There is no sound on BBC iPlayer when you’re streaming? No problem!
Your BBC iPlayer’s audio is dependent on your streaming device. If there has been an audio issue with the device, the BBC iPlayer platform won’t output either.
In addition, there are quite a few platform-related factors to inspect as well so let’s learn more!
To bring back the BBC iPlayer’s sound, restart the app and then reboot your device. The next step is to update the BBC iPlayer’s app version and adjust the audio settings on your streaming device. This should be enough to solve the problem!
In case you were unable to solve the problem that easily, let’s proceed further!
What Causes the BBC iPlayer No Sound Problem?
BBC iPlayer sound problems on the connected device are not unusual and plenty of techniques exist to resolve this problem.
To understand how to fix the issue better, we will provide you with all of the causes that could prevent the sound from outputting.
Here are the causes for the no sound problem on the BBC iPlayer!
- Streaming Player Platform issue
- Source device audio misconfiguration
- In-app audio issue with the BBC iPlayer
- Volume is lowered to the minimum
These are ALL of the possible causes categorised.
They involve many possibilities and with the troubleshooting guide below we’ll make sure to cover each aspect.
Let’s jump right in!
No Sound On BBC iPlayer – Fixed in Minutes!
Now that we’re aware of where the issue could be coming from, it’s time to troubleshoot.
Keep in mind that in order to achieve the best efficiency, you should follow the chronological order of our solutions.
In addition, you should test the audio after each of the methods!
Solution #1 Restart the iPlayer & Device!
The first thing you should attempt is to restart the BBC iPlayer on your device and hope for the best. Most of the users said that this bug was a one-time thing.
They also shared that by restarting the application or refreshing the webpage the issue disappeared.
Follow the steps below to restart the BBC iPlayer and your device:
- Exit the application or Refresh the webpage.
- Turn OFF your streaming device as well.
- After restarting your device, relaunch BBC iPlayer.
- Start the BBC iPlayer application.
- Sign in to your account (if required).
- Turn on any type of broadcast.
- Check if the sound is back.
Tip: If using a TV, disconnect it from the power for 5 minutes to cool down!
Solution #2 Adjust TV/Device Audio Settings
As we’ve already mentioned, the BBC player sound is dependent on your device’s audio settings.
That’s why the next thing you should inspect is the current audio config of your device. We need to make sure that everything is correctly set up.
Sometimes muting your device or enabling a certain audio mode, will disable the sound of all of your applications, including the BBC iPlayer platform.
Let’s learn more!
Adjust the following settings in your device’s audio configuration:
- Ensure that the Volume of your device is turned up enough.
- On Windows/macOS, increase the computer’s volume!
- Unmute the device if it has been muted until now.
- Check if the correct output audio device is selected.
- Disable specific audio preferences for apps on your device.
Ensure all of the following settings are either enabled or disabled, following the description.
Alert: When connecting a third-party audio device if using a TV, it must be selected from the audio settings of the device.
Solution #3 Switch Browsers!
Sometimes the problem comes from the browsers. For instance, open YouTube or Netflix and check whether the sound will start working.
In case the problem appears on any online streaming platform we need to globalise our approach.
- If you’re on a computer, switch from one browser to another!
The same goes for mobile users that enter BBC iPlayer through the browser of their phones so go ahead. In case this method helps, then your previous browser needs to be cleaned up.
Tip: Uninstall > Install your old browser to regain sound on online streaming platforms!
Solution #4 Update BBC’s App Version!
When you’re using the application, an old version of the BBC iPlayer may also be the culprit to this problem.
Luckily, BBC is frequently posting updates for their platform in regard to users who are running an old version.
You could find the latest patch list and notes of the updates in the app store!
To update the BBC iPlayer’s software version, follow these steps:
- Unlock your device and go to the Home screen.
- From there, access the App Store.
- Go to the “Applications” tab and select “Manage”.
- In the next tab, tap the search field and write “BBC”.
- Once the iPlayer app pops up, select it.
- Choose “Update” in the following screen.
- Wait for the application to be updated to the latest version!
Now when the application is up to date, we’re ready to test. Make sure to test streaming at least 2 or 3 different types of content.
Select episodes from different shows and movies from different publishers to determine where the problem comes from.
Note: When the BBC iPlayer update is over the application has to be restarted.
Solution #5 Clear the Platform’s App Cache
The cache data is something that every smart device generates for each of your installed applications.
Those are the excess files that pile up in your device’s storage and can often be a reason for issues with a particular application.
The cache data can also impact the device’s performance!
Here’s how to clear the BBC iPlayer’s app cache in easy steps:
- Open the Settings of your device.
- Head into Apps/Storage.
- Locate the BBC iPlayer.
- Select the platform and go to “Options”.
- In the following tab, choose “Delete App Cache”.
- Wait for the cache to be deleted.
When you’re ready, your BBC iPlayer account will be disconnected and you would have to sign-in to continue streaming.
Check whether the sound is back and if not, proceed further!
Tip: On some devices, you can clear the cached data at once for ALL applications!
Solution #6 Reinstall the BBC iPlayer
If nothing worked so far, then reinstalling the BBC iPlayer is the next best step!
This is one of the best-working solutions you could attempt at the moment and is proven to work by the community.
The only scenario where a reinstall wouldn’t help is if there’s a server or internal maintenance with BBC which does not depend on you!
Here’s how to reinstall the player from your device in easy-to-follow instructions:
- Go into your device’s Settings.
- Open the Applications tab.
- Locate the iPlayer application.
- Highlight the application.
- Choose “Uninstall”.
- Once the app is removed, head into your device’s App Store.
- Once there, locate the iPlayer app and Download.
- Wait for the installation to go through.
- Launch the platform and Sign in to your account.
- Test if the audio problem with BBC iPlayer is still there!
The clean reinstallation may take a while. However, when the app is freshly downloaded and installed, the audio issue should no longer be there.
Tip: In case the issue persists, test the BBC iPlayer on another device!
Quick Recap:
Hence, the solution to the “no sound” problem on your BBC iPlayer is to reboot your device and relaunch the platform. Next, adjust the audio settings of the streaming device and update the app’s version. Lastly, clear the cache data and reinstall the app!
Read Next: How to Fix BBC iPlayer Error Code 01119?
Wrapping Up:
In this guide, we’ve learned why there is no sound on BBC iPlayer and what’s the best way to fix it.
In case the problem appears on all of your devices, then it’s highly likely that BBC iPlayer is currently experiencing issues. The problem should be solved soon!
To find many more BBC iPlayer solution guides, make sure to check our blog!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.