Getting sound to work
Some of the lessons and tools on this site play audio through your browser. Most of the time it works fine, but occasionally something goes wrong, especially on phones and tablets. Here are some things to try if you're not hearing anything.
Check the basics
Before anything else, make sure the simple stuff isn't the problem:
- Turn up the volume. It sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget. Make sure your device volume is turned up, not just the in-app or on-screen volume.
- Turn off silent mode. On iPhones, check the physical switch on the side of your phone. If you see an orange strip, silent mode is on -- flip it to turn sound back on. On Android, check your notification settings and make sure you're not in "Do Not Disturb" or vibrate-only mode.
- Unplug or disconnect headphones. If you have headphones or Bluetooth earbuds connected, your sound might be going there instead of through your speakers. Try disconnecting them to see if that's the issue.
Reload the page
Browsers sometimes get confused about playing audio, particularly on mobile devices. If sound was working before and then stopped (for example, after switching tabs or getting a phone call), the simplest fix is to reload the page. On most browsers you can pull down from the top of the page, or tap the refresh button in the address bar.
This is often all it takes to get things working again.
Restart your browser
If reloading doesn't help, try fully closing your browser and opening it again. On a phone, this means force-quitting the app, not just switching away from it:
- iPhone (Safari or Chrome): Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button on older iPhones) to open the app switcher. Find Safari and swipe it up to close it. Then open Safari again and go back to the page.
- Android (Chrome): Tap the square "recent apps" button, find Chrome, and swipe it away. Then reopen Chrome.
- Desktop: Close all browser windows and reopen the browser.
Try a different browser
If you're still not getting sound, try opening the page in a different browser. For example, if you're using Safari on an iPhone, try Chrome (or the other way around). This can help narrow down whether the issue is with your browser or your device.
Check your browser's site settings
Some browsers let you mute individual websites. If you've accidentally muted this site, you won't hear anything even with your volume turned up.
- Chrome (desktop): Click the lock or tune icon in the address bar, and make sure "Sound" is set to "Allow".
- Safari (desktop): Right-click the tab and check that "Mute Tab" is not selected. You can also go to Safari > Settings for This Website and make sure "Auto-Play" is set to "Allow All Auto-Play".
Still not working?
If you've tried everything above and sound still isn't working, the issue might be specific to your device or browser version. Feel free to reach out and let me know what's going on -- include what device and browser you're using, and I'll do my best to help.