Mobile and tablet issues

Help fixing problems with �鶹�� Sounds on your mobile or tablet

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:47:06 +0000

Help fixing problems with �鶹�� Sounds on your mobile or tablet

Before following any of the steps below, search the known issues and our general FAQs to check whether you are experiencing a known problem.

Using the �鶹�� Sounds app on your mobile or tablet? Try the following steps:

Try updating the app
Ensure you have the latest version of the app installed from your app store as your problem might be fixed in the most recent version:
Make sure your device is supported
If you’re unable to install or update the app, make sure your device meets the requirements listed here: Can I use �鶹�� Sounds on my mobile or tablet?

If you’re not offered an update you could be using a slightly older device, but you may still be able to update the operating system. Here’s advice on how to do that:
Check the website
Head to www.bbc.co.uk/sounds to see if the website is also affected. This will let you know if the fault is a wider issue across �鶹�� Sounds, or happening only within the app.
Remove and reinstall the �鶹�� Sounds app
This can sometimes fix problems. If the problem persists, wait for the next app update and try using the website to access �鶹�� Sounds instead at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds.

Using the �鶹�� Sounds website? Try the following steps:

Step 1: Try installing the �鶹�� Sounds app
Our �鶹�� Sounds app has the same content as our website, with a lot more features to enjoy. So if you’re having trouble with the website, you might find the �鶹�� Sounds app works better for you.
Step 2: Make sure your device is supported
If you're unable to install the app, or you prefer using the website on your phone or tablet, please make sure that your device is supported. You can check the mobile requirements on our Can I use �鶹�� Sounds on my mobile or tablet? Operating systems older than those listed may still work, however we can't guarantee that troubleshooting will resolve any issues.
Step 3: Clear the cache
When you clear the cache on your device’s internet browser, you’re removing data that’s stored on your device. This can be a very useful first step in trying to resolve a problem. For instructions on how to clear the cache, check our How do I clear the cache? page.
Step 4: Check your internet connection
If you also have problems playing programmes from other providers as well, try moving closer to your router and switching off other devices that are connected to the internet at the same time. We have some more information on our What can I do to stop buffering or unstable playback? page.

Still not working?

If you've tried all of the above and find that you're still having difficulty, please check other areas to see if these are working as expected, for example downloads in the app, live streaming or on-demand playback. This will be useful if you need to get in touch as it will help us to investigate further.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

Why does the app stop playing in the background?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:50:44 +0000

Why does the app stop playing in the background?

We’ve found that if you have Battery Saver mode enabled on your Android device, playback will stop when either:

Your phone is locked
You launch another mobile app

Consider turning off Battery Saver mode if this is becoming a problem. The instructions to complete this vary depending on what device you have but generally it can be turned off via Settings > Battery / Power management mode > Off.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

How can I update the operating system for Android?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 15:40:02 +0000

How can I update the operating system for Android?

The �鶹�� Sounds app requires Android 7 or Fire OS 6 or above. It may be possible to update your device. Head to the relevant page to find out how to update the operating system on your device:

Amazon Fire: Download and install Fire tablet software updates manually
Android: wikiHow: How to manually upgrade an Android device operating system

(The �鶹�� is not responsible for the content of external sites.)

It is standard practice for updated apps to no longer support older operating systems. This is the case for �鶹�� Sounds and �鶹�� iPlayer, as well as apps by other companies and organisations. Supporting older operating systems is very costly and does not represent good value for money for licence fee payers, given the relatively small number of users we have still using those older operating systems.

However, in the majority of cases users who have older devices which cannot be upgraded can still use the �鶹�� Sounds website at bbc.co.uk/sounds. More details are available here: Can I use �鶹�� Sounds on my mobile or tablet?

Anonymous (not verified) 06 October 2019

How can I update the operating system for iOS (iPhone/iPad)?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 15:40:02 +0000

How can I update the operating system for iOS (iPhone/iPad)?

The �鶹�� Sounds app requires iOS 16 or above. It may be possible to update your device. Head to the Apple help page for instructions on how to update your device: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. (The �鶹�� is not responsible for the content of external sites.)

Most devices which can't update the operating system to install the �鶹�� Sounds app can still use �鶹�� Sounds via the website at bbc.co.uk/sounds. More details are available here: Can I use �鶹�� Sounds on my mobile or tablet?

Anonymous (not verified) 06 October 2019

Help with updating the �鶹�� Sounds iOS app

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:05:02 +0000

Help with updating the �鶹�� Sounds iOS app

Updating the app on iOS should be possible via the App Store by pressing the 'Update' button. However, there may be times when some extra steps are needed.

Compatibility issues

If the Sounds app on iOS is asking you to update but the App Store advises that a later version of iOS is required, you can still update to the latest compatible version.

If you tap on ‘Update,’ a prompt will display asking ‘Download an older version of this app?’

Select this to update the app.

We are aware that some users are experiencing an issue where tapping to download the latest compatible version fails to complete and they are continually repromoted to download.

If this happens repeatedly we suggest restarting your device and trying again. If the problem persists, please delete and redownload Sounds. You will still be prompted to download the latest compatible version, but we expect the download to work in this scenario.

Problems with the store link

If the Sounds app on iOS is asking you to update but there are issues with the link to the store page please try updating the app manually.

Guidance for updating manually is available on Apple’s support pages: How to manually update apps from the App Store

Anonymous (not verified) 10 July 2025