Paul

Q: Music volume lowers opening other apps

I have noticed with iOS 10, and I can't recall ever noticing this before, but when I am listening to music with the Apple Music app, Slacker, or any other popular music service, and I launch CERTAIN apps, like a game, the music volume drops to about 50% until I quit that app. I'm assuming this is by default, but I could be wrong.

 

This happens on my iPhone 7 Plus as well as my iPhone 6S Plus.

 

SO, 2 things.

 

1. Is music supposed to lower it's volume output when launching other apps at the same time?

2. If so, is there a way to turn this off so the music volume is untouched?

 

Hope this makes sense! Thanks!

iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 1:29 PM

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Q: Music volume lowers opening other apps

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Paul,

    Paul Paul Sep 21, 2016 10:49 AM in response to Paul
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 21, 2016 10:49 AM in response to Paul

    No one at all?

  • by keehnfromhomewood,

    keehnfromhomewood keehnfromhomewood Sep 23, 2016 2:04 PM in response to Paul
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 23, 2016 2:04 PM in response to Paul

    i am having this happen to me as well. Im really frustrated looking for a solution. ive looked all over settings and cant find anything.

  • by Steve Ehrenberg,Helpful

    Steve Ehrenberg Steve Ehrenberg Sep 30, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Paul
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 30, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Paul

    I'm also noticing this. If I start some music up through the Music app and then load up Hearthstone (or just switch back to it) the music volume drops substantially. There really needs to be an option to turn this off if it's intentional. Are you using Bluetooth headphones? I'm wondering if it's only happening on a small selection of headphones and that's why there aren't a lot of reports.

     

    As a work around, what I've beeen doing is launching both Music and starting what i want to hear. Then I load up Hearthstone and THEN load up Messages. If I send myself a Message and then quickly double tap home and switch back to Hearthstone before the notification of a new message, the music goes back to full volume after the notification sound plays. Obviously, this works for me because I just spend an hour listening to music at the gym while playing Hearthstone that whole time. Obviously going to be a bigger pain if you need to switch apps a lot.

  • by Paul,

    Paul Paul Sep 28, 2016 9:31 AM in response to Steve Ehrenberg
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 28, 2016 9:31 AM in response to Steve Ehrenberg

    From what I can tell, this happens with all forms of music output. Speakers, Bluetooth, and earbuds. It does NOT happen with every app though, which is leading me to believe this is by the choice of the developer. For example, if I am listening to music, and launch the game Marvel's Context of Champions, the music volume drops to 50%. I'm wondering if Kabam (The creator of MCOC) has used a sound API so this is happen by design, to not overpower the sound on their app, and balance it out.

     

    IF this is the case, and it's by design allowing developers to do this, then I believe we should have a settings toggle to turn this off, and allow us to decide the dominant volume app, or simply "Music is always the priority" because this is VERY annoying.

  • by Steve Ehrenberg,

    Steve Ehrenberg Steve Ehrenberg Sep 29, 2016 2:45 AM in response to Paul
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 29, 2016 2:45 AM in response to Paul

    There definitely appears to be an API for this. A setting called 'AVAudioSessionCategoryAmbient' can be set with a ducking property that lowers the volume for background audio. It can be set without the ducking option to keep audio playing at full volume. So this is definitely an app issue. The workaround I posted almost feels like a bug, then. A notification's audio will interrupt and override the ducking option.