How do I get to app volume and device preferences?

Adjusting the volume and audio output on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets allows you to customize your audio experience. With volume controls, you can increase or decrease the loudness of music, videos, games and other media played through your device’s speakers or headphones. Selecting preferred audio output lets you route sound to different devices like Bluetooth speakers or wired headsets. Overall, tailoring volume and audio settings provides more control over how you hear content on your mobile device.

This guide covers how to locate and use volume controls on popular mobile operating systems. It also explains how to manage volume for individual apps, set volume limits, and choose audio output devices. Additional tips are provided for optimizing volume based on hearing needs.

Locating Volume Controls

On most smartphones and other mobile devices, the volume buttons are typically found along the left or right edge of the device. Many Android phones have volume rocker buttons on the left side that can be pressed up or down to increase or decrease volume (Google Support). iPhones generally have physical volume buttons on the left side as well.

When these hardware volume buttons are pressed, an on-screen volume slider may also appear, allowing you to visually see the volume level and adjust it by sliding your finger. On Android, pulling down the Quick Settings shade will also display an on-screen media volume slider you can adjust (Geeks on Tour). For iPhones, opening Control Center brings up a volume slider.

If no hardware volume buttons exist, like on some tablets, an on-screen volume slider is often available in the Quick Settings panel or Notification area. Tapping this will allow volume adjustment by sliding your finger.

Adjusting Overall Volume

The simplest way to control your device’s volume is to use the physical volume buttons on the side or top of your device. Pressing the volume up or down buttons will raise or lower the overall system volume, including the volume for media playback, ringtones, alarms, etc.

If your device has a mute switch, you can quickly mute or unmute all audio by toggling the switch on. Sliding the mute switch on will mute all sounds; sliding it off will unmute and restore audio to previous volume levels.

You can also control overall volume from the Quick Settings area by swiping down from the top of the screen. Tap the volume icon to bring up a volume slider you can drag left or right to turn the volume up or down.

For some devices like the Google Pixel, you can control volume using hand gestures in front of the phone’s front-facing camera without touching any buttons. Gestures like pinching two fingers or swiping your hand can turn the volume up, down, or mute.

Managing Volume for Specific Apps

Having the ability to control the volume for individual apps can be very useful. Some apps play audio louder or quieter than others, and it’s nice to be able to adjust the volumes separately to suit your preferences.

Most Android devices include a feature to set separate app volumes. This allows you to customize the volume level for each app. So for example, you could set your music player to be louder, while lowering the volume for games or videos.

Controlling per-app volume is helpful so that you don’t have to manually adjust the main system volume every time you switch between apps. You can set it once for each app and then not have to touch it again. It also prevents some apps from being uncomfortably loud if all app audio gets funneled through one main output.

Overall, the ability to control the volumes of individual apps allows you to customize your audio experience on your device. You can tweak levels on a per-app basis to best suit your preferences and listening needs.

Volume Limit Settings

You can set maximum volume caps on both Android and iOS devices to prevent the volume from being turned up too loud. On Android, apps like Volume Lock let you limit the maximum media volume, call volume, alarm volume and more. There is also a child lock feature that requires a passcode to make any further volume adjustments once limits are set.

On iOS, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics and use the volume sliders to set limits for ringer and alerts as well as media volume. There is also an option to prevent changes using the volume buttons under Prevent Volume Change section. This can lock in volume limits unless the passcode is entered to disable this setting.

For parents, maximum volume caps can prevent children from turning up sound to unsafe levels and damaging their hearing over time. Be sure to set reasonable limits and check in occasionally as listening needs evolve.

Media and Alarm Volumes

On iPhones, there are two main volume controls – the media volume, which controls the volume for playing music, videos, games, and other media, and the ringer and alerts volume, which controls the volume for ringtones, notifications, alarms, and system sounds.

The volume buttons on the side of the iPhone by default control the media playback volume. To specifically control the ringer and alerts volume, you need to go into the Settings app.

