step 2: Turn off the switch next to Do Not Disturb. You may have accidentally enabled it. For better results, enable and disable if it’s already turned off.

Pro Tip: When DND mode is enabled, you will see a crescent moon icon in the notification bar.

7. Check the Bluetooth

Bluetooth was responsible for not having notification sound on iPad for many iPad users having the same issue.

When you connect your iPad to a Bluetooth device, the connection remains active from time to time and the sound from your iPad goes to your Bluetooth device (headphones, speakers, etc.) instead of the iPad. To fix this, you need to disconnect the Bluetooth device or turn off Bluetooth.

For this, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Under My devices, check the connected device. Disconnect the connected device. Alternatively, simply turn off Bluetooth using the available button.

8. Uninstall App

If the notifications not working issue occurs only in a particular app, you should uninstall it from your iPad and reinstall it.

9. Disable Mono Audio

Many iPad users suggested that disabling Mono Audio accessibility setting fixed their notification sound issue. Go to iPad Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual. Turn off Mono Audio toggle.

10. Check the Date and Time

This may sound silly, but several iPad users have fixed the notification issue by simply getting the correct date and time. Go to Settings > General > Date & time. Enable Automatically Adjust. Restart the iPad. If that doesn’t fix it, disable Set Automatically and manually enter the correct details.

Pro Tip: Switch to a different language while trying weird fixes, and then select your original language again in Settings > General > Language & Region > iPad Language.

11. Reset Settings

Finally, if nothing works, it’s time to reset the settings on your iPad. This does not delete any of your personal data. Only the settings on your iPad will be reset to their original values. To reset iPad settings, go to Settings > General > Reset. Tap on Reset all settings.

Notifications Resume

We totally understand the despair you must feel without notifications on your iPad. After all, notifications increase the power of any app. We hope the solutions above helped you fix the notification sounds not working on your iPad issue.

Next: Worried about your iPad’s battery? Check out 3 ways to check battery health on iPad from the next link.