A weird bug seems to have popped up recently on Instagram that results in users not being able to hear the sound when viewing Stories. Over the past few weeks, Instagram users have been taking to Reddit and X to complain about not being able to hear the audio in Stories without turning on their ringer.
Typically, if the sound is muted on Instagram Stories, users could simply use the volume keys on their phones to enable to unmute the audio. However, with a recent update, Instagram keeps the sound on muted. Users claim that they need to turn on their phone’s ringer (use the switch on their iPhones) and then open the Story to hear the sound.
A majority of reports seem to be from iPhone users, indicating that this bug might be exclusive to the Instagram app for iOS. This has left many Instagram users frustrating because it involves an unnecessary amount of steps just to get the audio working when viewing Stories.
Apart from the extra steps, having to deal with the notifications once the phone is off ‘silent’ is another point of annoyance. One user said: “Dear Instagram, I do not want to turn the sound on my phone to hear stories, fix that shit!” Another frustrated user tagged Instagram’s head on X, stating: “@mosseri can you fix this and the sound issue in Stories? Why do I have to keep manually turning audio on from posts to hear Stories.”
While Instagram is yet to acknowledge the issue, some users have found a few effective workarounds to get the audio working again. As mentioned earlier, one workaround involves exiting the Story and then turning on your ringer using the switch on your iPhone. Once done, then just head back to the Story and you should be able to hear the audio.
Another potential workaround is to first enable sound by tapping on the small microphone icon on posts, or by tapping the screen (to mute/unmute) when viewing Reels. Doing this should enable the audio when you view Stories on Instagram.
It’s unclear if this is an intended change or simply a bug that has slipped through the cracks. Based on information on the App Store, Instagram has been updated multiple times since reports of the bug first started emerging. So it’s strange to see that the bug still persists for many users.
Now that the issue is slowly starting to become more widespread, it’s likely that Instagram will catch on to the complaints and roll out a proper fix. We’ll keep an eye out for any developments and will update the article accordingly.
Dwayne Cubbins
392 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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