How do I fix the sound on YouTube on my Android?

Check Your Android Device’s Volume Settings

If YouTube videos are playing quietly on your Android device, the first thing to check is your media volume settings. Make sure the volume is turned up for media playback by going to Settings > Sounds & vibration (or Sounds & notifications on some devices). Drag the media or music volume slider all the way to the right for maximum volume. 1

You may also want to check if you have enabled any volume limit settings, which restrict how loud the media volume can go. Look in Settings for Advanced features > Volume and toggle off any volume limit options. This will allow you to increase the volume to its true maximum level.

As a test, try plugging in wired headphones and playing a YouTube video. This will help isolate if the low volume issue is specifically related to the speakers on your Android device and not a problem with the YouTube app. The wired connection provides a direct audio path for troubleshooting. If the sound is louder through headphones, it points to a potential hardware limitation on your device’s built-in speakers that may need service.

Check the YouTube Video’s Sound

The issue may be specific to a certain YouTube video. Try playing the video that has no sound on another device like a computer or tablet. If the video has no sound there as well, then the problem is likely with that specific video.

Additionally, try playing different videos or watching different channels on YouTube. If only certain videos have no sound, then there may be an issue with the audio encoding or upload of those videos. However, if all YouTube videos have no sound, then the problem likely lies with your Android device or app.

As suggested in this YouTube troubleshooting video, isolating the videos with sound issues can help determine if the problem is specific to YouTube or device-wide.

Update Your Apps

One of the most common fixes for audio issues on YouTube or other apps is to ensure you have the latest versions installed. App developers regularly release updates that contain bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features. Outdated app versions may have problems playing audio properly.

Make sure to update the YouTube app itself to the latest version from the Google Play Store. YouTube’s developers often address audio bugs reported by users in app updates. Having the newest YouTube version ensures any audio glitches get patched.

You should also update your device’s Android OS, as Google includes audio enhancements and fixes in operating system updates. Go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update to check for and install the newest Android version.

Check other media apps like Spotify, Netflix, etc. and update them as well from the Play Store. Audio issues may arise if these apps are not up-to-date.

Clear App Cache and Data

One potential solution is to clear the cache and data for the YouTube app. This will erase the temporary data stored by the app and often resolves issues with things like connectivity, graphics, and sound. To clear the YouTube app’s cache and data:

1. Open your Android device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Apps or Application Manager.
3. Select YouTube from the list of apps.
4. Tap Storage.
5. Tap Clear Cache to clear just the cache, or tap Clear Data to clear both the cache and app data.

Clearing the cache often fixes sound issues in apps like YouTube, while clearing app data erases your sign in info and settings but also resets the app. According to Android Police, clearing the cache and data for apps is a useful troubleshooting step for connectivity and performance issues.

After clearing the YouTube app’s cache and/or data, reboot your Android device. Rebooting ensures that any cached processes are completely flushed and the phone starts fresh. This often resolves temporary software glitches.

Check Connected Bluetooth Devices

One reason you may be experiencing no sound or audio issues on YouTube is due to connected Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth allows you to wirelessly stream audio to speakers, headphones, and other accessories from your Android device. However, sometimes pairing issues can prevent audio from properly being transmitted.

To rule out Bluetooth as the cause, first go into your Settings app and tap on Connected devices or Bluetooth. Here you will see a list of any Bluetooth accessories paired to your phone. Tap the settings icon next to each paired device, and disconnect it from your phone. This will ensure no other Bluetooth speakers or headphones are capturing the audio output.

You can also open the YouTube app, go to Settings > Audio and Video, and set the Audio output to Phone speaker. This will force audio to come through the built-in speaker instead of trying to connect to Bluetooth accessories.

Once you’ve disconnected other Bluetooth devices and switched audio output, try playing a YouTube video again and see if sound now works properly through your phone’s speaker. If the issue persists, you can rule out Bluetooth connectivity as the reason.¹

Toggle Hardware Sound Settings

To fix the sound problem on YouTube, try toggling your Android device’s hardware sound settings. Many Android phones have a silent or vibrate switch on the side of the phone – make sure this switch is not activated, as it will mute all sound from your device.

