How to turn off the volume synchronization / absolute volume control on iphone?

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Level 1

5 points

How to turn off the volume synchronization / absolute volume control on iphone?

The question: Is it possible to turn off volume synchronization / absolute volume control on iphone?

The story: I got my first apple phone (iphone 16) this year. I connected my bluetooth headphones to it and in the beginning, I enjoyed a very fine control over the volume, as my headphones have a separate volume control system that wasn't connected to iphones volume control. This allowed me to have 2 separate systems that controlled the volume: iphones own volume levels and the headphones own volume levels, separately.

Iphone kept prompting me if I want to synchronize these volume controls into one bundle, so that both iphone and headphone volume change in sync as I control either one. For some time I kept declining this suggestion, until one day I decided to try it, thinking: "Why not, I can always disable it later if I don't like it, right?"

Oh, how wrong I was. There isn't any clear option to disable this volume synchronization, also known as "absolute volume" in android. I have searched far and wide, googling and discussing the problem with ChatGPT, too. I have seen multiple reddit posts trying to overcome this problem. I have seen discussions in apple support, without any solution. Apparently this problem has persisted for years.

The problem with volume synchronization is that I can't reach as quiet or fine-tuned volume levels I could before the sync. It drives me mad. The lowest possible volume level is now too loud for me to drift off to, as I listen to audiobooks, podcasts or music for sleeping.

Since the sync, the volume control is graduated to certain volume-range steps with no fine-tuning. I have tried different volume control applications to overcome this problem, just to find out, that apparently 6% volume is the "lowest" volume level possible while syncing. All the lower volume levels either make the volume disappear completely or automatically adjust to this magical 6% level.

I have tried multiple ways to reset / delete this synchronization. I tried deleting the bluetooth connections to my headphones and then reconnecting, hoping the synchronization would disappear. It did not. I tried to reset my phones network settings, which didn't help either. I tried connecting new devices, but they became automatically synchronized as well. The last thing I could try is resetting the whole phone, but that is so much work I don't dare to try it. Also, ChatGPT thinks it might not work as the synchronization setting might be saved somewhere in the iCloud as well, not just on the phone. So, even if I reset my phone, the volume synchronization setting might magically reappear from the cloud when I log into my apple account.

I am desperate. This is incredibly frustrating. It is such a simple, small little setting, that just isn't available for the user. How come? One is able to sync the devices but not unsync them, it's insane. If this problem can't be overcame, I'm sure I'm never buying another apple device ever again.

tl;dr: I accepted volume synchronization between my iphone and headphones, it completely destroyed fine-tuning the volume levels, and I haven't found any way to disable it, which is driving me mad. Please help.

iPhone 16

Posted on Dec 16, 2025 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 16, 2025 7:49 AM in response to Sonera

Most Bluetooth audio devices and Smart TVs remember the last volume level you used. When you reconnect, the audio will start playing at that previously saved level. This becomes noticeable with certain Bluetooth speakers or headphones that have inherently low output. Because the sound is quiet, users often raise the volume significantly just to hear it comfortably.

The important detail is that this higher volume level is stored by the audio source—your phone, TV, or laptop—not just the device. So when you later connect to a different Bluetooth audio device, the source will still output audio at that same elevated level. If the new device has better amplification or higher sensitivity, the sound may suddenly be much louder than expected because it doesn’t need that boosted volume to perform well.

This behavior can lead to inconsistent listening experiences across devices. A volume level that feels “normal” on one Bluetooth device may be excessively loud—or completely unnecessary—on another. It’s a good reminder to check and adjust your volume whenever switching between Bluetooth audio products, especially if their output characteristics differ.

So the next time you connect, audio resumes at that exact level—no warm-up, no warning.

Here’s where things get interesting (and occasionally ear-shattering): Summarising...

Some Bluetooth audio devices have very low output, forcing you to crank up the volume just to hear anything.
That higher volume setting gets stored by the audio source (your iPhone, for example).
Later, when you connect to a different Bluetooth device—one with much better output—the iPhone obediently plays audio at the previously stored high level.
Result: sound that’s far louder than expected, because the new device simply doesn’t need that much volume.

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Answer 2

Sonera Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 16, 2025 9:40 AM in response to SravanKrA

Is this AI?

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