How do I turn up the sound on my tablet?

What you’ll learn

This article will show you step-by-step how to increase the volume on your tablet. We’ll cover adjusting the physical volume buttons, changing settings in the Settings app, and installing volume booster apps.

Why you may need to turn up the volume

The small size of tablets means the speakers are not as powerful. You may need to turn up the volume for music, videos, games, etc. Most tablets have speakers that produce around 70-80 decibels of sound, according to speaker dB level reviews (Soundcore). For comparison, normal conversation is about 60 dB while a rock concert can be 120+ dB (Soundcore). The limited space in tablets prevents large, powerful speakers so the volume from the small speakers may not be loud enough, especially in noisy environments.

Another factor is placement. Since tablets are portable, you may frequently change positions which can muffle the speakers. Cupping the tablet in your hands while gaming or watching videos can direct some sound away from you, meaning you need to turn up the volume to hear properly.

Check the physical volume buttons

Most tablets have physical volume buttons on the side or top edge of the device. For example, Samsung Galaxy tablets often have the volume buttons on the left side in portrait orientation. Try pressing these buttons up or down to turn the volume up or down. If your tablet’s volume buttons are not responding, check that the buttons are not toggled to control something else like screen rotation.

On some tablets like the iPad, the function of the physical buttons can change depending on the orientation of the device. As noted in an Apple support thread, if your iPad has Rotation Lock enabled, the volume buttons will operate based on the fixed orientation. So you may need to adjust your grip to use the proper volume button.

In most cases, the physical volume buttons are the easiest way to turn up the sound on your tablet. Locate the buttons on your device and press up to raise the volume to the desired level. If the physical buttons are not working, it’s time to explore other options.

Adjust the volume in Settings

The easiest way to turn up the overall volume on your Android tablet is to adjust it in the Settings app. Open Settings and look for Sound or Audio settings. On Samsung tablets, tap ‘Sounds and vibration’ while on stock Android devices, look for the Sound or Audio menu. Here you’ll find volume sliders for media, notifications, system sounds, etc. Drag the sliders up to increase the volume for each category.

For example, on a Samsung Galaxy Tab, open Settings and tap ‘Sounds and vibration’. Under Volume, you’ll see sliders for Ringtone, Media, Notifications, and System. Drag each one up to your desired loudness. Make sure you don’t max out every slider as that could damage your hearing over time. Adjust to a comfortable level for your surroundings.

Citations:

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9082609?hl=en

Use a volume booster app

Downloading a volume booster app from the app store can amplify your tablet’s speakers beyond their maximum volume. Apps like Volume Booster GOODEV and Volume Booster for Android use software to push your speaker’s output to louder levels.

However, it’s important to be careful when using these apps. Listening at excessively high volumes, especially for prolonged periods, can permanently damage your hearing over time. Make sure to take regular breaks and don’t overdo it with volume booster apps.

Connect external speakers

Connecting your tablet to external speakers, headphones, or bluetooth devices can help increase the maximum volume output. The built-in speakers on most tablets have limited volume capabilities. Using wired or wireless external speakers allows you to bypass these limitations.

High quality bluetooth speakers like the Jeecoo A10 Wireless Speaker (Amazon) or headphones can connect to your tablet via Bluetooth and provide louder and clearer sound. Look for bluetooth 4.0 or higher for the best connectivity. Popular brands like JBL, Bose, Anker, and Sonos make bluetooth speakers optimized for tablet use.

For a wired connection, you can use speakers or headphones that plug into your tablet’s 3.5mm audio jack or USB-C port if available. Walmart and BestBuy have a wide selection of wired tablet speakers and headphones to choose from.

With high quality external speakers or headphones, you can turn the volume up to the maximum level without distortion. Just make sure to still be mindful of prolonged exposure to loud volumes.

Check for hardware issues

If you still can’t get enough volume after trying other troubleshooting steps, it may be an issue with the physical speakers. Over time, speaker components can become damaged from normal wear and tear or exposure to moisture and debris. Issues like blown-out speakers, disconnected wires, or cracked solder joints can all cause low volume problems. If restarting the tablet, adjusting settings, and using volume boosting apps don’t work, it’s a sign of a hardware problem.

You may need to take the tablet in for service so a technician can examine the speakers and headphone jack. They can check connections, clean out dust or debris, replace damaged parts, or solder loose connections. For water damage issues, the speakers may need to be replaced entirely. Most tablet repair shops can troubleshoot speaker problems, but you may need to go through the manufacturer if the tablet is still under warranty. Getting the speakers fixed by a professional is the best way to restore full, quality audio on a tablet with hardware-related volume issues.

Source: https://howly.com/tablets/issue-sound/

Adjust accessibility settings

If you have hearing difficulties, enable accessibility services like subtitles, mono audio, or audio boost. On Android devices, go to Settings > Accessibility to customize options like Live Caption, Audio Balance, and Volume Key Shortcut which can boost volume above the maximum level.¹ On Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Audio to enable options like Mono Audio, Audio Balance, and Sound Notification.² These accessibility services optimize audio for those with hearing difficulties.

Be mindful of your hearing

Don’t blast music or videos too loud for too long. Extended exposure to loud sounds can permanently damage hearing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sounds above 120 decibels can immediately hurt your ears (CDC). Even sounds between 85-120 decibels can damage hearing if you’re exposed for long periods. For example, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association notes sounds at 85 dB can damage hearing after 8 hours of exposure (ASHA).

To protect your hearing, use the minimum volume necessary and avoid turning up sounds for long periods. Take regular breaks and give your ears time to rest. Be extra cautious with headphones, since they deliver sound directly into the ear. If you experience any muffled hearing or ringing ears after exposure to loud sounds, see a doctor.

A Recap on How to Turn Up the Volume on Your Tablet

There are several ways to increase the volume output on your tablet. Let’s do a quick recap of the main methods we covered:

Try using the physical volume buttons on the side or top of your tablet. These directly control the speaker volume.
Go into your Settings app and adjust the volume slider. This will increase the max volume your tablet can produce.

Download a volume booster app from the app store. These can boost volume beyond the max system settings.
Connect external speakers, headphones or Bluetooth devices to your tablet. They may get louder than the built-in speakers.
Adjust accessibility services like Audio Boost to increase volume output.

While louder volume is helpful in some cases, be mindful of your hearing health. Avoid blasting the volume for long periods, as this can permanently damage your ears over time.