Spatial audio not working on iPad OS 15 release version - only spatialized stereo

[Jeromec]

Hi.

Spatial audio does not work correctly with iPadOS 15 release:
- I only get spatialized stereo as indicated in Control Center
- I have the issue on 2 different iPads (Pro 2020 and mini 2019) with both Airpods Pro and Airpods Max in all apps, including the Apple TV app with Apple TV+ Atmos content,
- I do NOT have the issue (it works as expected) on my iPhone XS Max or my Apple TV 4K 2021 (both with iOS or tvOS 15 release).

Anyone else having the same issue (or not) ?

 

[swandy]

If the track playing has Dolby Atmos then the setting in Control Panel will indicate Spatial Audio. If doesn’t the choice will switch to Spatialize Stereo instead. (Just confimed it on my iPhone 12 that was updated to iOS 15 earlier.)

 

[Jeromec]

Thanks. There is a third situation with multichannel (5.1) audio but thanks.
It turns out audio was set to mono in accessibility preferences (not very discoverable) on my 2 iPads - I have no idea how that happened - except that spatial audio worked before installing iPadOS 15 developer betas.
Anyway, problem solved .

 

[BulkHedd]

Thanks. There is a third situation with multichannel (5.1) audio but thanks.
It turns out audio was set to mono in accessibility preferences (not very discoverable) on my 2 iPads - I have no idea how that happened - except that spatial audio worked before installing iPadOS 15 developer betas.
Anyway, problem solved .

Thank you for this! I was having the same problem and mine was also set to Mono. I have no idea how that happened as this is a brand new iPad Mini. Though I did transfer everything from my old iPad.