What happened to my media volume on my phone?

It can be frustrating when the media volume on your phone seems to change unexpectedly. One minute you are listening to music or watching videos at a certain volume level, and the next minute the volume has decreased drastically or even been muted without you changing any settings. This inexplicable change in media volume is an issue many smartphone users have experienced. There are several potential causes for the media volume changing on its own, which we will explore in this article.

Operating System Updates

One common cause of changes to media volume levels is operating system (OS) updates on your phone. Major OS updates like going from Android 10 to Android 11 can reset various settings, including your media volume. This Android Central forum post describes users experiencing their media volume resetting after a Jellybean OS update on Samsung Galaxy phones.

The reason this happens is that OS updates often modify the core system files and configurations on your phone. This can reset settings like media volume that are stored in these system files. So after a major OS update, you may notice your ringer volume, alarm volume, or media volume has been changed without you doing anything.

If this happens, try re-adjusting the volume levels to your preference after the OS update is complete. You may need to unmute your media volume or raise it back to the desired level. Also double check that any volume limit or sync options are still enabled if you’re using those features.

Other App Volume Changes

One common reason for media volume being altered on Android phones is due to other apps changing the volume level. Many apps like video and music players, games, and even social media apps have their own in-app volume controls.

When you adjust the volume in these apps, it changes the overall media volume level on your device. For example, turning up the volume in a video playing app like YouTube or Netflix will increase the system media volume. Similarly, reducing volume in a music app like Spotify will lower the phone’s overall media volume.

So if you notice media volume changing when using certain apps, it’s likely because those apps are independently controlling volume. Check the in-app volume settings or avoid maxing out volume in loud apps to prevent them from overwriting your preferred system volume level. You can always manually adjust the media volume back to your desired level after exiting a loud app.

As per the Android Stack Exchange, apps that request the CHANGE_AUDIO_SETTINGS permission have the ability to directly change media volume. So be aware of apps that may alter volume levels without your input.

Physical Damage

Physical damage to your phone, such as from dropping it or getting it wet, can sometimes affect the media volume. This is because the volume buttons and internal components can become damaged from the impact or moisture exposure.

For example, if you drop your phone, the volume buttons may become loose or jammed, making it difficult to control the volume. The impact can also damage the phone’s internal circuitry that controls the volume levels. Similarly, if the phone gets wet, water damage can cause corrosion or short circuits that disrupt the volume controls.

Inspect your phone for any signs of external damage like dents, cracks, or warped buttons around the volume area. Also look for indicators of water damage, such as corrosion around ports or speakers. If the phone has sustained physical damage, you may need to get it professionally repaired in order to restore full volume functionality.

So in summary, dropping your phone or getting it wet can potentially lead to volume issues by damaging the physical volume buttons or internal volume components. Carefully inspect your phone for signs of external or liquid damage as a possible cause.

Headphone Use

Using wired or Bluetooth headphones can cause changes to your phone’s volume settings. When headphones are plugged in, your phone may automatically set the volume to a specific level based on the headphone type or model. Additionally, physical buttons on wired headphones can directly control the volume, which may alter the software volume setting on your phone.

If using Bluetooth headphones, ensure the volume sync option is enabled in your Bluetooth settings so that the headphone and phone volume remain matched. However, many Bluetooth headphones have independent volume controls that do not change your phone’s main volume setting. Using these headphone buttons could make it seem like the phone volume is lower when in reality only the headphone volume has changed.

Try adjusting the volume on both your headphones and phone directly to realign them if experiencing inconsistencies. If issues persist, check for software or hardware issues specific to your headphone model.

Volume Limit Setting

Many smartphones like iPhones and Android devices have a volume limit setting that allows you to restrict the maximum volume output of your phone (sources). This can prevent the volume from going too high and damaging your hearing. The volume limit caps the maximum loudness no matter how high you turn the volume up.

To enable this, go into your phone’s Settings app and find the Sound/Audio section. There will usually be an option like “Volume Limit” or “Media Volume Limit.” Tap into this menu and toggle it on, then drag the slider to set your desired maximum volume level. The phone will now prevent increasing the volume past that point, even if you try to turn it up higher (sources).

Setting a volume limit can be useful for protecting your hearing, especially in noisy environments like concerts or when using headphones. However, it does mean you won’t be able to turn the volume up higher than the limit if desired. You can always adjust the limit level or toggle it off later if needed. But having a limit in place can help encourage keeping volume at safer levels.

Factory Reset

A factory reset will restore all of the default settings on your device, including the default media volume. When you first get your phone or tablet, the media volume is set to a certain level by the manufacturer. Over time as you adjust the volume and install new apps, the media volume can end up being lowered or raised from its original default state.

Doing a factory reset essentially wipes the device and restores it to the state it was in when you first got it. This resets any changes made to settings like media volume back to their factory defaults. It clears out any problematic apps or settings that may have altered the media volume. According to Android Central forums, a factory reset fixed issues with media volume being lower than expected on some devices [1]. Factory resetting is therefore a reliable way to restore the media volume back to the original default setting.

The process will delete all apps and data on the device. So before factory resetting, it’s important to backup any files and data you want to keep. But once completed, the media volume and all other settings should be returned to their factory state.

Software Bug

A software bug or glitch in the operating system or apps can sometimes cause problems with media volume. This seems to be a relatively common issue that has affected Android users across brands like Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus and others [1]. In many cases, the media volume gets stuck at a very low level or even zero and stops responding to volume button presses. Rebooting the phone or force closing the problematic app often resolves it temporarily, but the issue keeps recurring.

Some users have traced the problem to bugs introduced in recent OS updates. For example, one Reddit user reported the issue emerging after a Nothing OS update on their Phone (2), drastically reducing max volume to 50% of normal [2]. Since it started after the update, a software bug seems the likely culprit. Manufacturers usually issue fixes for such bugs in subsequent updates. Users can try reporting the issue through feedback channels so it gets priority.

While frustrating, this type of glitch doesn’t indicate permanent damage. Keeping OS and apps updated, rebooting the phone, or factory resetting as a last resort should resolve the problem if caused by a software bug.

Third Party Apps

Some third party apps can change the media volume on your phone due to having certain permissions enabled. Apps may require access to change media volume as part of their functionality. However, sometimes apps can change the volume unexpectedly if they have been granted access.

For example, as noted on Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange, “Some apps require the CHANGE_MEDIA_VOLUME permission to work properly. But if you did not pay attention while installing them, they may change volume when you least expect it.”¹

If you notice the media volume changing unexpectedly, check the permissions of recently installed apps. Disable the CHANGE_MEDIA_VOLUME permission for any apps that do not need it. This will prevent them from altering the volume without your control.

Conclusion

There are many potential causes for media volume suddenly changing on your phone. The most common reasons are operating system updates, changes to volume settings in other apps, physical damage to the phone’s speakers or headphone jack, enabling volume limit settings, software bugs, and third party apps affecting volume control.

To troubleshoot unexpected volume changes, first check if any system updates were recently installed. Updates can sometimes reset media volume levels. Also look for any apps that may have altered volume sliders. Examine headphones and speakers for damage or debris, and toggle volume limit settings off. If the issue persists, try a factory reset or reinstalling the OS. For software bugs, check for available updates and patches. Review recently installed third party apps as well, uninstalling any that affect volume.

With consistent testing and isolation of potential root causes, you should be able to resolve unexplained volume fluctuations on your phone. Key solutions are updating software, tweaking app settings, replacing damaged hardware, resetting to factory defaults, and removing problematic third party apps.