iOS14.2 Automatic Volume Reduction

From another thread I discovered that there is a fix in the pipeline so I joined the Beta program (very easy to do and free) and I then downloaded the Beta version of iOS 14.4. In this version you can set each bluetooth device to, eg, Car Stereo or Speaker to stop your phone from thinking that you are always using in-ear devices. It works! My motorcycle helmet no longer causes the volume to reduce even tough I am wearing earplugs. I really hope that this fix makes to the next general release.

Going to Bluetooth settings for a particular device, and change headphones to car stereo.

If it’s Bluetooth headphones, click the “i” icon next to the device in Bluetooth settings and make sure you set it to something like “Speaker” so it won’t adjust the volume automatically

d5aul wrote:

I’ve just installed the official iOS 14.4 & yes you now have the option to tell it what type of Bluetooth device your using. So thanks Apple, this is now fixed!

Correction: Partially fixed, it's only fixed for bluetooth users. (Agree, that is probably the majority of users).

I purchased an iPhone SE (2016) with minijack output, specifically so I can have a wired connection to amplifiers at home, in my car and P.A. system at work (sound tech). Problem is not fixed for the fysical output of older iPhones.

Anyway, I didn't expect a fix, when 14.3 didn't fix it, I've moved on to a Galaxy droid, no regrets. Bye Apple...

Go to you bluetooth devices and hit the information icon at the end each device

Within the blue-tooth settings on your iPhone for your device enable “speaker” instead of headphones. Wolla no need for an Android!

There may be a choice of solutions, one of which is definitely a pain as it will need repeating. .

If you have an Apple Watch and want the health apps to communicate, open the Health app, click on Headphone and Audio levels, near the bottom there is an option to See All Data. In there you can delete all data. This is not ideal and would need repeating every few days.

If you don't have an Apple Watch go to Settings > Privacy > Motion and Fitness untick Health. I was advised to untick them all but I use the pedometer but suddenly the audio data isn't collected. I am currently testing this out as I don't wear any form of watch let alone an Apple one.

For the time being I have found a small work around. Which is you go into the health app and delete that data for the volume control. That then gives you a couple of hours of high volume music. Which should cover a workout. However I will say it is ridiculous you have to do anything to be able to listen to music the way you want to. Apple only needs to provide a volume reduction feature for the regulator not actually enforce it. It’s definitely something that will make me not get a new Apple for any of devices if this doesn’t change. I mean at 43 I don’t need someone telling me to turn the music down lol. I moved out of my parents years ago lol 😉

I’ve just installed the official iOS 14.4 & yes you now have the option to tell it what type of Bluetooth device your using. So thanks Apple, this is now fixed!

...and the release notes for iOS 14.3 don't mention any changes to this new "feature" (cough. handicap)

This is a deal breaker for me, extremely disappointed in Apple. Again, the disappointments keep adding up for me. They're treating us like dumb toddlers, making irreversible choises for us, taking away features that were present when we purchased the phone.

I'm going to have to sell my iPhone second hand, and go back to Android.

Apple is plain wrong in thinking that everybody strictly uses their Apple earbuds. Many people connect their phone to an amplifier, either in the car, or at home, or any soundsystem.

When you connect any audio-source to an amplifier, you need to make sure your output signal is as hot as possible, in order to have a good SNR (=signal-to-noise ratio). Any circuitry has a so called "noise floor". The DAC circuitry (Digital-to-Analog Converter) of the iPhone is quite good (in comparison with cheaper phones). But only when you make use of the full range dynamics of the DAC.

If your audio source (iphone) outputs only a weak signal, then you need a lot more amplification to reach the desired SPL (sound pressure level) in your sound system. Amplifying a weak signal, means amplifying the noise floor too. So the SNR (signal to noise ratio) gets a lot worse, resulting in poor audio dynamics. Amplifying a hot signal (max output) makes sure you can retain the full dynamics of the DAC, as intended by the designers of the DAC circuitry.

This is basic audio engineering knowledge. Apple engineers should know it, but they choose to intentionally ignore the people who don't listen to headphones. Also those who do listen to headphones, now have a very mediocre experience, because the available dynamics (difference between noisefloor and loudest audio peaks) are severely reduced.

With these new mandatory Apple iphone limitations, you have to limit yourself to 80dB if you want to listen more than a few hours a week, which is ridiculously low.

I work in the concert industry, I work continuously with dB levels. I'm going to tell you what makes people deaf. It's not the music through the speakers (if your not so dumb to stand directly in front of the FOH speaker stack). Its people shouting in your ear the whole evening/night, when making conversations. Most studies about concert dB levels don't take this into account. 80dB for music is ridiculously low... In concert situations, and in earbuds.

So people, vote with your wallet. And send Apple feedback, they don't monitor these user forums.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I too have this issue. I mostly listen to music by streaming from my phone to the stereo in my car. It’s illegal to operate a phone that’s not hands free whilst driving so Apple doing this is causing me to break the law if I want to turn the volume back up again!

Yes, I've experienced it myself a few times in the past weeks, that moderators are apparently paid to remove any post that they see as "unconstructive" (read: criticism on Apple). So the forums are monitored indeed. But that doesn't mean the criticism is sent to decision making Apple staff. Negative comments are simply deleted. Wouldn't be surprised if this comment gets deleted within 15 minutes. Therefore it is better to give your feedback straight to the provided feedback link, if you hope to get feedback directly to Apple decision makers...

This is really really bad! I can't listen to music properly. My headset is pretty quiet but the phone still thinks it’s loud and it lowers the volume every 3 minutes. There are a lot of people who are decisive in their lives listening to music and if it is not corrected a lot of people will buy other brands. Ios is a good system but it's an annoying thing which is why I may going to trade it for something else. Please Apple remove this nonsense or iprove it some other way!

Same for me, I stream to the car and don’t use headphones but the volume is being reduced automatically whilst I am driving. If IOS is so dim it can’t differentiate between headphones and a car then get rid of this now. Imbeciles!!

This is the worst feature I have ever come across on an iPhone. I use external speakers for hours at a time and control the volume through them. I also sue bluetooth headsets in motorcycle helmets - the manufacturers of these say to put the phone volume on max and control the volume with the buttons on the device. If I am wearing an open face helmet I wear earplugs so need the volume up to hear my satnav instructions.

I hate this nanny state feature with a passion