Volume control for headphones in iOS 15

Question

Level 1

107 points

Volume control for headphones in iOS 15

A very surprising-to-me development in iOS 15: they now have a “protect your hearing” Setting in System preferences which allows you to limit the loudest volume that will be send to your headphones. That the setting exist is very nice, because it allows you to set the mid range where you want it and still control the peak volume.

However, we have lost the global volume setting that allowed control of the average volumes. Why does this matter, when you still have the volume control for the phone/headphones? The volume control has long been digital, so that the lowest volume setting is a toggle between ‘low’ and ‘off’. And the lowest volume setting is no longer low enough to be comfortable when I am preparing for sleep.

Before I wish eternal curses to the probably half deaf person who thought switching rather than adding the new peak volume control was a good idea ("may their tinnitus kick in tonight at bedtime, and every night when that setting change continues to frustrate me")....is there another way to control this lowest of the low for comfort when one's hearing is still pretty good?

iPhone 12

Posted on Oct 21, 2021 9:40 AM

Reply

Answer 1

cp from OH

Community Specialist

Oct 22, 2021 11:17 AM in response to Donot Haveone

Hello Donot!

Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities. We understand how personal the headphone volume can be. We're happy to provide you with some information which may be helpful.

There is an option to customize headphone audio levels: Customize headphone audio levels on your iPhone or iPad. This feature applies if you're using one of these models of headphones:

AirPods Max
Apple EarPods (with 3.5 mm Headphone Plug or Lightning Connector)
AirPods (2nd generation)
AirPods Pro
Powerbeats
Powerbeats Pro
Beats Solo Pro

If you're not using one of these models, check out the following article for some additional information:

Sound and Hearing

Use headphone audio level features on iPhone

Cheers!

Reply

Answer 2

cp from OH

Community Specialist

Oct 22, 2021 1:31 PM in response to Donot Haveone

Hi Donot,

Thank you for letting us know that you're using third-party headphones. Have you taken a look at this information from the "Improve the accuracy of audio measurements for third-party Bluetooth headphones" section at the end of the Use headphone audio level features on iPhone article:

"Classify your Bluetooth devices as headphones, speakers, or other devices.

Go to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap next to the name of the device.
Tap Device Type, then choose a classification.

Headphone audio measurements are most accurate when using Apple or Beats headphones. Audio played through other headphones can be estimated based on the volume of your iPhone.

Note: Depending on your country or region, Headphone Notifications may be turned on by default, and in some countries or regions, you may not be able to turn it off. If allowed in your country or region, you can turn Headphone Notifications on or off in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety."

If you find you're still unable to make any relevant changes, you can also leave feedback regarding the settings you'd like to see on this page: Product Feedback - Apple

All the best.

Reply

Answer 3

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

107 points

Oct 22, 2021 12:55 PM in response to cp from OH

Thank you. This does not help my key use case which is me listening as I fall asleep, or when I want very quiet background music for working. For my ears, AirPods are sleek but not comfortable, like every Apple ear bud or ear pod or ear whatever I've met, and this workaround won't help me with my comfortable 3rd-party headsets, or anyone else who finds comfort or invested previously in fine quality headphones outside the Apple ecosystem.

Reply

Answer 4

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

107 points

Oct 22, 2021 6:02 PM in response to cp from OH

I'm still not seeing anything in those articles that suggests that I can drop the low end of the sound range. It's about adjusting left-right balance, and equalizer stuff--or am I missing something?

What I see is that sound levels are like

1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10

And I can prevent sudden loud sounds from going above x decibels, in theory, when I am at high volume numbers.

What I am seeking is to be able to adjust downwards, either adding a lower range by being able to adjust to

0.5 or 1 or 2 etc

or adjusting the WHOLE scale to transform

at 1/2 scale 1 equals 1/2 and 2 equals 2/2 and 3 equals 3/2 etc (this is what I could do in the past and cannot do now)

Or is there more that I am missing hidden in those articles linked above? I've gone over them all several times and I do not see anything that looks like what I am seeking.

And I have already sent feedback, but I doubt it will get much traction, because I'm not seeing a lot of 'I have that problem too' here.

Reply

Answer 5

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

107 points

Oct 22, 2021 9:28 PM in response to Donot Haveone

And in case anyone else finds this thread and wonders: I did verify that the custom settings do not offer options to lower the lowest volumes with my AirPods.

Reply

Volume control for headphones in iOS 15

Similar questions