Quick answer
Tap the video and look for a speaker icon: if it’s crossed out, tap it to unmute. Then turn off Silent mode (Meta said in 2017 that videos won’t play with sound when your phone is set to silent) and press volume up while the video plays. Check that sound isn’t going to Bluetooth headphones or a speaker. In Facebook, Settings > Preferences > Media has a Reels start with sound on option. On a computer, make sure the tab isn’t muted and that facebook.com is allowed to play sound. If only one video is silent, the problem is probably that video.
Does this match what you see?
- Videos and Reels play, but there’s no sound.
- Feed videos start muted, and you have to tap each one.
- Sound works in other apps but not in Facebook.
- Sound works in the app but not on facebook.com.
- Just one video or reel is silent while others are fine.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Phone setting names vary by model and software version. Facebook’s Media screen was checked on an Android phone; the iPhone app uses the same Settings and Preferences menus.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Work out where the sound is being stopped.
| What you notice | What it usually means | Do this first |
|---|---|---|
| A crossed-out speaker icon on the video | The video itself is muted | Fix 1 |
| No sound from Facebook or other apps | Silent mode or low volume | Fix 2 |
| Sound comes from earbuds, a car or a speaker | Audio is going to a Bluetooth device | Fix 3 |
| Reels open muted every time | The Media setting for Reels sound is off | Fix 4 |
| Silent only on facebook.com | A muted tab, the site’s Sound permission or autoplay settings | Fix 6 |
| Just one video is silent | That video has no usable audio | One silent video |
- The video is mutedCheck this first
Facebook can start videos without sound. In 2017 Meta said feed videos had played silently until you tapped them, that sound would now fade in as you scroll, and that videos won’t play with sound if your phone is set to silent.
- Your phone is on Silent or the media volume is downCheck this first
Silent mode and a low media volume are frequent reasons for no sound. Apple’s first step for an iPhone with no sound is to turn off Silent mode.
- Sound is going to another devicePossible
If earbuds, a car system or a Bluetooth speaker is still connected, the sound plays there instead of through your phone.
- Facebook’s Reels sound setting is offPossible
Facebook’s Media settings include Reels start with sound on. When it’s off, reels may start muted.
- The browser is blocking soundPossible
Browsers can mute a tab or a whole site. Chrome treats Sound as a site permission.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Play a video in another app. If that’s silent too, it’s your phone, not Facebook.
- Look for a speaker icon on the Facebook video and tap it.
- Check whether headphones or Bluetooth are connected.
- Try another video. If only one is silent, it’s that video.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Unmute the video itself
Facebook can start a video muted, so you have to turn the sound on yourself. In 2017 Meta said feed videos had played silently until tapped, and that videos won’t play with sound when your phone is set to silent.
- Tap the video once to show its controls.
- Look for a speaker icon. If it has a line or cross through it, tap it to turn the sound on.
Did it work? The speaker icon no longer shows as muted, and you hear the video.
Fix 2: Turn off Silent mode and turn up the media volume
Silent mode and a low media volume can silence videos while the phone otherwise seems fine. Apple also suggests checking Do Not Disturb.
iPhone & iPad
- Ring/Silent switch: push it toward the screen, so no orange shows.
- iPhone with an Action button: swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and check Silent mode is off. If your Action button is set to Silent mode and Silent is on, press it once.
- Turn off Do Not Disturb in Settings > Focus.
- Play the video and press volume up.
Android
- Play the video, then press volume up. While media is playing, this usually raises the media volume.
- If a volume panel appears, open it (often a ⋯ or settings icon) and check the media slider isn’t at zero.
- Depending on your settings, Do Not Disturb can silence some sounds. Turn it off from the quick settings panel while you test.
On iPhone, hear nothing from any app? Apple suggests removing screen protectors, films or cases and checking the speaker opening for dirt. It also suggests testing the speaker with the Ringtone and Alerts slider in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. If you still hear nothing, the speaker may need repair.
Did it work? Sound plays from your phone’s speaker in Facebook videos.
Fix 3: Check where the sound is going (Bluetooth, headphones, car)
Phones usually send sound to a connected audio device. Earbuds in a case, a car system or a speaker in another room can take the sound without you noticing.
- Turn Bluetooth off for a moment and play the video again.
- If sound now comes from the phone, turn Bluetooth back on and disconnect the device you don’t want to use.
- Unplug wired headphones or adapters, then try again.
Did it work? Sound plays from the device you want.
Fix 4: Check Facebook’s Media settings and the reel’s own menu
Facebook has its own sound options for Reels. If they’re off, every reel can start muted even though your phone is fine.
- Open ☰ Menu > Settings and privacy > Settings, then under Preferences tap Media.
- Under Autoscroll and sound in full screen, turn on Reels start with sound on.
- On the phone we checked, the ⋯ menu on a reel also lists Audio and language and Captions. If one reel sounds wrong, look there. (We haven’t seen what those screens contain.)
