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iPhone ringer volume keeps turning down

Since upgrading to iOS 13.1(now 13.1.2), the volume on the phone that that I normally have set on maximum level, keeps lowering on its own to about 25%. I became aware of the problem when my alerts (email, text, other alerts) were often barely audible if phone was in my pants pocket.


I can raise it back to maximum and it can lower on it's own within a few minutes even if the phone has not been in use, having any activity, or even wakened. One I time raised the volume, plugged it in to charge while in the car, picked it up less than two minutes later and the volume had dropped. In a thirty minute timeframe of checking, the volume dropped four times. The phone has now gone an hour without the volume changing so doesn't appear to be time related.


All though these events I did not use (or touch) the side volume buttons other than to raise it back to my normal levels.


Under settings/sounds & haptics, the Change with Buttons is on and does function.




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 8 Plus

Posted on Oct 2, 2019 11:24 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 27, 2021 9:06 AM

I have an iPhone Pro Max 12, am on ios 14.4.2 and have the same problem. Additionally, I have 'change with buttons' off...but my side volume buttons still function the same. Totally confusing and annoying.


Apple..... WHEN are you going to address this issue.? Your phones are of no value if we mill all of our calls.

526 replies

Oct 17, 2019 10:07 AM in response to brenden dv

I have used the same case for 10 months and seldom have used the volume buttons on the case. To change the volume I go to settings/sounds&haptics. The volume reduction always drops to the same approximate 25% level


Other posts to my question show the same problemsince updating to iOS13


I have found that often just plugging the phone into the charging cord (Mac USB, car USB or direct to outlet) will reset the volume.


The volume can change without being in charging mode. I have had the phone on the couch beside me with no activity or touching it at all for several hours. I discover the volume drops when there is a diminished tone volume for an alert or call.

Dec 15, 2019 5:40 AM in response to Derryl S

Hey so I have this exact problem but the opposite, I set my phone's ringer to be about 10% because my phone rings so much I don't need it to be deafening and seemingly randomly since 13.1 it changes itself to 100%. I have this phone as an alarm along with other devices (because I can't wake up to the volume at 10%) and randomly my phone will essentially wake up all my neighbors with its super loud ringer. I don't get it.

Dec 16, 2019 9:04 AM in response to Derryl S

Ringer volume continues to quietly, spontaneously reduce itself (usually to zero) despite "Change with Buttons" (CwB) being OFF. No improvement from cycling the CwB setting, leaving CwB in either position, repeatedly resetting the phone, Bluetooth connect/disconnect, charging/not, different chargers, removal from case. Problem persists with the phone just sitting on a table untouched, sometimes within seconds. Happened twice in the time to write this. Many missed calls and alerts. Very frustrating. Began around upgrade to iOS 13. iPhone 7 Plus iOS 13.1.3.

Dec 18, 2019 6:48 AM in response to Derryl S

This is happening to me as well. I assumed it was a problem with my new headphones; turns out it’s a bug in iOS 13!


This issue is incredibly frustrating. Nothing works to fix it. Certain actions, like pausing media playback and then typing in something, resuming playback, and even just plugging in a charging cable (presumably via playing the ‘charging’ noise) all trigger semi-random volume alterations. Often these result in extremely loud media playback which is actively hurting my ears. It’s hard to believe this has gone unaddressed by Apple considering people are being injured. As a company committed to accessibility, Apple should take active harm very seriously.


It seems like this bug is related to how the system seems to alter the volume for everything when it goes between media playback and sound effects. It should instead be keeping separate volumes for these things instead of triggering phantom volume alterations; it seemed to be doing this in past versions of iOS.


Please fix this, Apple. It’s super frustrating and painful at turns.

Dec 19, 2019 11:31 AM in response to bruce02user

Mine changes no matter what I do.

It happens after connecting to WiFi, any power source/charge, and after phone calls.

I have gone through ALL of the recommended instructions and it still changes on its own.

This is a hazard. I am a nurse and need to know when my phone rings or when I get a text.

No matter what, from WiFi or phone cases or not - your volume shouldn’t change unless YOU change it.

Fix this NOW Apple!!

Dec 19, 2019 8:18 PM in response to EMarkODell

Ok that's good to know, that setting change will likely do nothing then. I had something odd happen to me this morning where it had gone to half volume instead of full volume, this seems very much like an undocumented seemingly random feature not a bug but I cannot seem to put two and two together. I think most people are mentioning they use alarms but I don't think that's a very shocking discovery.

Dec 20, 2019 8:07 PM in response to Derryl S

Got a new IPhone 8 recently which installed IOS 13 on initial startup. Having the same issue except my notifications get louder when the volume is set to the lowest setting with no connection to BT devices or other action. Randomly some notifications make no sounds at all. I usually keep the notification sounds at the lowest volume. Sometimes one will sound as expected and one a few minutes later will be a couple of notches louder. It’s annoying and I can’t imagine the frustration for those depending on it as an alarm clock. Please fix!!

Dec 23, 2019 8:22 PM in response to Derryl S

I have been having this issue for weeks now. Like the above, without even touching my phone it automatically lowers the volume.

Where this affects not just me, Apple, is when I am on call and cannot hear calls from the hospital or stroke doc. If I miss a call, that is extra time that patients do not have. This is a major issue and needs to be addressed ASAP.

Dec 28, 2019 4:37 AM in response to skydiva1111

My iPhone X has the same problem and I have missed very important calls from my cardiologist. I already have attention and awareness off as well as change with buttons off. I still continue to go to sounds and haptics regularly and put the volume back up. This certainly is a dangerous situation for people who really need to get a call., healthcare providers, first responders, etc.

inhope a fix is imminent.

Jan 7, 2020 12:55 PM in response to Derryl S

Every time I exit my 2017 Ford Fusion, where my phone automatically connects too when I'm in it, mine 'and' my wife's iPhone volumes decrease to 25%...every single time. My brothers iPhone does the same thing every time he exits his Ford Mustang.


We all like to use our side buttons for adjusting volume, so shutting that feature off is not a legit fix.

Jan 15, 2020 10:42 AM in response to Derryl S

Hi I have 11 maxpro , the same problem. I have tried every variation , apple support , too. No success. Everybody is waiting for the blessful update....... When is gonna come? It is so funny, as the apple support think that you are crazy, and they always repeating the same attention aware thing. I have Iphone since more the ten years. The main problem is when I tell this story to my brother , he said that he has the same issue, and other friend, and others. When is the solution arrive. Feels like "when peace and love will come to earth" Hoping the best!!!

Jan 15, 2020 11:26 AM in response to sarcsaba

So I did some further testing, and when I sit in my car and open my home screen on my phone, then turn the car on, as soon as the phone auto connects, I can watch my ringer volume animation on top of the screen lower to about 1/4 volume. If I turn it back up when the car is still running it stays at 100%, but as soon as I turn the car off and the phone disconnects, it goes right back down to 1/4 volume. This happens every single time that I'm in my 2017 ford fusion.


This happens to my wife's phone and my brother's phone in his mustang. All of us are using iPhone 6s+ using the latest IOS. This problem didn't start for any of us until 13.1

iPhone ringer volume keeps turning down

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