iPad Air speakers don’t change when device is rotated.

Question

Level 1

6 points

iPad Air speakers don’t change when device is rotated.

When listening to music, watching, YouTube, or any other app, when I rotate my iPad Air (latest model), the sound does not change speakers as it should. Additionally, when I go into accessibility settings and adjust the balance of the speakers, they are backwards. Balance all the way to the left makes sound come out of the right speaker and vice versa. Of the four speakers on this device, sound only emanate from two of them: the speakers on the bottom of the device. “Bottom” is determined by how the iPad sits in the cover when the cover is folded to create a stand.

My apps are updated. My iPad Air is updated. I’ve restarted, rebooted, and every other method I’ve come across in discussions. Please help.

iPad Air, iPadOS 16

Posted on May 4, 2023 4:02 AM

Reply

Answer 1

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,306 points

May 4, 2023 4:26 AM in response to jamees808

Your iPad Air is likely working as intended…

Don’t be fooled by your iPad Air seemingly having four speaker grilles. Your iPad Air has only two speakers - not four as found in models of iPad Pro.

Recent models of iPad Air have one speaker at top and bottom - such that what viewed in Landscape orientation, you will have a left/right stereo pair.

You can verify and compare iPad specifications here:

https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/?modelList=ipad-pro-12-9-6th-gen,ipad-air-5th-gen,ipad-air-4th-gen

As a point of interest, older models of iPad Air had two speakers on the bottom edge of the iPad - one placed either side of the Lightning port. For these models, with the iPad positioned in Landscape orientation, both speakers where to one side of the screen.

Reply