- While you’re in Media, note that when your battery is low, videos won’t autoplay, which Facebook says on that screen. That affects autoplay, not sound, but can look similar.
Did it work? New reels start with sound.
Fix 5: Update Facebook and restart your phone
If sound works in other apps but not Facebook, and you’ve ruled out Silent mode, a glitch in the app is a likely cause. Updating and restarting clear most of them.
- Update Facebook from the App Store or Google Play.
- Close Facebook fully, restart your phone, and try a video again.
- For the full update, cache and reinstall steps, see Videos not playing.
Did it work? Videos play with sound after the restart.
Fix 6: No sound only on facebook.com
Browsers can mute a tab, a whole site, or stop videos with sound from starting on their own.
Computer (browser)
- Check the tab: a crossed-out speaker on the Facebook tab means the tab is muted. In some browsers you can click it; otherwise right-click the tab and choose the unmute option.
- Chrome: click View site information to the left of the web address > Site settings, and make sure Sound is allowed for facebook.com. Chrome saves the change automatically. Reload the page.
- Safari on Mac: open the Page menu in the Smart Search field > Website Settings. If Auto-Play is set to Stop Media with Sound, videos with audio won’t start on their own. Click play, or choose Allow All Auto-Play for facebook.com.
- Check your computer’s own volume, and which output (speakers or headphones) it’s using.
- Turn off extensions that block media one at a time, or test in a private window.
Did it work? Videos on facebook.com play with sound.
Only one video or reel is silent
If other videos play with sound, your phone and the app are fine. The problem is that one video. Usually one of these is true:
- It was recorded or posted without sound, or the creator turned the audio down or off.
- The audio was removed after posting. Music used without permission is a common reason on social media.
- Facebook is still processing a video that was only just posted. Try again later.
You can’t restore sound on someone else’s video. If it’s your video, check the original file on your phone has sound before posting it again.
Why Facebook videos start muted
In February 2017, Meta said feed videos had previously played silently, so you tapped a video to hear sound. It then made sound fade in and out as you scroll, and said videos won’t play with sound if your phone is set to silent. Meta later moved Reels, longer videos and Live into one full-screen player (2024). It says that since September 2025, all videos on Facebook are shared as reels. The option on today’s Media screen is Reels start with sound on.
Error messages and what they mean
There’s rarely an error message for missing sound. These are the signs you’re most likely to see.
Crossed-out speaker icon on the video- What it usually means
- The video is muted in Facebook.
- What to do
- Tap it. Fix 1
Orange showing on the iPhone Ring/Silent switch- What it usually means
- Silent mode is on.
- What to do
- Flip the switch. Fix 2
Crossed-out speaker on the browser tab- What it usually means
- The tab is muted.
- What to do
- Unmute the tab. Fix 6
How to know it worked
- Feed videos and Reels play with sound through the speaker you want.
- Reels start with sound on.
- Videos on facebook.com play with sound.
Still not working? Your next steps
- If videos don’t play at all, or freeze or buffer, see Facebook videos not playing.
- If no app on your phone plays sound, follow Apple’s or your phone maker’s speaker checks. The speaker may need repair.
- Report the problem: on the reel, tap ⋯ > Something went wrong, or go to ☰ Menu > Help and support > Report a problem, follow the prompts until you reach Select product, then choose Video or Videos.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
- Apple: if you can’t hear sound from your iPhone speakerApple Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Chrome Help: change site settings permissionsGoogle Chrome Help (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Apple: stop autoplay videos in Safari on MacApple Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Facebook Help: report a problemFacebook Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Why do my Facebook videos have no sound?
Usually the video is muted, your phone is on Silent, the media volume is down, or sound is going to Bluetooth headphones or a speaker. Tap the speaker icon on the video first, then check Silent mode and the volume.
Why are Facebook Reels muted?
Check Settings > Preferences > Media and turn on Reels start with sound on. Also make sure your phone isn’t on Silent.
Why do Facebook videos have no sound on iPhone when other apps do?
In 2017 Meta said that if your phone is set to silent, feed videos won’t play with sound, so Silent mode is the first thing to check. Turn off Silent mode with the Ring/Silent switch or Control Center, then try again.
Why is there no sound on Facebook in Chrome?
The tab may be muted, or facebook.com may not be allowed to play sound. Check the tab’s speaker icon, then View site information > Site settings > Sound.
Why is only one video silent?
That video may have been posted without sound, or its audio may have been removed. You can’t fix that from your side.
Did this solve your problem?
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Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- New Ways to Watch Facebook Video (February 2017) (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Exploring Videos on Facebook Just Got Easier (April 2024) (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Unable to view or play reels on Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)
- If you can’t hear any sound or hear distorted sound from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch speaker (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Change site settings permissions (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Stop autoplay videos in Safari on Mac (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report That Something Isn’t Working on Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 19 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 21 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Facebook. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.