You can also try using your device’s volume buttons while a YouTube video is playing to turn up the media volume. The volume buttons should specifically control the volume for music, videos and other media, separate from your ringtone or alarm volume.

If your Android device’s hardware sound switches are set correctly and the media volume is turned up, but you still have no sound on YouTube, the problem likely lies in a software issue, not a hardware one. Proceed with some of the other troubleshooting methods listed here.

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

Factory Reset Your Phone

One option if all else fails is to factory reset your Android device to its original settings. This should wipe any software issues or glitches causing problems with the sound. However, factory resetting will erase all data, settings, downloaded apps and media on your device, so it’s best to only try this as a last resort if nothing else has worked.

Before factory resetting, be sure to backup any important data, photos, videos or other files you want to keep. You can backup to the cloud, a computer, or an external hard drive. After backing up, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

Once the reset is complete, test the YouTube app’s sound again. If the issue persists, also try reinstalling the YouTube app from the Play Store to fully clear any corrupt data. With any luck, the fresh install and wiped system should resolve any software glitches preventing sound from working properly in the app.

As a last resort fix, factory resetting often fixes elusive technical issues, but remember it will wipe your device, so only use it if nothing else has worked. Be sure to backup data first, and reinstall apps afterwards like YouTube to fully troubleshoot the problem.

Source: Google Pixel Phone Help

Contact YouTube Support

If you are still experiencing no sound or audio issues in the YouTube app after trying the troubleshooting steps above, you can report the problem directly to YouTube Support. Providing details about your specific device and examples of videos where you are having sound problems will help YouTube diagnose and resolve the issue.

When contacting YouTube Support, be prepared to provide the following information:

• Your device make and model (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S22)
• Your Android version number (e.g. Android 12)
• The YouTube app version installed on your device
• Specific examples of videos where you are noticing no sound
• Whether the problem is isolated to certain videos or happening across all videos
• Any error messages you see when trying to play videos with no sound

With these key details, the YouTube Support team can better troubleshoot the sound problem on your specific Android device and YouTube app version. They may suggest further troubleshooting steps, configuration changes, or app updates to resolve the no sound issue based on your report. Working directly with YouTube Support provides the best chance of fixing sound problems that persist after trying the standard troubleshooting methods.

Contact Your Device Manufacturer

If you continue having audio issues after trying other troubleshooting steps, it’s a good idea to contact your Android device manufacturer’s support team for further help. Audio problems may sometimes be related to hardware issues that only the manufacturer can fully diagnose and resolve.

For Samsung devices, you can report audio issues on Samsung’s support site. Describe the problems you’re experiencing in detail, and include your device model. Samsung experts may request logs or diagnostic tests to pinpoint the cause.

For Pixel phones made by Google, you can get audio troubleshooting support through the Pixel Phone Help page or contact Google support by live chat, email or phone. Google can run checks on your specific device to determine if it’s a hardware defect covered by warranty.

Other Android brands like LG, Motorola, Sony, etc. also offer official customer support you can reach out to for possible audio fixes. Reporting the problem provides important feedback, and may lead to a software update or other solution if it’s a widespread issue.

Try a Third-Party App

One option to try fixing YouTube sound issues on your Android device is to install an alternative third-party YouTube app like NewPipe or YouTube Vanced. These apps offer ad-free YouTube viewing and custom features not found in the official YouTube app. They also may not have the same sound glitches since they use their own video players.

To install a third-party YouTube app on your Android device:

• Download the APK file for the app you want to try from its official website.
• Open the downloaded APK file on your device and install the app.
• Open the third-party YouTube app and try playing videos that had sound issues before.
• Check if the sound works properly in the third-party app. If it does, then the issue is likely with the official YouTube app.

Using an alternative app like NewPipe or Vanced can determine if the sound problem persists outside of the main YouTube app. If the videos play fine, you can continue using the third-party app as your main YouTube viewer. But if the issue continues, it likely points to a deeper hardware or software problem on your Android device.