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So, all your friends are having fun using that new viral TikTok audio. However, when you try it, your app decides to act up. Sound issues are common complaints among TikTok users, so you’re not alone, but you can hardly use this app properly when nothing comes out of your speakers.
Whether the issue is related to your phone settings or an error in the app, there are many possible solutions. Before you contact support or resort to posting mute videos for the rest of your life, keep reading for troubleshooting tips.
Sound Not Working in TikTok on an Android
If your TikTok app is not producing any sound on your Android device, try some of the solutions listed below.
Check Your Volume
The first thing you should check is whether you have accidentally turned your volume off. TikTok won’t play the sound of videos if your media volume is down. To check this, simply press the volume buttons on the side of your phone while in the app.
A bug can also cause your volume settings to malfunction within the app. If the above solution didn’t work, exit the app, adjust your media volume, then reopen the app.
Give Permission to the App
Another common issue is failing to give TikTok the permissions it requires. On Android, find this setting in the following way:
- Open your Settings and navigate to “Apps.”
- Find the list of your installed applications and tap on “TikTok.”
- Tap “Permissions” and toggle the switch next to “Microphone.”
- Relaunch the app and test if it worked.
Sound Not Working in TikTok on an iPhone
If you’re having TikTok sound issues on your iOS device, it might be because of your volume or permission settings. Check out the following solutions:
Toggle Your Silent Switch
Turning off your phone’s volume will prevent the TikTok app from making any sound. So, check whether you have left your iPhone’s Silent Switch toggled on. Find this toggle on the left side of your iPhone.
After turning Silent Mode off, test whether other apps make any sound. If your phone is still silent, your switch may be broken.
Give Permissions to the App
TikTok requires access to your microphone to work properly. If your sound doesn’t work, check whether you have given the app the necessary permissions.
- Open your Settings app.
- Scroll down to find “TikTok” and tap it.
- Toggle the switch to allow the app access to your microphone.
Sound Not Working in TikTok When Recording Video
Sound issues can make editing your videos difficult. If you cannot hear any sound while recording or editing, try the following solutions:
Enable Dolby Atmos
Your phone may be silent while recording but play the sound with no problem after posting the video. This issue typically affects Android users. Fortunately, there is an easy fix that worked for many:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Find “Sounds and Vibration.”
- Look for the “Sound Quality and Effects” option.
- Enable “Dolby Atmos” and reopen TikTok to see the change.
Sound Sync Not Working in TikTok
TikTok has a handy feature called “Sound Sync” that can make editing faster and easier. It automatically synchronizes your material with the sound you chose without you having to do anything. If this feature is missing or not working for you, try these fixes:
Select Multiple Clips
The Sound Sync option may not show up for you because you have only selected a single photo or video clip. Even if you want to use multiple parts of the same video, you will need to import them as separate files. That way, the app will recognize it as multiple videos and sync them to the music.
Use a separate video editing app to cut your video into short clips. Any of the following will do the job for free, both on Android and iOS:
VivaVideo
On iPhone, you can also use Apple’s native iMovie app.
Ensure One of the Files Is a Video
Sound Sync works perfectly with photos. However, the option may not show up when you only import static images. You can trick the app and trigger Sound Sync by importing a video file alongside your photos and removing it later.
If you tried these tricks and Sound Sync still won’t appear, the feature might be unavailable at the time.
Note: Remember that Sound Sync doesn’t allow you to trim and crop videos yourself. You cannot choose which section of your video it will include in the final result. Keep this in mind when cropping your video in your video editor.
Duet Sound Not Working in TikTok
Duet is one of the most popular features on TikTok, allowing for immense creativity, but you might be disappointed to find this feature malfunctioning. Some of the solutions that can fix the issue are as follows:
Give the App Permission
The app will require permission to access your camera and microphone to record a Duet. If your completed Duet only has the original video’s sound, TikTok may not have access to your microphone. Give permission to TikTok in the following way on Android:
- Go to your Settings and then “Apps.”
- Find “TikTok” and tap “Permissions.”
- Turn on microphone access.
Similarly, do this on iPhone:
- Go to your Settings and tap “TikTok.”
- Turn on microphone access by pressing the toggle.
Use “React” Instead
A temporary issue with the app may prevent you from using the Duet function. However, you can use the React function instead.
- Go to the video you want to Duet with.
- Tap the arrow button for sharing.
- In the options, look for “React.”
While this is not exactly the same as the Duet function, it’s close enough until you find a solution.
Add Sound Not Working in TikTok
You can add your own voice to your TikTok video or choose from the available sounds in the app. If you can’t record your voice, verify that you have given the appropriate permissions using the methods previously mentioned. If you have issues with sounds from the app, check the following things:
Check for Copyright
If the sound you added to your video is muted, it may have violated copyright laws. In that case, TikTok removes the sound, and there’s nothing you can do. Some sounds and songs may not be available in all regions, either.
Switch to a Personal Account
You may not be able to use certain sounds or songs because you are using a business account. Business accounts may not use copyrighted material, which can limit your options. Check whether you have switched to a business account and change it back to personal to give you access to much more expansive sound options.
Use Your Own Sound
If you can’t add sound to your video in the TikTok app, you can bypass the restriction by uploading your video with the sound already added. Use a 3rd Party app and you can get around this.
Other Solutions for Sound Not Working
There are a few more tricks that can eliminate sound issues on TikTok:
Disconnect Your Bluetooth Devices
A Bluetooth device can cause a mix-up in your TikTok app. If you’ve used a Bluetooth device, try this fix even if it’s not connected to your phone at the time. Your phone may think the device is still connected and fail to play sound through your speakers. To unpair any Bluetooth device on your Android phone, do the following:
- Access your Bluetooth settings by long-pressing the “Bluetooth” button in your “Quick Settings.” You can also go to “Settings” and “Connection” and then navigate to “Bluetooth.”
- Turn on your Bluetooth.
- Paired devices will appear in a list. Tap the gear icon next to the device you want to remove.
- Tap the “Unpair” button at the very bottom of the page.
On iPhone, follow these steps:
- Launch your Settings app and find your Bluetooth settings.
- Turn on your Bluetooth.
- Find the device in question on the list and tap on the “i” icon by its name.
- Tap “Disconnect.”
If you have further issues with this device, you can also make your iPhone “forget” by tapping “Forget This Device.” This will remove the device entirely, and it will disappear from the list.
Ensure Your App Is Updated
Your sound may not work because of a bug that has since been solved. Check whether there is a TikTok update available on Google Play or the App Store. You can also try deleting and redownloading TikTok to start afresh. If your app is up-to-date, clear your cache by following these steps:
- Open TikTok and navigate to your profile.
- Go to the settings in the top right corner.
- Under “Cache and Cellular Data,” you’ll get the option to free up space.
- Clear your cache on the next screen.
Enjoy TikTok With Sound Again
TikTok may be a video app, but it won’t be the same without all the iconic sounds and songs that make it so addictive. Malfunctions that prevent you from using it properly are not only frustrating but can even hurt your engagement.
If the problem is related to a bug, you can likely expect an update soon. However, if the problem is on your end, you need to find the solution yourself. Hopefully, the above tips helped you with that.
Have you managed to figure out what caused your sound issues? Or do you have another potential solution to add? Share your tips in the comments!