Why is there no sound when using Thunderbolt on iPad?

With iPadOS and Thunderbolt/USB4, sound output over a connected display or dock is definitely supported — but only if the display or dock properly advertises itself as an audio output device and supports audio passthrough. Some Thunderbolt/USB-C monitors don’t expose themselves as audio sinks to iPadOS correctly, or the iPad just doesn’t route the audio there automatically.

Here are some things you can try:

Check Audio Output Settings on iPad

1. Go to Settings > Control Center > Hearing > Live Listen and/or add the Audio Output option to Control Center.
2. Swipe down Control Center and long-press the AirPlay audio icon (looks like a triangle with concentric circles above it).
3. See if your monitor or dock shows up there — you may need to manually switch audio output to it.

Check Monitor or Dock Compatibility

• Some monitors pass video just fine over Thunderbolt/USB-C but don’t support audio out, or only do with macOS or Windows drivers.
• If you’re using a dock in between (like CalDigit, Belkin, etc.), test plugging in wired headphones or a speaker into the dock itself to see if that audio path is exposed.

Test with Other Devices

• Try connecting the same setup to a Mac — if audio works there, we know the hardware path is okay.
• Try connecting the iPad to another monitor with known good audio passthrough support (LG UltraFine 4K/5K models tend to play nicer with iPadOS).