To turn off sound in Pokémon GO, open the game, tap the Poké Ball at the bottom of the map, tap Settings (the gear in the top-right corner), and turn off Music and Sound Effects. The game goes quiet straight away, and you can keep playing your own music or podcasts in the background.
Applies to: Pokémon GO on iPhone and Android. Niantic sometimes rearranges the Settings screen in updates, so the switches may sit under a heading such as General or Audio.
Why turn the sound off?
- Play quietly in public places, at work or on public transport.
- Listen to your own music, a podcast or directions from a maps app while you walk.
- Keep the phone from drawing attention when a rare Pokémon appears.
Turn off music and sound effects in the game
- Open Pokémon GO and wait for the map to load.
- Tap the red-and-white Poké Ball button at the bottom of the screen to open the main menu.
- Tap Settings in the top-right corner.
- Find Music and turn it off to stop the background music.
- Turn off Sound Effects to stop the sounds for catches, spins and menus.
- Tap X or go back to the map. The changes save automatically.
You can turn off just one of them. For example, keep sound effects on so you still hear when a Pokémon appears, but turn the music off.
Turn off vibration too
In the same Settings screen, turn off Vibration if you don’t want the phone to buzz when Pokémon appear or when you’re near a PokéStop. This is useful in meetings or classes, where vibration can be as noticeable as sound.
Mute the game with your phone instead
If you want silence for a short time without changing the game’s settings:
- Turn the volume down with the side buttons while the game is open. This lowers the game’s sound along with other media.
- On iPhone, silent mode may not mute game audio, depending on how the app handles sound. Lower the volume while the game is open, or turn off the in-game sound. There are several other ways to put an iPhone on silent as well.
- On Android, press a volume button and tap the settings icon (or three dots) on the volume panel to lower Media volume separately from ringtones.
Silence notifications from Pokémon GO
Turning off in-game sound doesn’t stop notification sounds when the app is closed, such as alerts for Adventure Sync rewards, raids or friend gifts.
- In the game: open Settings and look for the Notifications section to choose which alerts you get.
- On iPhone: go to Settings > Notifications > Pokémon GO and turn off Sounds. Other apps work the same way, for example when you turn off text message sounds on iPhone.
- On Android: go to Settings > Apps > Pokémon GO > Notifications and set the categories to silent.
Mute a Pokémon GO Plus +
The Pokémon GO Plus + accessory has its own sounds. To put it in silent mode, hold the top button and press the main button for at least one second. It vibrates twice to confirm. Repeat the same action to turn sound back on; it vibrates once. In silent mode, its alarms and notifications are paused too.
If the game still makes noise
- Sound comes back after an update: updates occasionally reset settings. Check Settings again after updating the game.
- You hear sounds when the game is closed: those are notifications, not game audio. Turn off notification sounds as shown above.
- The phone is muted but the game is loud: media volume is separate from ringer volume on most phones. Press the volume buttons while the game is open.
- Settings won’t change: close the app completely and reopen it, then try again. If that fails, update or reinstall Pokémon GO. Your progress is saved to your account, not the phone.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off sound affect my gameplay?
No. Sound is only for feedback. You can catch, battle and spin PokéStops exactly the same way, although you’ll need to watch the screen more closely for new Pokémon.
Does turning off sound save battery?
A little, especially if you also turn off vibration. Pokémon GO’s battery use mostly comes from GPS, the screen and the camera, so the difference is small.
Can I listen to my own music while playing?
Yes. Start your music app first, then open Pokémon GO with its music turned off. Your music keeps playing.
How do I turn the sound back on?
Open the Poké Ball menu, tap Settings, and turn Music and Sound Effects back on.
Do my sound settings carry over to a new phone?
Not always. Some settings are stored on the device, so check Music, Sound Effects and Vibration after you sign in on a new phone.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.