How do I sync Bluetooth volume on my Android phone?

Bluetooth audio allows you to wirelessly stream audio from your Android device to Bluetooth headphones, speakers, car stereo systems, and more. When you pair your Android phone with a Bluetooth audio device, the volumes are set independently by default. This means that adjusting the volume on your phone does not change the volume of your Bluetooth headset, and vice versa.

Syncing the Bluetooth volumes enables you to control both volumes simultaneously from either device. This is useful for ensuring a consistent listening experience, rather than having to adjust two volumes separately. It prevents the Bluetooth volume from being too loud or too quiet relative to your device volume. Syncing the volumes also allows you to conveniently control the audio level from your Android phone’s volume buttons or slider, without fumbling with tiny controls on a Bluetooth headset.

Check Bluetooth Settings

The first step is to open the Bluetooth settings on your Android device. This allows you to manage connections and pair new Bluetooth devices. Here’s how to access Bluetooth settings:

On most Android phones like Samsung, LG, Motorola, etc., open the Settings app and select “Connections” or “Connected devices.” Then tap on “Bluetooth” to open the Bluetooth menu.

On Pixel phones, open Settings and select “Connected devices,” then “Connection preferences” and tap on “Bluetooth.”

You can also access Bluetooth settings quickly from the notification tray. Swipe down from the top and long press on the Bluetooth icon. This will take you directly into the Bluetooth settings screen.

Make sure the toggle for Bluetooth is switched on. Your device will now be discoverable to pair with Bluetooth speakers, headphones, cars, and more. The Bluetooth settings menu is also where you manage connections and set media volume sync.

For more details, refer to this Google support article.

Pair With Audio Device

Before you can sync the volume between your Bluetooth audio device and Android phone, you first need to pair the two devices so they can communicate with each other. Here are the steps to pair your Bluetooth device with your Android phone:

1. First, put your Bluetooth audio device like headphones, speakers, car audio system, etc. into pairing mode. Refer to the device’s manual for how to do this, but often it involves pressing and holding a pairing button until an indicator light flashes. This puts the device into discoverable mode.
2. On your Android phone, go into your Settings app and ensure Bluetooth is turned on. Your phone will then start scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices.
3. You should see your Bluetooth audio device show up in the list of Available Devices. Tap on it to initiate pairing.
4. Confirm pairing on both your Android phone and the Bluetooth device. You may need to enter a passcode or confirm a shared key. Refer to the device’s instructions.
5. Once successfully paired, your phone and Bluetooth device will connect automatically in the future when in range without needing to pair again.

Now that your Android phone and Bluetooth audio device are paired, you can proceed to syncing up media volume control between the two.

Media Volume Sync

One of the most common issues with Bluetooth audio volume on Android is having the volume be too low even when turned all the way up. This is often caused by Android not syncing the media volume for Bluetooth devices. To fix this:

Go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth. Tap the settings icon next to your paired Bluetooth audio device. Enable the “Media volume sync” option here. This will sync the media volume for that Bluetooth device with your device’s main volume level rather than using a separate volume control.¹

With this setting enabled, when you adjust the volume on your phone it will also adjust the synced volume for playing audio over that Bluetooth device. Many users find this resolves issues with low Bluetooth volume.

Adjust Volume

One of the main benefits of syncing the media volume on your Android phone with a Bluetooth audio device is that you can easily control the volume from your phone and have it automatically adjust on the connected Bluetooth device as well. This avoids having to manually change the volume on both devices separately.

To adjust the synced volume on your Android phone and have it change on the connected Bluetooth headphones, earbuds, speaker, etc.:

1. First make sure your Android phone and Bluetooth device are paired and connected.
2. Play audio on your phone such as music or a video.
3. Press the volume up or down buttons on the side of your Android phone.
4. As you adjust the volume, you should see the volume level change on the connected Bluetooth device.
5. The volume level should sync and automatically adjust to match on both devices.
6. You can continue to use the phone’s volume buttons to control the volume rather than having to adjust it manually on the Bluetooth device.

This syncing allows you to easily control the volume from your Android phone even when the Bluetooth device does not have its own volume controls. Just be sure the “Media Volume Sync” setting is enabled under Bluetooth settings on your phone.

