The volume buttons on your iPad aren’t working properly and you’re not sure why. You’re having trouble adjusting your iPad’s volume and it’s beginning to get frustrating. In this article, I’ll explain what to do when your iPad volume buttons are stuck or not working!
Use The Volume Slider In The Settings App
When the volume button isn’t working you can still adjust the iPad volume in the Settings app. Go to Settings -> Sounds and drag the slider to your desired volume. The further you drag it right, the louder your iPad will play sounds.
Use AssistiveTouch
You can also adjust the volume on your iPad using the AssistiveTouch button. To turn on AssistiveTouch, go to Settings -> Accessibility -> Touch -> AssistiveTouch. Next, turn on the switch next to AssistiveTouch. When you do, a virtual button will appear on your iPad’s display.
Once the button appears, tap on it and tap Device. Here, you’ll see the option to turn the volume up or down.
Addressing The Real Problem
The volume slider in Settings and AssistiveTouch are both temporary fixes for a problem you probably want to have permanently resolved. Before we can fix the problem, you first have to figure out which type of volume button you’re dealing with. There are two unique problems:
- The volume buttons are completely stuck, so you can’t even press them down.
- The volume buttons aren’t stuck, but when you press them, nothing happens.
Since these are different problems with a different set of fixes, I’ll address them one at a time. I’ll start with scenario 1, so if scenario 2 represents your iPad’s problem, you can skip down a little.
The iPad Volume Buttons Are Stuck!
Unfortunately, if your iPad volume buttons are stuck, there isn’t much you can do since the problem isn’t software-related. One thing I do recommend doing is taking off your iPad’s case. Often times, cheap cases made of rubber can jam up the iPad volume buttons and power button.
If the volume buttons are still stuck after you take off the case, you’ll probably have to have your iPad repaired. Skip down to the “Repair Your iPad” section to learn about your best repair options!
When I Press Down The Volume Buttons, Nothing Happens!
If nothing happens when you press down the iPad volume buttons, then they might not need to be repaired. It’s very possible that you’re iPad is experiencing a software issue.
First, try hard reseting your iPad, which will force your iPad to quickly turn off and back on. If the volume buttons aren’t working because of a software crash, this will fix the problem.
To hard reset an iPad with a Home button, press and hold the Home button and the power button simultaneously until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears on the screen. Release both buttons as soon as the Apple logo appears.
If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, quickly press and release the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Sometimes you have to hold the button or buttons for 25 – 30 seconds, so be patient!
If the volume buttons still aren’t working once your iPad turns back on, move onto to our final software troubleshooting step: the DFU restore.
Put Your iPad in DFU Mode
DFU stands for Device Firmware Update and it’s the deepest type of restore you can do on an iPad. It’s important that you perform a DFU restore, not a regular restore because a DFU restore updates the firmware — the code responsible for controlling the hardware of your iPad. Check out our video on YouTube to learn how to put your iPad in DFU mode and restore!
Repair Your iPad
If a DFU restore didn’t fix or your iPad, or if its volume buttons are still stuck, you’ll have to get your iPad repaired. If you plan on taking your iPad into your local Apple Store, we recommend scheduling an appointment first so you don’t have to wait around.
Turn Up The Volume!
Your iPad volume buttons are working once again, or you have an excellent repair option that can fix them as soon as possible. If you still have questions about what to do when your iPad volume buttons are stuck or not working, feel free to ask them in the comments section below!
This is a very useful website it helped me tons thank you so much 😊
with my volume
Pls help
What if the buttons are stuck because of banana pudding? Just a quick dip. I had it cleaned right off. However both power and volume buttons won’t work. Is this going to cost me the price of a new iPad for repairs? Or can the genius technicians at Apple help me with a quick fix?
I would have never known that my iPad cover was causing the problems with my volume control. Just as you suggested I removed the cover and everything was OK with the volume. Thank you so much. My iPad is old but I cannot afford to replace it at this time. Thank you, thank you.
My iPad Volume button is stuck.
Thanks. Resetting my iPad worked.
Cheap case was jamming the button. Thanks
I did the hard reset for my volume buttons and it worked! Thanks!
My I-pad volume up button will not increase the sound, but the down button will lower it, it is very low now, but going into settings I can lower the volume, but not raise it. the local apple store gave me a price of $125.00 to replace the volume up button, is that reasonable? it’s almost half of what a new one would cost.
Same here. I get around it by pulling down on the screen from the top in the upper right corner area and a pull down box appears. In the middle right of that box is a volume bar and you can control volume with that.
Thank you for that tip! I didn’t know about being able to swipe down to get that box! Will be so much easier than getting the stuck button replaced. I never thought they were convenient to use anyway!
My sons new iPad mini I got him for Easter volume buttons at sticky and the volume will either stay really loud and not long at all, I try pushing on them and playing with them but nothing’s working to make the sound back to how easy it was to use before! Help please! He’s getting so frustrated with it!
My volume down button not working. My IOS version is 14. Have anyone issue of like this?
I have it but I just got used to using the slider in the control center.
Hello, I just purchased an iPad 7 and I am setting it up now. No matter what I do I cannot get the sound to work, Can you help?
Assistive Touch works great! Thanks for the information, David. It is no more difficult to use the Assistive Touch button than the volume button on my ipad.
Hi David, thanks for your advice. It didn’t fix the broken volume-lowering button!, but has allowed me to control this with touch assistance. I’m very grateful.
I am able to turn it up but I can’t turn it down what do I do?
Same! It so annoying. Try taking of your case, or your device might need to visit the repair shop.
I have an iPad Pro. The volume will increase with the slightest touch. And some times it will increase all on its own. There are some occasions when I try to turn the volume down it will try but the volume up continues to attempt increasing the volume
Do you have a case on your iPad? That might cause your iPad volume buttons to be stuck or not working.
I have the same problem. any solution you found
Me too lol
My iPad is broken I think, when I touch the turn down button it turns the volume all the way down. And this is with just the slightest touch. What do I do?
Sounds like there’s an issue with the volume button contacts. I recommend you have it serviced to see if they can fix the contacts. You shouldn’t need to get a whole new device unless there’s a larger underlying issue.
thank you i did a restart and its fixed
My iPad 5 power and volume button is not working after I replaced my digitizer. I I did a soft reset