Problems with Understanding/Controlling iOS' Multiple Volumes

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Level 1

99 points

Problems with Understanding/Controlling iOS' Multiple Volumes

Hi!

Hope someone with more knowledge on this could shine a light (Apple-wan-kenobi, you are my last hope!):

1. Please explain the different “volumes” on iOS. How do I change them? Where can I see them side by side and what they are set to? What is the master logic of this design?

(I thought it is ringer volume vs media volume – but per this post, How do the various iPhone volume controls… - Apple Community, it is not TWO but SIX different volumes: caller volume, Siri volume, BT volume… ?! for the love of GOd, the sales pitch of iPhone was "so simple, no manual is needed")

2. If it is only two, ringer and media – what about Messages … ringer? WhatsApp? Discord? Built-in alarm? Third-party app alarm? Calls? Siri? Maps? I am confused as to what counts as ringer vs media because this is not a clear classification for all sounds a phone makes.

3. Can I opt out of this and go back to regular single volume control? I want media and ringer at the same volume, or silences at the same time.

4. Assuming I cannot opt out: How can I set media volume to zero before playing media? Or do I have to first wake the baby by blasting at “let us pray it was not loud” volume and then hastily push down the volume buttons? Is this the design?! Baby not happy, I tell you that.

5. Where can I see the actual current volume settings side by side in one place? Control Center … how?

As you will have inferred, I am not impressed with this design (I think iPhone 7 was normal, then iPhone X suddenly had this). If I set my fridge, TV, radio, and MacBook to “silent/mute,” then those are silent full stop.If I put my phone on silent, not really – I have to hit the right volume, and I am often not sure what I am setting as it seems to depend on what app I am in, if something is playing, yada yada… confused.

Thanks for your help and time!

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Jan 9, 2025 9:22 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 9, 2025 9:31 AM in response to _daniel_

You can set the volume using the volume buttons (assuming you enabled this in Settings/Sounds & Haptics) as follows:

Ringer and Notifications (common setting): Whenever the Home screen is displayed
Phone calls: When on the call
Siri: When Siri is speaking (or displaying its icon)
Media: When using media - Some 3rd party apps have a separate volume control, independent of the iOS control, such as Youtube
Games and other apps: When using the app; again, some apps have an internal volume control

The setting you make for each mode will be remembered the next time you use that mode.

You can also adjust volume in the Control Center.

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Answer 2

Jan 9, 2025 10:46 AM in response to _daniel_

You would have to turn the sound down on the media app first, or listen with AirPods or equivalent, which is what I do.

You can see the current settings in the control center.

And the physical mute switch does not mute media. that’s so you can block other sounds when you are listening to media.

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Answer 3

_daniel_ Author

Level 1

99 points

Jan 9, 2025 9:45 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thanks, but where can I see the current settings?

Say I put my baby to sleep, and he is dozzing away, I want to stay for 30 minutes (works only that way) and in that time play a video in Safari but without sound (silent). I have set the phone to silent (Silent Mode: ON in Control Center, and via volume buttons down to 0 in addition), but the video blasts ahead at whatever the (I presume) last media volume setting was. Is the intended use case to tap the volume down button in panic and pray the baby stays asleep? How can I set the media volume BEFORE actually hitting play on the video?

EDIT: Is there a "killswitch" – 'display only, make no sound on any of the volumes no matter what' – type setting?

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Problems with Understanding/Controlling iOS' Multiple Volumes

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