No sound on Android

Speaker test 5 steps ~5 min fix

No sound on Android is usually the wrong output device, a muted volume, or audio routed to the wrong speakers/headphones. Work through these, then play the channel test.

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Step-by-step fix

  1. Open Settings → Sound & vibration and select the correct output device (laptop speakers, headphones, HDMI/monitor, etc.).
  2. Check the volume isn't muted or at zero — system volume and any app volume.
  3. Unplug and replug headphones; if using Bluetooth, reconnect the device.
  4. Run the CheckMyMic speaker test — play the left, right and both-channel tones.
  5. Still silent? Update the audio driver and restart Android.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no sound on Android even though volume is up?

Audio is likely routed to the wrong output. Open Settings → Sound & vibration and switch the output device, then run the speaker test.

Only one speaker works — how do I fix the balance on Android?

Open the speaker test and play Left then Right. If one side is silent, check the balance/pan setting in Settings → Sound & vibration.

Still silent after all of that on Android — what now?

Plug in wired headphones and play the CheckMyMic speaker test tones. If the headphones play, the audio path works and the fault is the speakers or their connection. If even headphones are silent, it's Android's audio stack — reinstall the audio driver and recheck Settings → Sound & vibration. Sound missing in only one app? See our Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord and Chrome sound guides.

Media plays silently but ringtones work on Android — why?

Android keeps separate volume streams. Press a volume key while media should be playing, tap the slider/three-dot icon that appears, and raise Media specifically — ring and media volumes move independently. Also check the phone isn't still routed to a paired Bluetooth speaker in another room.

Fixed it? Confirm with a quick test. Run the test →

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