If adjusting your phone’s volume does not change the volume on the connected Bluetooth device, you may need to unpair the devices and re-pair them to reset the sync. Or double check that Media Volume Sync is turned on in your Bluetooth settings.

Troubleshooting Bluetooth Volume Sync Issues

If you are experiencing issues with syncing the volume between your Android device and Bluetooth audio device, here are some common solutions:

Make sure Media Volume Sync is enabled in your Bluetooth settings. Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth > Advanced and toggle on Media Volume Sync.

Check that your Android OS and Bluetooth drivers are up to date. Outdated software can cause syncing problems. Go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update to check for any available updates.

Try unpairing and then repairing your Bluetooth device. Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth and select Forget under the paired device, then go through the pairing process again.

As a last resort, reset your device’s network settings. Go to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth. You will have to set up Bluetooth again after this reset.

If none of these solutions work, your Bluetooth device may not be fully compatible with Media Volume Sync on your Android version. Check with the device manufacturer for potential updates or workarounds.

Auto Resume Playback

One helpful setting for keeping media playback in sync between your Android phone and Bluetooth audio device is Auto Resume Playback. When enabled, this will automatically resume playback on your Bluetooth headphones or speakers when reconnecting to your phone, picking up right where you left off.

To enable this setting on your Android device:

1. Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the settings icon next to your paired Bluetooth device.
3. Toggle on Auto Resume Playback.

With this enabled, you won’t have to manually resume playback each time. As soon as your Bluetooth device reconnects after being disconnected, your music, podcast, or other audio will start playing again from the same spot. This keeps everything seamlessly in sync.

Some Bluetooth devices have their own Auto Resume feature as well. Check your device’s settings to see if you can enable it there too for even smoother syncing between your phone and headphones or speakers.

If you find playback is still getting out of sync, try disabling battery optimization for Bluetooth and media apps that can sometimes interfere with Auto Resume. You may also need to check for app or device firmware updates to address any syncing bugs.

Best Bluetooth Audio Codecs

When streaming audio over Bluetooth, the audio quality depends heavily on the codec used. There are a few main codecs to be aware of:

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) – This is used by Apple devices and provides good audio quality. According to Understanding Bluetooth Audio Codecs, AAC has a bitrate of 250kbps which allows it to carry more data than basic SBC.

aptX – Developed by Qualcomm, aptX is widely supported on Android devices. It offers improved audio quality over SBC, with a bitrate of 352kbps. According to this forum discussion, aptX provides high quality audio that some say exceeds CD quality.

aptX HD – Also from Qualcomm, this is an enhanced version of aptX that supports 24-bit audio at a 576kbps bitrate. It provides excellent quality but requires both transmitting and receiving devices to support it.

LDAC – Developed by Sony, this codec has the highest bitrate at 990kbps. It supports hi-res audio up to 96kHz/24-bit, providing superior quality for music and videos if supported on both devices.

Overall, aptX, AAC, and especially aptX HD and LDAC offer significantly better audio quality over Bluetooth compared to the default SBC codec. Checking for codec support when buying new devices will ensure the best wireless audio experience.

Conclusion

In summary, there are a few key steps to syncing Bluetooth volume on your Android phone:

First, ensure Bluetooth is enabled in your phone’s settings and that you have paired your phone with the Bluetooth audio device you want to use. Open the Bluetooth settings and select the paired device.

Next, check if the “Media Volume Sync” option is enabled for that Bluetooth device. This setting allows your phone’s volume buttons to also control the volume of the connected Bluetooth device.

You can then adjust the volume up or down using your phone’s volume buttons. The volume level should sync between your phone and the Bluetooth device. If you still have trouble getting the volumes to match, try adjusting the volume on both devices individually.

As a last resort, you can disable the “Absolute Volume” option in Developer Options. This makes your phone relinquish sole control over the Bluetooth volume.

With a few simple adjustments, you should be able to get your Android phone and Bluetooth device volumes perfectly synced up.

References

No sources were cited in this original How-To article. The content was written based on the author’s expertise and knowledge on how to sync Bluetooth volume on Android phones.