iPhone ringer volume increases to max volume when connecting to car via bluetooth

So I’ve noticed that non-Apple Bluetooth devices have trouble connecting to my iPhone 12 Pro Max. I use some generic Bluetooth headphones at work and I have to cycle the unit on and off several times to acquire a connection. And once I disconnect the device, the phone’s ringer volume is on maximum.

Same problem when I use any Bluetooth headphones including AirPod max. Very annoying. Most times the volume just turned itself way up. I have seen the phone when it happens. Is as if someone is pressing the volume button. Sometimes it gets lower but mostly louder. Very disappointing !!!

this Same problem has happened to me ever since I bought my 11 pro (now I have the 12) back in Dec 23, 2019. I have the ringer down (to about 1/4 of the ringer bar full) and when I connect to any Bluetooth, wether it be my headphones or car (for the Apple watch it doesn’t happen). It ticks me off because I don’t ever have it up loud, so when I get an email or text when it’s quite, it startles me. Not cool. This needs fixed. ASAP

Do note that the phone stores separate volume levels for speaker, Bluetooth and connected headphones, so try turning the volume down once connected to Bluetooth via the volume keys and see if that helps.

This should still be fixed. Because I use a F M Transmitter through Bluetooth for my motorcycle. And without having the volume up on my phone, the music isn’t loud enough to hear without jacking the volume up to Max on the bike. So there again it should be fixed to not mess with the ringer volume only Bluetooth volume.

Giving the suggested solution of Settings -> Sound & Haptics and turn "Change with buttons" to "off" a try. I have a Yamaha bluetooth receiver in a building outside. If I walk out of range with my iPhone, and then come back in range, it turns the volume all the way up when it reconnects and scares the living bejesus out of everyone. This “feature” sucks.

Same issue here. I have tried two different iPhones. Latest OS of 14.7.1. Bluetooth or CarPlay connecting to my vehicle cause the ringer volume to go to max, even after leaving the vehicle. I have adjusted ringer volume while being called in the car -- both on Bluetooth and CarPlay connections.

@Apple either does not read the posts in this forum or thinks somehow that this is a feature and not a defect. If you have volume set at one level, walk out of range of your Bluetooth device, and the Fing phone jumps to full volume on reconnect, it is a DEFECT not a feature. This has been an issue with my $1,100 phone for well over a year. Hello? Apple?

@apple can we at least have the decency of some kind of a response ? Even an acknowledgment at this point would be better than outright ignoring this issue.

Several updates have come out since this thread has been going on and that is quite frankly disgusting.

what’s the issue with fixing it? Why are you ignoring it? Just give us something

I have not received any replies to my Feedback Assistant submitted tickets as well, so I've stopped submitting them. At least I know there's a workaround by disabling "change with buttons" and it have worked quite well for me. I've stopped changing ringer volume, which have resulted in some missed calls, but hey, at least I have not scared half a billion people. 😀

For me, this problem (bug) was not specific to connecting to my vehicle via Bluetooth but other devices as well. I had an iPhone 6 and this problem was always present. Now that I have the iPhone 12, it continues to persist. One would think that Apple would realize that this is a problem and fix it instead of continuing to add features that most users do not care about.

FYI: IOS 15 (and 15.0.1)made it even worse! Now it happens EVERY time I get connected to my car via BT, not just sometimes.

(Well, maybe it’s better this way, because now it doesn’t surprise me blowing up the speakers every now and then. Instead it happens every f…ing time I get connected, so I got used to check and lower the volume as soon as I leave the car)

@Apple same issue, not resolved with the "Change with Buttons" off. I have never had the option turned on and over the past several months the volume in my car will max out when connecting to the phone.

Having the same issue. I’ve noticed that any Bluetooth connected device causes the phone’s ringer to increase to maximum. This occurs in the car with “CarPlay” and any Bluetooth headsets.

Same problem here. I don't even have CarPlay, just a regular bluetooth set up I added to a 2007 Honda. Same happens when connecting to my JBL speaker. Very annoying.