No Sound Issue With a Dock Connector for the iPad

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Print this articleThe Apple iPad is a tablet PC that lies somewhere between laptop computer and iPhone. While it's capable of executing many of the same functions as a laptop, it looks like a large iPhone. The iPad can be docked onto a set of speakers like an iPhone, allowing you to listen to your stored music. However, if you're not hearing music come through your speakers after docking your iPad, there may be a problem.

Related Searches: The Charging Port

The charging port is the rectangular port on the iPad, located on the bottom edge of the device, below the "Home" button. Like many modern electronic devices, the iPad's charging port acts as both a means for streaming electricity into it to charge the battery and as a means to send and receive information. By connecting your iPad to your computer via its charging port, you can sync it with iTunes and exchange information between the computer and the iPad. Because the charging port is capable of sending and receiving information, it can also send and receive sound. When your iPad is connected to a dock, it's this component of the iPad that's responsible for sending sound. If you have no sound, the problem may lie in the charging port or its connection to a dock.

Compatibility

The iPad is only compatible with certain docks. If you have a dock that wasn't specifically designed for the iPad -- even if it was designed for the iPhone -- it may not produce sound through the speakers when the iPad is docked. The device can charge your iPad and still not receive the information to send sound. However, if the device charges your iPad, then the issue is most likely the dock itself and not the iPad. Check to see that the dock is iPad compatible before docking your device. If the dock hasn't been approved for iPad use, this may cause the iPad to produce no sound when it plays music.

Connecting by Dock

If your iPad won't fit into an iPod docking station or if there's no sound coming out of the speakers, try connecting the devices using an iPad dock, an accessory available from the Apple Store. First, dock your iPad to the iPad dock. Next, connect the male end of a 1/8-inch aux cable into the iPad dock's female output jack located on the back of the dock. Plug the other end of this same cable into the back of your iPod docking station, if possible. Now, open your music on your iPad and play a song. If the speakers work, then your problem is solved. If not, you can try another solution.

Using the Headphone Jack

While the charging port on the iPad has the capability of outputting sound, it's not the only output on the iPad. You can also use the headphone jack to connect the iPad to a speaker device or docking station. You'll need a cable that has a 1/8-inch male aux input on one end, and the other end must match whatever you're plugging your device into. Most modern speakers and docking stations have 1/8-inch female inputs, which means the other end of your cable should be a 1/8-inch aux male. Plug one end of the cable into your iPad's headphone jack and then plug the other end into the iDevice docking station. Open your music library on the iPad and try to play some music. Make sure the volume is turned up on your iPad and on your docking station.

Hardware Issues

If you have a compatible iPad docking station, or you've tried connecting your device to a dock through a couple of different methods only to find that there's still no sound coming from the speakers, then the issue may be with your iPad. One way to test this is to connect the iPad to your computer and sync it with iTunes. If it can successfully sync with your computer, then the charging port is still in working condition, and the problem might be with your docking station. If, however, your iPad can't connect to your computer, then you may have a problem with the device itself. If your iPad is still under warranty or Apple Care, take it to the Apple Store where they should fix it or replace it at no charge. If not, you may have to pay to have your charging port replaced. When you take it to get it fixed, be sure to tell the technician all the troubleshooting steps you have tried, so that he can rule out certain possibilities.

ReferencesApple Support: iPad: Using Accessories With iPad DockMac World: the iPad and Accessories: What You Need to KnowYouTube: iPad With Bose Sound Dock (Accessories)Read Next:

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