Intermittent crossed-out bell symbol

Question

Level 2

226 points

Intermittent crossed-out bell symbol

While using my iPad ( the iPad 3, even thought thats not the official name) I see a crossed-out bell symbol appearing and disappearing intermittently. What does this mean and why is it happening? Sometimes it appears with a volume symbol underneath the bell then immediately changes to the crossed-out bell and goes away after a couple seconds. Couldn't find anything in the iPad users manual about this symbol.

Thanks for your help in finding out what this means and how to correct it.

iPad, iOS 5.1

Posted on Sep 8, 2012 1:03 PM

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Answer 1

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:13 PM in response to E. Kennedy

Edit...

Removed my incorrect response. My response had to do with a crossed out speaker, not a crossed out bell. Sorry.

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Answer 2

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:25 PM in response to E. Kennedy

Once you understand how the side switch works and how you can set systems sounds and the lock rotation to work, it should be a little clearer for you, but the bottom line is that you have the side switch set to mute system sounds in Settings>General>Use Side Switch To>Mute.

If you mute system sounds with the software switch in the task bar, the icon shows up as a speaker with a line through it.

Why you are seeing the mute icon intermittently I'm not quite sure unless the icon shows up when you are getting some sort of a notification and that is a visual signal that there is a notification for you since you muted the sound.

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Answer 3

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:26 PM in response to Demo

That's where I was going but the icon is a crossed-out speaker, not a bell.

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Answer 4

adviser

Level 1

40 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:29 PM in response to E. Kennedy

sounds like your mute keeps turning off and on, do you have a case on your ipad?

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Answer 5

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:34 PM in response to Philly_Phan

My text disappeared. I am using the side switch to mute system sounds. I flipped the switch off and on and quickly made this screenshot.

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Answer 6

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:37 PM in response to Demo

I now see what you mean and, you're right, I should have left it up. At the time that I posted, my iPad wasn't nearby so I went to the KB and saw this:

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Answer 7

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 8, 2012 1:42 PM in response to Philly_Phan

Your screenshot is what you see if you use the side switch to lock rotation. But you know that. My statement is for the benefit of the OP.

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Answer 8

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

226 points

Sep 8, 2012 4:56 PM in response to Demo

thanks for the help, everyone.

so, "Demo," if I change the settings so that the side switch is used to lock rotation instead of mute, then the crossed-out bell should stop appearing?

I changed the setting for the side switch and now I just have to wait and see if that solved this problem

and, to answer "adviser's" question, no, I don't have a case, just the smart cover, but thanks for cinsidering that.

thanks, again, everyone! 🙂

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Answer 9

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 8, 2012 5:51 PM in response to E. Kennedy

The bell with a line thought it icon will no longer appear but what I'm not sure about is why you are seeing the muted system sounds icon in the first place. But you will not see the bell icon anymore if you change the setting to lock rotation with the side switch.

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Answer 10

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

226 points

Sep 9, 2012 11:54 AM in response to Demo

I think there may be something wrong with the side switch.

when I adjust "settings" so that "Lock Rotation" is checked, then double-click on the "home" button and find the sound icon, then make sound active again, I am able to hear the keyboard as I type, but changing the position of the side switch does not release the rotation - the screen stays in the same position no matter which position the side switch is in.

but, if I change the settings so that "Mute" is checked under side switch options, then double-click the home button, I can unlock the screen BUT, changing the position of the side switch does NOT turn the audio back on - I can't hear anything when I type on the keyboard!

could there be something I'm missing or does it seem like the side switch is not working???

thanks for the help.

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Answer 11

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 9, 2012 12:24 PM in response to E. Kennedy

Try it this way. This is how I have my iPad set up.

Go to the settings and select the side switch to lock the rotation. Flip the side switch back and forth to make sure that the switch is locking and unlocking the screen. If it is working as it should, flip the switch so that the rotation is unlocked. Make sure that the screen does rotate when you move from portrait to landscape and then backs agin.

Then double tap the home button and see if the systems sounds are muted. If they are, tap the speaker icon to unmute the sounds and then try typing something and see if you have the keyboard clicks.

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Answer 12

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

226 points

Sep 9, 2012 12:45 PM in response to Demo

I set the side switch to "lock rotation" in "settings". and when I flipped the side switch back & forth -the screen stayed in the same position and continued to show the "rotation lock" icon in the status bar, no matter which position the side switch was in.

while the settings for the side switch were in "lock rotation", I was able to mute and un-mute sounds, but using the side switch did not allow me to lock or unlock rotation - once it is set to "lock rotation" in the settings for the side switch, the side switch does not allow screen rotation to be unlocked (same goes for when the side switch is set to "mute" in settings - using the side switch will not allow sounds to be muted or un-muted when "Mute" is clicked for side switch in settings.)

also, I read in the iPad troubleshooting section that turning off the iPad completely by using the power switch at the top of the iPad, then waiting a bit and turning it back on using the power switch may reset things; however, when I did this while the side switch settings were set to "lock rotation," instead of getting an intermittent bell with the line through it (alternating with the bell with no line), I got the rotation lock icon intermittently (alternating with the rotation unlock icon) for a few iterations when the iPad restarted.

sooooo.....I'm about ready to give up and go see a genius 😉 lol

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Answer 13

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

226 points

Sep 9, 2012 12:46 PM in response to Demo

btw, how do you get those screen shots from you iPad? thanks.

and thanks for all your help!!!!!

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Answer 14

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 9, 2012 12:50 PM in response to E. Kennedy

Just for the heck of it, reboot the iPad and then see if that sets things working correctly. This does no harm at all - it is just like rebooting a computer.

Reboot the iPad by holding down on the sleep and home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons.

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Answer 15

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 9, 2012 12:54 PM in response to E. Kennedy

Screenshots.....

Hold down on the sleep/power button and then hold down on the home button until the screen flashes white. Release the home button when the screen turns white. You will hear a camera a shutter sound as well. Screenshots are saved to the iPad camera roll.

You cannot place a screenshot into a post on the iPad using Safari. I never use Safari. I use the iCab Mobile browser and I identify it as FireFox for Mac. It allows me to edit my posts, place screenshots, use the formatting bar .... And it has so many more features than Safari including DropBox support.

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