I have the iPad mini also but have never had that problem. Have you tried quickly pushing it or sort of " snapping" it with maybe your fingernail? Hopefully it isn't broke, just being stubborn! :)

There should be a settings option for sound where you can set the various sound levels. In Android it is under settings and sound I am sure I pad has something similar. I have a few different places on my Android tablet that I can adjust the sound other than that button, one is the settings and I also have a little speaker icon always at the bottom of my screen. Have you tried using a straight pin on the button?

Raven, I just checked on mine under Settings, Sounds. And it says the volume of the ringer, alerts. Etc., will not be affected by the volume buttons. But, that doesn't mean that there isn't a way to control the volume through Settings somehow.

The preceding instructions wouldn't work for my ipad if I had this problem. The Settings, Music, Volume Limit slider was already at the highest level (that may be the preset). Hitting the Home button twice brings up use history, not a volume adjustment.

What does work is:

-Touch Music icon

-There's a volume slider at the top that will adjust the level just as the two side buttons do

One proviso, my ipad is one IOS update behind. I need to remember to download that sometime. It's possible the newest version changes these behaviors, though that's not very likely.

Yes, what Raven said should work. Or just start playing music and tap to get the slider. Then find a fourteen year old to take a look at your buttons! I agree with Marylmi that the button might just be stuck.

It might also help to do a hard reboot: Hold down the power button on the top for a long time, until the power down slider appears, swipe the spot across and turn it off. Leave it off for half an hour and restart.

The "hard reboot" as Plllog describes it only serves to completely power off the iPad. It doesn't "release" or "reset" anything. Try simultaneously holding down the power button on the top while pressing down on the home button. Keep holding both for about 20 seconds or so and the iPad will reset itself. Don't worry, you won't lose anything you have on it. It just resets the system.

But, there is something else to check first...

On the side of the iPad, just above the volume up button, there is another, tiny little round button that can be pushed up, or down, depending on its current position. The default for this button (the purpose of which can be changed in Settings) is that it acts as a MUTE button. Change its position and then check to see if you can change the volume.

Thanks everyone! I can control it with the slide thingy, guess the button on the side is just worn out. Darn, was hoping I could get a new Mini. This one is the first edition, now the 3s are out.

Susan, mine works backwards.... push the plus and the volume goes down, push the minus and the volume goes up.... but since it works, I never complained. ;)