Audio & playback
Facebook video no sound? Settings and fixes by device
Short answer
Facebook videos are reels now, and whether they start with sound is a setting: in the Facebook app go to Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Media and turn on Reels start with sound. If your own upload is silent for everyone, the file's audio is the problem; Facebook recommends stereo AAC at 44,100 Hz. If only one browser or phone is silent, check that device.
Key takeaways
- Whether reels in Feed start with sound is a setting in the mobile app: Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Media → Reels start with sound (Facebook Help).
- Sound settings for reels are managed only in the Facebook app for iOS and Android, not on a computer.
- If your own upload is silent for everyone, the file's audio is the problem; Facebook recommends AAC stereo at 44.1 kHz.
- Music you do not have rights to can be muted; Facebook explains how original audio in reels is shared.
- On a computer, an unmuted player can still be silent because the browser tab or the output device is muted.
Find your case
| What you see | What it usually means | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Every reel starts muted, sound works when tapped | Reels start with sound is off | Change the Media setting (step 1) |
| Your upload silent for everyone | Unsupported or empty audio track in the file | Re-export with AAC stereo (step 2) |
| Music removed or muted | Rights holder restriction | Replace the music (step 3) |
| No sound on a computer only | Browser tab muted, extension or output device | Browser checks (step 4) |
| No sound on the phone only | Silent mode, Bluetooth, app volume | Phone checks (step 5) |
| One video silent, others fine | That file or its music | Check the upload, replace muted music |
Fix it step by step
Turn on Reels start with sound
This setting is managed in the Facebook mobile app.
MenuSettings & PrivacySettingsPreferences: MediaReels start with sound: On
Fix the file's audio
Facebook recommends stereo audio at a 44,100 Hz sample rate with AAC in an MP4 or MOV. Editors can export PCM or 5.1 audio that plays locally but not after upload. Re-export with AAC stereo.
Replace music you don't have rights to
Copyrighted music can be muted after posting. Use tracks from Facebook's library or audio you have rights to.
On a computer
Right-click the tab to check it isn't muted, disable extensions, try another browser, and check the system output device.
On a phone
Turn off silent mode, disconnect Bluetooth, raise the volume while a video plays, and update the app.
Facebook's recommended settings for an edited video
| Video / audio | H.264 video, AAC audio, in MP4 or MOV |
|---|---|
| Width | no larger than 4000 px, divisible by 16 · 1080 px wide works |
| Frame rate | 30 fps or below |
| Audio | stereo, 44,100 Hz |
| Container | no edit lists or special boxes |
No sound on Facebook in a browser (PC and Mac)
- Click the speaker icon on the video to unmute it.
- Chrome: right-click the Facebook tab → Unmute site. Edge: right-click → Unmute tab. Firefox: click the speaker icon on the tab.
- Windows: Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer; check the browser is not muted and the right output is selected.
- Mac: System Settings → Sound → Output.
- Use an up-to-date Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge; Facebook's playback help asks for the latest version.
Fix a Facebook upload with no sound
- Check the audio track:
ffprobe -v error -select_streams a -show_entries stream=codec_name,channels,sample_rate -of csv=p=0 in.mp4. No output means no audio. - Re-encode only the audio to Facebook's recommendation:
ffmpeg -i in.mov -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v copy -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ac 2 -ar 44100 out.mp4
Free tool:Inspect your file's audio
Chrome blocks sound on Facebook
- Click the tune or lock icon left of the address while on facebook.com → Site settings → Sound: Allow.
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Additional content settings → Sound: check facebook.com is not under Not allowed to play sound.
- Disable extensions that block autoplay or ads, then reload.
Basic Facebook fixes, in the order that works
- Update Facebook from the App Store or Google Play, and update your phone's system.
- Restart the phone, not just the app.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data; turn Airplane mode on for 10 seconds and off again to reset the connection.
- Turn off any VPN for the test.
- Check Menu → Settings & privacy → Settings → Media → Reels start with sound.
- Android: Settings → Apps → Facebook → Storage → Clear cache (keeps your login and drafts).
- iPhone: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Facebook → Offload App, then Reinstall App (keeps the app's data).
- Still failing for everyone you know? Check whether Facebook is having an outage before changing anything else.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make Facebook videos play with sound?
In the Facebook app: Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Media → Reels start with sound → On.
Why is my uploaded Facebook video silent?
The audio track Facebook received was unsupported or empty. Export stereo AAC at 44.1 kHz and upload again.
Can I change sound settings on a computer?
Facebook manages reel sound settings in the mobile app. On a computer, unmute the player and check the browser tab and output device.
Why is there no sound on Facebook videos on iPhone?
Turn on Reels start with sound in the app's Media settings, raise the media volume while a video plays, switch the Ring/Silent switch to Ring and disconnect Bluetooth headphones.
Why is there no sound on Facebook videos on Android?
Check Reels start with sound in the app's Media settings, raise media volume while the video plays, and update or restart the Facebook app.
Why is my Facebook video muted for copyright?
Music you do not have rights to can be muted. Replace it with licensed audio or your own sound and post again.
Why do some Facebook videos have no sound?
Those videos may have been muted for music rights, or posted without an audio track. If every video is silent, check Reels start with sound, the device volume and the browser tab.
Why is there no sound on Facebook videos on PC?
Unmute the player, check the tab is not muted (right-click the tab), allow sound for facebook.com in Chrome's site settings and check the output device in Windows sound settings.
Why is there no sound on Facebook videos on iPad?
Check the iPad volume while a video plays, the Silent mode in Control Center, Bluetooth outputs and Reels start with sound in the app's Media settings.
Why is there no sound in Facebook Messenger video calls?
Check that Messenger has microphone access in your phone's settings, that the call is not muted, and that sound is not going to a Bluetooth device. Then restart the app.
Why did Facebook mute my video for copyright?
The music was not licensed for your use. Replace it with licensed audio or your own sound and post again.
Why do Facebook reels have sound but no video?
The video track failed to load or decode: update the app or browser, clear the app's cache and test on another network. If only one reel does it, the file is damaged.
Sources
- Facebook Help (iPhone): Turn automatic sound for reels in Feed on or off (official, checked 2026-10-05)
- Facebook Help: Settings recommended when adding an edited video (official, checked 2026-10-05)
- Facebook Help: Turn automatic sound for Facebook reels in Feed on or off (official, checked 2026-10-06)
- Facebook Help: Unable to view or play reels on Facebook (official, checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed 2026-10-06. Steps not attributed to a source are general video practice or computed above.