Sound not playing on the older iOS versions

[KumaraSwamyR94]

🪲 Description
When running the app (compiled with XCode 26), sound files do not play on devices using an iOS version older than 26 (tested on iPhoneX - 16.7.10). Playback works correctly on iOS 26+ devices and on all tested Android devices.

🪲 What have you tried?
I've already tried to setting the category to Playback, but didn't work.
Sound.setCategory('Playback', true);

🪲 Please post your code:

import Sound from 'react-native-sound';

export enum SoundType {
    ERROR = 'error.mp3',
    LOGIN_SUCCESS = 'login_success.mp3',
    LEAVING_SUCCESS = 'leaving_success.mp3',
    LATE_SUCCESS = 'late_success.mp3',
    RETURNING_SUCCESS = 'returning_success.mp3',
}

// Global cache to prevent reloading sounds on every hook mount
const sounds = new Map<string, Sound>();

// Enable playback in silent mode
Sound.setCategory('Playback', true);

// Preload function
const preloadSounds = () => {
    // Preload all sounds
    Object.values(SoundType).forEach(fileName => {
        if (!sounds.has(fileName)) {
            const sound = new Sound(fileName, Sound.MAIN_BUNDLE, error => {
                if (error) {
                    console.error(`Failed to load sound: ${fileName}`, error);
                    return;
                }
                sound.setVolume(1);
                sounds.set(fileName, sound);
            });
        }
    });
};

export const useSound = () => {
    const play = (soundType: SoundType) => {
        const sound = sounds.get(soundType);
        if (sound && sound.isLoaded()) {
            sound.play((success) => {
                if (!success) {
                    sound.reset();
                }
            });
        } else {
            // Fallback: try loading if missing
            const newSound = new Sound(soundType, Sound.MAIN_BUNDLE, error => {
                if (error) {
                    console.error(`Failed to play sound: ${soundType}`, error);
                    return;
                }
                newSound.setVolume(1);
                sounds.set(soundType, newSound);
                newSound.setCurrentTime(0);
                newSound.play();
            });
        }
    };

    const playError = () => {
        play(SoundType.ERROR);
    };

    const playSuccess = (type: 'login' | 'leaving' | 'late' | 'returning') => {
        switch (type) {
            case 'login':
                play(SoundType.LOGIN_SUCCESS);
                break;
            case 'leaving':
                play(SoundType.LEAVING_SUCCESS);
                break;
            case 'late':
                play(SoundType.LATE_SUCCESS);
                break;
            case 'returning':
                play(SoundType.RETURNING_SUCCESS);
                break;
        }
    };

    // Cleanup all the sounds on unmount
    React.useEffect(() => {

        // Initial preload
        preloadSounds();

        return () => {
            sounds.forEach(sound => sound.release());
            sounds.clear();
        };
    }, []);

    return {
        play,
        playError,
        playSuccess,
    };
};

💡 Possible solution

Is your issue with...

• iOS
• Android
• Windows

Are you using...

• React Native CLI (e.g. react-native run-android)
• Expo
• Other: (please specify)

Which versions are you using?

• React Native Sound: "^0.13.0"
• React Native: "0.82.0"
• iOS: 16.7.10
• Android:
• Windows:

Does the problem occur on...

• Simulator
• Device

If your problem is happening on a device, which device?

• Device: iPhone XS, iPad 5th Gen