Chrome on Android gives every site permission to play sound by default. Open Settings, then Site settings, then Sound to turn that permission off for all sites or add an exception for one noisy URL.
The global toggle silences the entire browser. The + Add site exception list works in reverse. If sound is on everywhere, block one site. If sound is off everywhere, allow one site.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
Where to Enable or Disable Sound in Chrome on Android
If you need to silence one site or every site, the switch you’re after is inside Chrome’s Site settings. From that one screen you can silence every site, allow audio everywhere, or override the rule for a single URL.
- Tap the
menu in the top right corner of Chrome. - Tap Settings.
- Scroll down to Advanced and tap Site settings.
Tap Sound in the list that opens. You’ll know you’re on the right page when the Sites can play sound toggle sits at the top and + Add site exception appears lower down.
Sound is one of several permissions Chrome groups under Site settings. You manage location access and other content controls from the same screen. If you need a broader map of these options, use the site settings overview.
Turn Sound On or Off for All Websites
If Chrome keeps playing audio from every site, mute the whole browser. Chrome ships with the Sound toggle on. Turn it off and you get silence across all sites until you turn it back on.
- Open the Sound settings page following the steps above.
- Tap the Sites can play sound toggle to switch it Off. The label under the toggle changes to Sites can't play sound.
- Reload any open tab. Videos and music stay muted everywhere until you turn the toggle back on.
Turning Sound off silences every site. That includes audio already playing in another tab. If you only want one site quiet, leave the global toggle on and use the site exception list in the next section.
Mute or Unmute Sound for One Site
One site is too loud and another plays nothing. The exception list fixes both cases without changing the default for every tab.
- Open the Sound settings page following the steps in the first section.
- Set the Sites can play sound toggle the way you want most sites to behave. Leave it on if most sites should play sound. Turn it off if most should stay silent.
- Scroll down and tap + Add site exception.
- Type the site URL, for example facebook.com, then tap Add.
- Open the new entry and switch it between Allow and Block depending on whether you want audio on or off for that site.
The exception works opposite to the global toggle. When the toggle is on, an entry set to Block silences that one site. When the toggle is off, an entry set to Allow keeps that one site audible.
Tap an entry later to flip its switch. Tap the trash icon to remove the exception and return to the global default.
TIP: If a video won’t play sound even though the toggle looks right, open the page in an incognito tab. That helps you confirm whether stored site data is keeping audio off.
What the Sound Toggle Doesn’t Control
If a video still starts playing on its own after you flip the Sound toggle, that switch isn’t the problem. Chrome’s Sound permission only governs whether sites can play audio. Autoplay is a separate content control.
Think of the two switches as related but independent. For the full description of how Chrome groups Sound, autoplay, and other permissions, see Google’s change site settings permissions help page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Sound setting in Chrome on Android?
Open Chrome, tap More , then Settings. Scroll to Advanced and tap Site settings, then tap Sound in the list that opens.
Why is there no sound on a specific website even with the toggle on?
The site may be on the exception list set to Block, the tab may be muted, or the Android system volume may be low. Open the exception list in Sound settings and confirm the site’s entry is set to Allow. Then check the player’s volume icon and raise the system volume slider.
Does the Sound toggle affect video autoplay?
No. The Sound permission controls only whether sites can play audio. Whether a video starts playing automatically when you load a page is handled by a separate content setting, not by this toggle.
Can I allow sound for just one site and block it everywhere else?
Yes. Turn the global Sites can play sound toggle off, then add a site exception for the URL you want to keep audible and set its state to Allow. Every other site stays muted.
How do I turn sound back on after blocking it?
Open the Sound settings page and flip the Sites can play sound toggle back to On. Any site exceptions you added earlier stay in place, so check the list if a single site is still quiet.
Thank you, finally an answer, other sites offer ridiculous advice like try putting the volume up, duh why didn’t I think of that!? I’ve spent hours trying to figure this out on a new phone I only just realised this was happening as I don’t check my emails often on the phone and video sound from links wouldn’t play and yet YT and Spotify were fine.
This does not work if the Html file and audio files referred to from the HTML file are both located in a local directory.
thank you!
Really helpful, ta. i had an issue with sound on my android, after having played around with settings, and perhapos inadvertently switiching it off, as described above. Couldn’t identify the problem, did a factory reset then installed the latest cversion of Chrome. Suddenly the sound cam eback and i made the connection as to what I think I must have done. however, one day later and the sound has dropped off again – checked the settings, all the same there, so now I’m stuck! ?s it Chrome, or is it perhaps a problem with my 4 year old phone??
Hi Madragora, are you able to play sound or music in any other app? Like YT or any Music App? That would probably help you to judge whether it’s an issue with just the Chrome browser or overall Android phone. Let me know how it goes!
Same issue. I have sound on every other app. YT, Pandora, FB, tictok, literally every app except chrome. All sound settings are ON. I’ve uninstalled the app, updated it and all and still nothing. I’m lost totally. My phone is only a year old. No one seems to have an answer for me. If you can help let me know , Thanks !
Hi Dave, is it happening for a specific site on chrome or any site? If everything else is good but chrome, then you can visit the nearest service center to get checked, I think it might be some other sound settings that are creating the problem.
Did you check your Sound Settings with the Phone Settings app?