Iphone 12 volume buttons not functionning

Hi I had this problem too and it was very frustrating but I called apple customer service and I realised that my phone and one of my homepods was on a different WiFi network so I reset both my homepods and it seems to have fixed the issue.

least invasive fix, for now, seems to be removing HomePods from the home app, force restart the iPhone( that means: click volume up button, click volume down button, then hold side power button until screen blacks out and apple logo returns, then release). This will solve the issue. Then you can re-setup the homepods. Until software can be updated I believe this is the easiest way, no need to restore a phone.

I was able to stop the issue from happening with my phone by removing the homepod mini from the home app all together and force restarting my iPhone. Once the force restart was complete and I tested the volume buttons to confirm function I set up the homepod mini again on the home app.

So I was having the same issue where my HP mini would steal my volume control so just did what someone said and removed my HP mini from my home app, force restarted my phone, and set up my HP mini afterward. I tested handing off music to the HP and my iPhone 12 controls HP’s volume while inside the music app but as soon as I leave the app it reverts back to my phone sound. Same result if I airplay to HP from iPhone. Seems like it’s been solved for now but we’ll see.

I use the “transfer device” feature where you hold your phone on the Homepod mini to transfer the song from homepod back to the phone. This will allow you to switch back to controlling the phone’s volume.

I had exactly the same problem.

After several HomePod resets without success, I tried something else and it fixed the issue !!

But you need to have an iPad...

I deleted HomePod from iPhone and connected and initialized it with my iPad.

That way to implement HomePod in « Apple ecosystem » does not block the volume buttons on iPhone, but you won’t be able to change the HomePod volume with them, only with control center.

So it’s not perfect but so much better to keep volume buttons operating on your iPhone !!

Sorry for my English, I’m French 😜.

Hope this will help some of you guys !

I was able to stop the issue from happening with my phone by removing the homepod mini from the home app all together and force restarting my iPhone. Once the force restart was complete and I tested the volume buttons to confirm function I set up the homepod mini again on the home app.

Solved:

Remove all homepods from home app

reboot phone. I got volume control on my device back.

Then add homepods back into app

We have 2x IPhone 11 and the HomePod (not Mini).

It is the same situation, once connected through AirPlay we can control the HomePod but the software is not allowing to regain control of the IPhone volume buttons.

This feels like a software bug where the HomePod keeps the controls or the method to regain the control on the IPhone is running into an issue and keeps the now NEW Default values (HomePod).

Unplugging the HomePod does not break the AirPlay default control button setting.

That points to the IOS system.

*The only option to regain the volume control back is a restart of the IPhone*

The Phones running 14.3

HomePod 14.3

Same problem here. iPhone 11 Pro Max. If I use my phone to control HomePod Mini, the volume buttons are hijacked by the HomePod and no matter what I do I cant make them control iPhone volume unless I restart my iPhone. Tried playing with settings, control volume and ring with buttons, on and off, nothing. Tried cancelling airplay, turned iPhone to Airplane Mode, disconnected wifi, bluetooth. Nothing. I've already left a bug feedback on Apple's feedback page. I would recommend more people leave feedback on this bug so we can get Apple's attention to fix it: https://www.apple.com/feedback/homepod.html

I think I've found the fix for this issue, it only been a few hours now but I've managed to retain control of sound on my phone while still being able to use the speaker. Done a couple of handovers and it's still been normal functionality.

Issue seems to be around the 'recognise my voice' function. Once I restarted my phone then turned that function off it seems I haven't had the issue.

I've tried a few of the things suggested in here none have worked for as long as this test so hoping it's actually a fix.

I had this same problem and fixed it by going into the home app and restarting the HomePod app through the settings, seems to be working for now

Totally remove the homepod from your iPhone hone app and set it up again. I did this for both of mine and I have not had the problem since.

Have you tried removing the homepods completely from your phone and then reinstalling them? This worked for me I no longer have this issue