Question Volume on Android tablet has become too low

[dj54321]

The YouTube video volume on my 4 year old Lenovo m8 tablet with Android 10 and Google Chrome had been fine until a couple weeks ago, on all of the channels I subscribe to. I tried blowing in the speaker to dislodge any dust, but that didn't help. Do I need to reset the tablet...or what else do you suggest? Thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

Is it like that on any app, or just YouTube? Is it also reduced when using wired or Bluetooth headphones?

 

[dj54321]

I don't use wired or Bluetooth headphones.

In response to your post, I just listened to 10 videos embedded in Twitter/X. 6 were too low and 4 were ok -- regarding volume.

I previously listened to approx 25 YouTube videos that I subscribe to and received notifications over the last 2 days and ALL of their volumes were way too low.

 

[B. Diddy]

See if it also happens in Safe Mode: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/glossary/safe-mode/

 

[dj54321]

B Diddy, I believe you said a couple years ago that you have/had the same Lenovo m8 tablet as me.... Approx 4 years old as well.

If so, do you know how to access safe mode? I read the link you provided in post #4 above, but it doesn't specify how exactly to access safe mode on a particular Lenovo tablet model/year.

 

[VidJunky]

To put a Lenovo tablet into safe mode, you can do the following:

1. Press and hold the Power button until the Power off prompt appears
2. Touch and hold Power off until the Reboot to safe mode prompt appears
3. Tap OK to confirm [1]

The tablet will reboot and display "Safe mode" in the lower-left corner of the home screen. [1]

Try these directions. These are pretty universal for most Android devices.

After you get the results from trying it in safe mode I have a couple of questions.

Does this device have two or more speakers?

It's rare that multiple speakers would fail or "blow" all at the same time but if one of the speakers is not acting right it can affect the overall sound and cause the volume to seem low. If you listen to each speaker individually, does one sound louder than the other(s)?

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm sorry, I should've looked more closely at that link -- it's quite useless!

Try this instead: https://www.hardreset.info/devices/lenovo/lenovo-tab-m8-row/safe-mode/

I traded up from an M8 to an M9 a year or two ago (which, by the way, was a very worthwhile upgrade). The Safe Mode steps work that way on my M9.

 

[dj54321]

I successfully put tablet in safe mode. Volume was still low. Probably the same as regular mode.

Re VidJunky's question, per GsmArena's website, under "Sound", it says "loudspeaker". I think my tablet has only one speaker.

 

[VidJunky]

Having only one speaker is bothersome in that if the speaker is blown, unless it rattles, it may be difficult to diagnose.

Does this device have an Adaptive Sound setting, or any other sound profile options? Changes to the sound profile can have unexpected and undesirable affects. Things from go from punchy and rich to distant and soft, or even tinny. You can search for the term, sound, in your settings search bar, and look for anything that sounds like it would change your sound profile. It might even be called Sound Profile, or Equalizer. Maybe an update changed a setting or something.

Barring this being a setting thing, or there being debris in behind the speaker grille, which is unlikely on most devices since many speaker grilles are a fine mesh to prevent things like this from happening, it sounding more and more like a blown speaker. Does the sound you do hear sound distorted, especially if you max the volume out? Or is it clear, just at a much reduced level?

 

[B. Diddy]

I successfully put tablet in safe mode. Volume was still low. Probably the same as regular mode.

Re VidJunky's question, per GsmArena's website, under "Sound", it says "loudspeaker". I think my tablet has only one speaker.

Just to be sure, what's the exact model number of the device? You can find it in the system settings, under About Tablet.