KEY TAKEAWAYS
- To fix iPad volume buttons not working issue, try restarting and updating your device.
- If your iPad volume buttons are stuck, remove your iPad’s case and clean the buttons using alcohol.
- If the volume button is broken, you can open the Control Center and adjust the volume slider.
- If you are looking for other ways to control iPad volume, consider using Siri or AssistiveTouch.
Note: information in this article apply to iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro.
You can use your iPad volume buttons to toggle the volume up and down, restart device, take screenshot and more. What are you supposed to do if these buttons are stuck or stop working? Don’t worry, you’re not stuck with the current volume level forever.
If your iPad volume buttons are stuck or not working properly, you should fix them as soon as possible. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions, and you can do many of them yourself.
How do I adjust the volume on my iPad if the button is broken?
Apple has built in a temporary solution to adjust the volume on your iPad if the button is broken. Here’s what you can do:
1. Adjust your iPad volume using AssistiveTouch
“Assistive Touch” is part of Apple’s great suite of Accessibility tools. It allows you to put a floating button on your screen that can be used for a number of shortcuts. That includes mimicking the behavior of the physical buttons.
Assistive Touch is a very handy iPad feature, especially if your iPad volume buttons are stuck or not working.
To get started, open the “Settings” app on your iPad.
Next, tap Accessibility > Touch.
Tap AssistiveTouch and turn on the AssistiveTouch option.
You’ll notice a floating button appear on the screen. Now we can decide how you want the volume shortcuts to work. We’ll add them to the shortcut menu by selecting “Customize Top Level Menu.”
Select one of the shortcuts and replace it with “Volume Up.”
Now repeat that same step with a different shortcut and replace it with “Volume Down.”
If you want even easier access to adjusting the volume, you can put “Volume Up” and “Volume Down” as the Single-Tap, Double-Tap, or Long Press options for the floating button.
After you’ve set it all up, simply tap the floating button and select the “Volume Up” or “Volume Down” shortcut. If you used the custom tap options, you only need to tap the floating button however many times you chose for the shortcuts.
You’re all set! It’s hardly an ideal solution, but it’ll hold you over until you’re ready to purchase a new iPad or get your current one fixed.
2. Use Siri to adjust iPad volume
You can also adjust the volume on your iPad using Siri.
Activate Siri and say something like: “Turn up the volume” or “Turn down the volume.”
3. Adjust iPad volume in Control Center
When iPad is locked or when you’re using an app, you can adjust the volume in Control Center.
Launch the control center by swiping down from top right of the screen then drag the volume slider.
4. 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. Here’s how:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Sounds.
- Drag the slider to your desired volume. The further you drag it right, the louder your iPad will play sounds.
While you are here, lock the ringer and alert volumes by turning off the toggle next to Change with Buttons.
Addressing The Real Problem
Adjusting your iPad volume using AssistiveTouch, Siri, Control Center and Settings app are all 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 three unique problems:
- The volume buttons aren’t stuck, but when you press them, nothing happens.
- The volume buttons are completely stuck, so you can’t even press them down.
- iPad volume buttons failed after water damage
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 or 3 represents your iPad’s problem, you can scroll down to the relevant section.
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. Here’s what you can do:
1. Restart your iPad
A simple restart will fix small bugs which may have caused the volume buttons on your iPad to stop working.
The good news is, you can still restart your iPad without volume buttons.
- Navigate to Settings > General
- Swipe down and tap Shut Down
- Swipe the power off slider from left to right. After your iPad has shut down completely, press the power button to turn your iPad back on.
There’s also a new way to shut down an iPad, and the good thing is that it doesn’t involve holding any physical buttons. All you’ve to do is swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Control Center and press and hold (then release) the power button for a second. Then, you can simply drag the familiar power slider to turn off your iPad. After your iPad has shut down completely, press the power button to turn your iPad back on.
Another way to shut down your iPad is via Siri. All you need to do is activate Siri and say “turn off my iPad.” Siri should respond with a confirmation, asking, “Just to confirm, you want to power off this device?” Say “Yes,” and your iPad will shut down right away.
If this solved your problem, you are one lucky iPad owner. If it didn’t move on to the next method.
2. Update Your iPad
Updating your iPad can sometimes fix software bugs that could be preventing the volume button from working properly. Open Settings and tap General -> Software Update. Tap Update Now if an iOS update is available.
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. Here’s what you can do:
1. Remove a case if you are using one
Oftentimes, the volume buttons on your iPad may not work properly if you’re using a thick or rugged case.
To find if this is the issue, try removing the case you’re using and then try using the volume buttons. If they work fine, it’s time to get a new case for your tablet.
2. Clean the volume buttons
Dirst, dirt, or dirt in the bottom of your purse or briefcase — any of these things can damage your iPad volume buttons.
To fix this, you’ll need a cotton swab and 99 percent isopropyl alcohol, which can be found at hardware stores.
Use the cotton swab to clean around your volume button the best you can. If you can push down on the buttons, doing so might help you clean it better. There’s no need to overdo it with the alcohol, as it doesn’t take much to work.
Wipe clean, and wait about 10-16 minutes before checking to see if that did the trick. If your volume buttons are working now, great! If they are only working a bit better, that’s a sign that they are still dirty, and you should keep cleaning them. If they’re still not working at all, you might want to move on to the next fix.
3. Get your iPad volume Buttons Repaired
If your iPad’s volume buttons are still stuck, you’ll have to get your device repaired. Head on over to Apple. If your iPad is still covered by warranty, the company will replace your device or perform any necessary repairs.
Water Accident? Let Your iPad Dry
If your iPad volume buttons are not working and it recently came into contact with water, then water damage is the likely culprit. The liquid can quickly make its way to the internal component through the gaps around the volume buttons. So if you’ve had volume buttons issues on your iPad after such an accident, let your device dry off.
There are several methods to dry a wet device, like blowing hot air into it—although putting it in rice won’t dry your iPad. Whatever you do, turn your iPad off immediately and let it completely dry