How to control media volume in Android without volume button?

Controlling the media volume on your Android device without using the physical volume buttons can be very useful in certain situations. For example, if the volume buttons on your device are broken or unresponsive, you’ll need an alternative way to change the volume. Additionally, if you want to easily adjust the volume without fumbling for tiny physical buttons, using an on-screen method can be more convenient.

Luckily, Android offers a few different ways to control the media volume completely without hardware buttons. You can use on-screen sliders, tiles, or shortcuts to turn the volume up or down. There are also third-party apps that provide extra on-screen control options. By leveraging Android’s built-in software volume controls or downloading an app, it’s possible to fully manage your device’s audio levels without pressing any physical keys.

In this guide, we’ll cover the various methods available for controlling your Android media volume without volume buttons. Whether your phone’s hardware buttons are damaged or you simply want a more convenient way to adjust volume levels, the software solutions detailed below will allow you to easily manage volume on your Android device.

Use Volume Buttons on Headphones/Earbuds

Many headphones and earbuds have inline volume controls built into the cord or on the earpiece that can be used to adjust the media volume on your Android phone. This allows you to easily control the volume without accessing the phone’s buttons or screen.

For example, wired Android headphones from brands like Skullcandy, JBL, and more often have + and – buttons on the cord or earbud to turn the volume up or down. You can press these buttons to directly raise or lower the media volume playing on your Android phone.

Similarly, many Bluetooth headphones and earbuds designed for Android devices have onboard volume controls on one earpiece. By clicking or tapping these controls, you can adjust the volume wirelessly without having to touch your phone.

Using inline headphone controls is often the quickest and easiest way to change volume on an Android phone. Just make sure your headphones are designed to work with Android and have volume buttons before relying on this method.

Adjust System Volume

The system volume controls the master volume level on your Android device. This includes the volumes for ringtones, notifications, media, and system sounds. Changing the system volume will adjust the volume levels across all audio sources on your device.

To adjust your system volume:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap on Sound & Vibration (may be called Sound on some devices).
3. Drag the System Volume slider left or right to lower or raise the volume.

Raising the system volume will turn up the volume for music, videos, games, and other media played on your device. Likewise, lowering the system volume will reduce the volume for all media files. The system volume acts as a master control for the audio level on Android.

So if you want to listen to media quietly without accessing the volume buttons, adjusting the system volume in Settings is an easy way to control the overall media volume.

For more information, see the Google Android Help article on changing volume settings.

Use On-Screen Volume Slider

Most Android smartphones include an on-screen volume slider in the notification panel that can be used to adjust the media volume without pressing any physical buttons. To adjust volume using this method:

Open the notification panel by swiping down from the top of the screen. On the right side of the notification panel there will be a media volume slider. Drag the slider left or right to lower or raise the volume. The volume level will change in real-time as you drag the slider.

This provides a quick and convenient way to adjust volume without having to reach for any physical buttons. The media volume slider is always available in the notification panel making it easy to tweak the volume whether listening to music, watching videos, or gaming. It’s especially useful if the physical volume buttons on a device become unresponsive.

Some manufacturers like Samsung allow customizing the quick settings panel to include a media volume slider for even faster access without opening notifications. The on-screen volume slider is a native Android feature included on most devices.

Use Volume Keys on Screen

One way to control media volume without physical buttons is to enable on-screen volume keys in your device’s Accessibility settings. This places an on-screen volume slider on the edge of your display that you can tap to control the volume.

To enable this feature on Android:

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Go to Accessibility settings.
3. Look for an option labeled “Volume key shortcut” or “Volume shortcut” and enable it.
4. You’ll now see a moveable on-screen volume slider that you can drag up and down to change the media volume.

This essentially simulates the functionality of physical volume buttons right on your screen. Just tap and drag the slider to turn the volume up or down. Many users find this easier and more convenient than using tiny buttons on their device.

Some devices allow further customization of the on-screen keys in Accessibility settings, like changing their position or size. On Samsung Galaxy phones, look for the “Floating button” option.

Use Volume Shortcut Tiles

One way to control media volume without the volume buttons is by adding volume shortcut tiles to your Quick Settings panel. Android allows you to add customizable tiles that provide quick access to frequently used settings. There are several apps on the Google Play Store that provide volume control tiles.

For example, the app Sound Quick Settings lets you add a volume slider tile to Quick Settings. After installing the app, open Quick Settings and tap the edit icon. Drag the Sound Quick Settings tile into your Quick Settings panel. Now you can tap the tile to open a volume slider to control the media volume. You can also long press the tile to open advanced audio options.

Another app called Volume Tile provides similar quick access to a volume slider tile in Quick Settings. These types of apps provide an easy way to change volume without physical buttons.

Use Third-Party Apps

Third-party Android apps can provide more customizable volume controls. For example, Volume Control (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=netroken.android.persistfree&hl=en_US&gl=US) lets you create predefined volume profiles and toggle between them easily. The app adds floating on-screen volume controls that make adjusting the volume simple. Other apps like Sound Assistant provide per-app volume control so you can set custom volumes for each individual app.

Use Do Not Disturb

Enabling Do Not Disturb (DND) on Android will mute notifications and ringtones, but it can also mute media volume like music and videos (1). This happens because DND restricts access to the volume controls, preventing changes to media volume.

To allow media playback while DND is on, you’ll need to change the associated settings. On a Samsung Galaxy device, go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Do not disturb and toggle “Media” to allow media volume. On stock Android and other devices, go to Settings > Sound > Do not disturb and toggle “Media” to allow changes (2).

With those settings adjusted, media volume will no longer be muted when DND is enabled. You’ll still block calls and notifications, but can control media as desired.

Adjust Audio Focus

Android’s audio focus system allows apps to request focus when they need to output audio. By default, audio focus is given on a first-come, first-served basis. However, you can change the priorities of different apps to control which one retains focus in overlapping scenarios.

To do this, pass a priority parameter when requesting audio focus using AudioManager.requestAudioFocus(). The app with the highest priority will be granted audio focus. Priorities range from 0 to 999, with 999 being the highest.

For example, a music app would request focus with a high priority like priority = 999 to ensure it retains playback control. A game may use a lower priority since sound effects are less critical. You can refine these priorities based on the usage needs of your app.

Just be careful not to overuse high priorities – otherwise multiple apps may end up competing, leading to a poor user experience. Consider the context and whether your app truly needs priority over others currently playing audio.

Conclusion

Android offers multiple ways to control media volume without using the physical volume buttons. The best options depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Using the on-screen volume slider or volume shortcut tiles provides quick access to volume control from any screen. Third-party apps like Volume Master offer advanced options like per-app volume control. For those who want to avoid interruptions, Do Not Disturb mode mutes sounds while still allowing exceptions.

In the end, there is likely an option that suits your personal preferences, whether you want streamlined basic controls or more customizable advanced settings. Experiment to find which volume control methods work best for how you use your Android device.