iPad volume buttons switched after 17.1 update

Dynamic volume controls were introduced with release of iPadOS 15.4 onwards. The “logic” behind dynamic volume controls is such that regardless of the screen orientation, the relative function remains constant - as follows:

• When the physical buttons are positioned on a vertical edge of the iPad, the uppermost button will always increase the volume. Conversely, lower button will decrease the volume.

• When the physical buttons are positioned on a horizontal edge of then iPad, the button on the right will increase the volume - while the button on the left will decrease the volume.

For reasons known only to Apple, the ability to disable this feature is not available for any new models of iPad and iPad Pro that have since been launched - these models being:

• iPad Air5
• iPad mini6
• fourth generation iPad Pro 11”
• sixth generation iPad Pro 12.9”
• iPad10

This is documented within this recently updated Apple Support document:

Use the Home, side, and other buttons on your iPad - Apple Support

There have been reports of Dynamic Volume Controls not working, or unexpectedly reversed, after updating to iPadOS 17.x

For those affected by this bug, check that Full Keyboard Access has been disabled in iPad settings:

Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Full Keyboard Access > Full Keyboard Access - set to OFF

If this setting is already set to OFF, it may be necessary to reset this setting from OFF to ON - and then back to OFF.