Cannot control AirPods volume on Apple TV using iPhone

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Level 1

26 points

Cannot control AirPods volume on Apple TV using iPhone

I connected my AirPods to my new Apple TV 4K. I then opened the Apple TV remote app from the Control Center on my iPhone. When I did this the first time, the mute button in the remote app was enabled and the volume buttons of iPhone controlled the volume of AirPods. After a few hours, when I repeated the above steps, the mute button is grayed out (disabled) and the volume buttons adjust only the volume of iPhone even during playback on Apple TV. Can someone please let me know what went wrong the second time?

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 16

Posted on Mar 8, 2023 8:42 PM

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Answer 1

bruno75

Community Specialist

Mar 9, 2023 3:46 PM in response to pranaygo94

Hey there pranaygo94,

We'd like to confirm more details to better understand what's happening, along with ruling out some other possible causes:

You mentioned that this does work, but only sometimes. When did this start to occur?
Sometimes unexpected behavior can be resolved with a restart: Restart your iPhone and Restart Apple TV
We see you have tvOS 16 installed on your Apple TV 4K, but depending on your model, the latest version is tvOS 16.3.3. You can verify this within Settings > General > About. In case you needed it, this link shows how to Update your Apple TV
If you have a compatible iPhone model, the latest version is iOS 16.3.1. You can verify this within Settings > General > About. In case you needed it, this link shows how to first back up, then Update your iPhone or iPad.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

kamote0628

Community Specialist

Mar 9, 2023 4:38 PM in response to pranaygo94

pranaygo94,

Thank you for these additional details.

All the steps you've done so far are quite helpful in isolating the issue.

Another factor we'd like to look into is your Wi-Fi settings.

Have you had the chance to make sure that you are using the recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers?

You can use the article below as a reference.

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support

We ask because a good Wi-Fi connection is needed for this feature to work.

If you are using the recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers, please use the contact Apple Support link on the last step of the article below.

Set up the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Take care!

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Answer 3

Mar 10, 2023 2:04 PM in response to pranaygo94

Hi, I had the same issue yesterday. I scheduled a phone call from Apple and was just messing around until I got the call and it started working again.

This is what worked for me: I opened a show on prime, held the power button to start Siri, then repeatedly pressed pause and play on the remote app about 10 times. Then I backed out of Siri and repeatedly pressed pause and play a few times. The show paused and played for a few times and the volume started working. I don’t know if it is the right solution but it worked for me. Hopefully it works for you too.

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Answer 4

pranaygo94 Author

Level 1

26 points

Mar 11, 2023 4:01 AM in response to bshawnGreen

Hi bshawnGreen,

Thanks for your suggestion! I’ll try it out today and see if that works.

Meanwhile, I was trying out a few things on my own. Here’s what I noticed: when the remote app is open, I locked my iPhone and then pressed the side button. Usually, pressing the side button shows the Lock Screen. But when I locked the iPhone while the remote app was open and then pressed the side button, the remote app shows up instead of the Lock Screen. (Note that the phone is still locked and I have to press the home button a couple of times for the passcode screen to appear.) In this mode, the volume buttons work as they are supposed to, i.e., they control the volume of AirPods on Apple TV. The mute button in the remote app is still grayed out though and the additional options that are supposed show up during playback still didn’t show up. I don’t understand why this works for volume buttons but not the mute button and playback options.

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Answer 5

Mar 9, 2023 2:56 PM in response to pranaygo94

Hello pranaygo94,

Just to clarify, are you wanting to adjust the volume of sound effects using Apple TV for your AirPods? If so, please check out this link, which explains how to do that, and may help: Adjust the volume of sound effects for AirPods

Change the volume of sound effects using Apple TV

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your Apple TV.

2. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Accessibility > AirPods, choose your AirPods, then adjust Tone Volume.

For more options—such as Headphone Accommodations—tap Audio Accessibility Settings. See Set AirPods controls on Apple TV in the Apple TV User Guide.

For more information on setting up and using Apple TV Remote on your iPhone, please check out the following page, which outlines how to do that, and options, which may help as well: Set up the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone or iPad

Set up the Apple TV Remote in Control Center

1. Open Control Center:

* On iPhone X or later or iPad with the latest version of iPadOS: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.

* On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.

2. Tap the Apple TV Remote.

3. Tap your Apple TV or smart TV from the list.

4. When asked, follow the onscreen instructions to enter a four-digit passcode into your iPhone or iPad. If you have Apple TV (3rd generation), use your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote to enter the four-digit passcode into your Apple TV.

The Volume button on your Apple TV Remote in Control Center works only when your Apple TV is set up with a HomePod, soundbar, or other AirPlay-compatible speakers. If the Volume button is dimmed, use the volume button on the remote that came with your television.

Thanks!

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Answer 6

pranaygo94 Author

Level 1

26 points

Mar 9, 2023 3:32 PM in response to Brittany1416

Hi Brittany1416,

Thanks for your response. I wasn’t talking about the sound effects of AirPods. I was talking about adjusting the volume while watching a video, so that falls under the second part of your response. However, I noticed that the volume buttons on my iPhone don’t always work as they are supposed to. Sometimes they are grayed out and I need to use the Siri Remote to adjust the volume, whereas some other times they work fine and I can adjust the volume of AirPods.

The article linked below also talks about additional buttons such as “Back 10s” and “Skip 10s” that show up during playback. But on my iPhone, they show up sometimes and don’t show up sometimes. I don’t know what’s causing this behaviour. Curiously, whenever they show up, the volume buttons also work as they are supposed to.

Control Apple TV with iOS or iPadOS Control Center - Apple Support

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Answer 7

pranaygo94 Author

Level 1

26 points

Mar 9, 2023 4:29 PM in response to bruno75

Hi bruno75,

Here’s the information you asked for:

I bought the Apple TV 4K only yesterday, and the first time I connected my AirPods and used iPhone as remote, everything worked fine. The second time it didn’t work. After that I tried several times and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t work.
Yes, I restarted both my iPhone and Apple TV but the issue persisted.
I have the latest version of tvOS.
I have the latest version of iOS on my iPhone SE.

Thanks!

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Answer 8

pranaygo94 Author

Level 1

26 points

Mar 9, 2023 5:06 PM in response to kamote0628

Hi kamote0628,

Thanks for pointing that out. I am using university wifi (eduroam) so I don’t know what exactly the router settings are. I have had other issues with this wifi before so perhaps that’s what’s causing the issue.

Thanks!

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Cannot control AirPods volume on Apple TV using iPhone

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