Only "Headphones" sound, no speaker sound after 4.2.1 upgrading

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Level 1

6 points

Only "Headphones" sound, no speaker sound after 4.2.1 upgrading

After I had finished upgrading 4.2.1 firmware for my iPad, the speaker's sound has gone.
I can hear the sound from my iPad only when I connected to any headphones or bluetooth devices.
I tried many methods to get the sound back, starting from:

1. trying to plug in and out my headphone - nothing changed
2. switch on and off from the mute button (former is lock button) but it only showed "Headphones" or "Mute" sign.
3. shut down and turn on my iPad - nothing changed
4. Hard Reset my iPad and Restore - Still no sound, but I had to re-install everything again
5. Ask everyone and search every "no sound from iPad" topics but found none like mine.

However, while I upgraded the firmware, I noticed that I "locked" the screen during the process and I heard someone in the internet told me that it might be the origin of my problem.
I tried to sync my iPad and find how to re-upgrading the firmware again with no "locked" the button but there is no way to.

iPad, iOS 4

Posted on Dec 8, 2010 7:12 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Michael Morgan1

Level 7

23,831 points

Dec 8, 2010 7:44 PM in response to Waltz_woods

Well, you sound as though you've done just about all that you can on your own. I have just one possible explanation and solution.

For some strange reason, you've suffered a hardware fault in your mini-jack which results in aa continual 'plugged in' state, meaning the speakers are killed. The solution is more difficult, depending on what you feel like trying.

I might try a healthy squirt of CRC down into the mini-jack's opening, followed by running an actual plug in and out of it for a while; if a mechanical fix is possible, or if it's a corrosion issue, that might fix it up.

Or, just take it on in to a Genius Bar, let them play with it, and walk our the door with a new one

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Answer 2

jjj111

Level 1

0 points

Dec 9, 2010 2:16 AM in response to Michael Morgan1

hi, i think both of us has the same problem, most of my apps don't have sound. However i discovered that I can play video with sound with Safari and Youtube app. I just had the problem this morning. So i don't think it is a mechanical problem as Michael pointed out. I think apple should release another update to fix this.

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Answer 3

Dec 9, 2010 3:24 AM in response to jjj111

I think you haven't noticed that the old screen lock hardware switch is now a system sound mute switch.
Flip the switch, and I'm sure all your sounds will magically come back!

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Answer 4

jjj111

Level 1

0 points

Dec 9, 2010 4:13 AM in response to igmackenzie

thanks igmackenzie, that solved half of my problem. now my apps have sound, but why is my youtube app and safari still has sound if it supposed to be mute. i just find it really weird.

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Answer 5

Dec 9, 2010 4:21 AM in response to jjj111

With all due respect, a little searching around here would have answered your question.
The mute switch is for system sounds only so that you don't get disturbed when listening to audiobooks or music, or watching films or videos, or going into meetings or doing a presentation.
To mute all sounds, then hold the volume button down.

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Answer 6

Waltz_woods Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 9, 2010 5:22 AM in response to igmackenzie

Thanks for the answer. However the mute button didn't solve my problem!!
I tried many many times to flip my mute button but still no speaker sound at all.
When I flipped to mute the sound, the "no sound" symbol appeared and no sound from both speaker and headphones nor Bluetooth devices.
But when I flipped to turn on the sound, the "Headphones" symbol appeared though I didn't plug in any headphones and there was no sound from the built-in speaker whatever app I used. (iTunes, safari, YouTube and games) I can hear the sound only by using headphones or others Bluetooth devices.
Firstly I thought it should be the bug in the firmware but after discussed in this forum it seems like the problem only occured to my iPad, so, it may be the hardware problem.
Tomorrow I will go to have my iPad repaired.

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Answer 7

Dec 9, 2010 5:25 AM in response to Waltz_woods

Yes, I was replying to jjj111 and I think his problem should be solved.
I think the only answer for you is to take your iPad to the Apple Store and get it checked out. Sounds hardware related to me.

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Answer 8

Waltz_woods Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 9, 2010 5:37 AM in response to Michael Morgan1

Thanks, Michael Morgan1, for your helpful advice.
But it is impossible for me, myself, to fix the mini-jack.
Tomorrow I will go to have my iPad repaired.

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Answer 9

tagv12

Level 1

0 points

Dec 10, 2010 10:52 PM in response to Waltz_woods

I have had the exact same problem as Waltz_woods since the update.

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Answer 10

tagv12

Level 1

0 points

Dec 10, 2010 10:53 PM in response to tagv12

Waltz_woods any update?

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Answer 11

seihalai

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2010 9:58 PM in response to tagv12

I have similar issue. I just got my iPad and immediately upgraded to 4.2.1. All sounds with all apps are ok, but when I plug a headset, i start experiencig problems. Sounds with ipod app, YouTube and video apps are ok, but sounds with Safari playing mp4 files are broken somehow filtered and quite silent. If I unplug headset the sounds are ok. Similar sound impact I saa with bbcnews app, but it could be Safari related.

Comments?

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Answer 12

Jun 5, 2011 8:37 PM in response to Waltz_woods

Sometime after I updated the os on my iPad I noticed I lost sound out of the speakers. 90% of my apps would not play through the speakers. I could still play sound from the iPod app through my speakers. It turned out it was tha pesky Side switch. I checked my settings.

I went into settings -> General -> use side switch. It was set to lock rotation. So I figured that it now had nothing to do with sound. WRONG! I changed it from lock orientation to mute. Bam it worked all sound can come out of either the speakers or the headphones.

The boys and girls in apple land must have messed up the functionality on the switch when they upgraded the os.

I hope this helps someone else.

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Answer 13

Jun 12, 2011 7:24 AM in response to Themayneline

You are totally right about this! That was the only setting I didn't recheck as I was having the same issue and it was driving me batty! As soon as I changed the setting from lock rotation to mute, the sound came back through my external speakers! Great troubleshooting!

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Answer 14

Sep 2, 2011 5:20 PM in response to Themayneline

I've been having this problem for several months and just found this thread. Unfortunately the solution isn't well spelled out, but I was able to resolve the issue.

To recap:

Problem: Many/most non-Apple Apps have no sound from the iPad internal speaker. Plugging headphones in provides sound from all apps. Apple Apps (youtube, music, video, safari, etc) continue to function and play sound out of internal speakers normally.

Resolution: This issue appears to be related to the 'mute' / screen orientation lock button. If your iPad mute switch was on mute when you switched it to orientation lock, 3rd party apps will remain muted via internal speakers no matter what you do. Luckily an easy fix: Go Settings -> General and switch from 'lock rotation' to mute. Slide the switch to the non-muted position. You can now switch back to 'lock rotation' and your apps will play sound from the internal speaker again!!!

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Answer 15

Jan 22, 2012 7:55 AM in response to Whitaker Grannis

I have one more element to add to this issue. This seems to be "an undocumented feature" whereby if you set the slider to Mute, move the slider down to mute the device, then switch the slider back to Orientation, the system will remain muted. Change the slider back to Mute to toggle the speaker to be activated for apps. Otherwise, the audio is only active for headphones. Nice functionality, but I wish it had been more prominently documented. I have been struggling with this since the ver. 5 upgrade several weeks ago. Now I actually prefer it to be muted so I can use apps on the train without having an app blare audio briefly until I mute it. Headphones are your friend on public transportation...

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