To adjust alarm volume separately from ringer volume on an iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Sounds & Haptics.
2. Under Ringer and Alerts, adjust the ringer volume using the slider.
3. Scroll down and go to Alarm section. Adjust the Alarm volume slider separately from the ringer.

This allows you to make alarms louder than the ringer volume, so you don’t sleep through important alarms. You can also set volume limit restrictions specifically for media playback under Screen Time settings.

Choosing Audio Output Device

There are a few main types of audio output devices you can choose between on your device: headphones, speakers (built-in or external), and Bluetooth audio devices. Switching between these audio outputs is simple:

To use headphones, simply plug them into your device’s headphone jack, which will automatically route audio through the headphones once detected. Many devices also allow you to choose headphones specifically as the audio output in Settings > Sounds.

To utilize built-in speakers, there is typically no action required – they function as the default audio output unless you plug in headphones or manually change the audio destination. For external speakers, you would connect them via an audio cable or Bluetooth and then select external speakers in Settings to make them the active output.

For wireless Bluetooth output, you first need to pair your Bluetooth speaker or headphones to your device through the Bluetooth menu in Settings. Once paired, you can choose the Bluetooth device for audio output. Keep in mind Bluetooth connections have limited range.

The process for switching default audio output devices varies by device, but is generally found in the Settings app under Sounds, Audio, or Music. Here you’ll find a menu to select your desired headphones, speakers, or Bluetooth device for audio playback from your apps and media.

According to this article, common kinds of audio output devices include integrated sound cards, external adapters, headphones, speakers, and more. Being able to switch between these outputs allows you flexibility in how and where you listen to audio from your device.

Audio Balance and Mono Audio

You can adjust the left/right balance of the audio output on your device. This allows you to correct for any imbalance between your speakers or headphones. To adjust the balance:

1. Open your device’s Settings app and go to Sounds or Sounds & Haptics.
2. Find the audio balance adjustment option. On an iPhone, go to the Headphone Accommodations section.
3. Drag the slider left or right until you reach your desired balance.

Another related setting is Mono Audio. This combines the left and right audio channels into one mono signal played through both sides. This is useful for correcting imaging and
sound issues when listening with only one earbud.
To enable Mono Audio:

1. Open Sounds or Sounds & Haptics in your device’s Settings.
2. Go to the Headphone Accommodations section.
3. Toggle the Mono Audio switch on.

Volume Settings for Hearing

Android provides helpful volume settings for people who use hearing aids or have hearing impairments.

The Volume Boost for Hearing Aids setting allows you to increase the overall volume beyond the normal maximum level. This helps amplify sounds for hearing aid users.¹

Android also includes visual cues when the volume is changed, like flashing the screen. This helps notify people who have difficulty hearing volume adjustments. The toggle for Flash screen on media volume change is located in Accessibility settings.²

With customized volume controls and visual alerts, Android aims to provide an accessible experience for all users regardless of hearing ability.

Additional Volume Tips

If you are having trouble getting the volume loud enough, first check that the volume limit setting is not restricting the maximum volume level. Go to Settings > Sound & Haptics and make sure the volume limit is set to the maximum level or turned off.

You can also try adjusting the volume buttons and rockers on any compatible headphones, speakers or other audio devices connected to your phone. Make sure they are turned up to the highest comfortable level.

According to a survey of college students’ listening habits, prolonged use of headphones at excessive volumes can potentially damage hearing over time (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20538967/). It’s recommended to take regular breaks and avoid listening at high volumes for more than 60 minutes at a time.

To optimize your volume workflow, you can use the volume buttons on the side of your phone to quickly adjust the volume when switching between apps and activities. Get in the habit of turning the volume down before connecting headphones or bluetooth speakers to avoid sudden loud noises.

The sound preference and hearing habits questionnaire is one tool that can help profile sound preferences and safe listening habits (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27875658/). Being mindful of your volume levels and listening durations can help minimize long-term hearing risks.