Can you adjust the volume on Android Auto?
What is Android Auto?
Android Auto is a smartphone projection system developed by Google that displays apps and services from an Android device onto a car’s infotainment display. It allows drivers to access apps through voice controls and steering wheel buttons.
Android Auto was first announced in 2014 and has become widely adopted by car manufacturers. When a compatible Android device is connected to a car with Android Auto integration, either wirelessly or via USB cable, the Android Auto interface launches on the vehicle’s display.
This allows drivers to access key apps and services such as Google Maps, Google Assistant, phone functions, and music apps in a simplified interface designed for safe in-vehicle use. Touch inputs are limited, with voice commands through Google Assistant being the primary method of interaction.
Android Auto aims to minimize distractions and allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Google claims over 500 car models now support integration with Android Auto.
Why Adjust Volume in Android Auto?
There are several key reasons why adjusting volume in Android Auto can be important for convenience and safety while driving:
Controlling volume from the steering wheel allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road. Reaching for your phone to turn the volume up or down takes focus away from driving, which can be dangerous. With Android Auto volume controls on the steering wheel, it’s easy to adjust sound levels without looking away from the road.
Maintaining focus while driving is critical. Glancing at your phone screen to change volume is a distraction and safety hazard. Android Auto’s integration with your car’s controls makes it simple to raise or lower volume using buttons or knobs on the steering wheel or console.
Volume levels often need adjustment between navigation prompts, music playback, and phone calls. Android Auto allows you to easily adapt the volume for these different needs to optimize audibility without excessive loudness. This enhances the overall Android Auto experience.
Default Volume Controls
When Android Auto is connected to your vehicle’s infotainment system, the default volume control is handled through your steering wheel buttons. These control the master volume level that applies to music, navigation prompts, and phone calls.
You can also adjust the volume directly within the Android Auto interface. Tapping the volume buttons on the screen will change just the media volume for music and other audio playback. This keeps navigation voice prompts at their set volume level.
To rapidly adjust volume up or down, you can press and hold the volume buttons on your steering wheel or on the Android Auto screen. This will continuously change the volume until you release the button.
Overall, Android Auto aims to provide intuitive volume controls that let you easily adjust levels for media and other audio using familiar buttons and onscreen controls. The steering wheel and onscreen volume buttons offer convenient access without requiring extensive menu navigation. Holding the buttons also enables quick volume changes when needed.
Adjusting Maximum Volume
Android Auto allows you to adjust the maximum output volume in the settings. This sets an upper limit on how loud audio can get when turning up the volume in your car.
To find this setting, open the Android Auto app on your phone and go to Settings. Tap on Volume and you will see a slider bar that controls the maximum volume level.
Adjusting this volume limit prevents blowing out your car speakers or your ears if an app tries to play audio too loudly. It ensures a consistent safe volume across different audio sources in Android Auto.
Some users on Reddit have also reported adjusting the maximum volume helps make Android Auto louder overall if the default volume is too low. Setting it near maximum allows increasing volume sufficiently in the car while preventing accidentally going above comfortable listening levels.
So in summary, the Volume Limit slider in the Android Auto app is the key setting to change if you want to adjust the maximum volume output when using Android Auto.
Per-App Volume Controls
Android Auto allows you to control the volume of each app individually. To adjust per-app volume controls:
Tap on the volume icon next to the name of the app you want to adjust. This will bring up a volume slider specifically for that app.
Use the slider to raise or lower the volume for only that particular app. The volume settings are remembered for each individual app.
So for example, if you want Google Maps directions to be louder but want to keep music volume lower, you can raise the volume for Google Maps without affecting the music playback volume.
Per-app volume controls are useful if you find you need to adjust volume frequently when switching between apps in Android Auto. Once you customize each app’s volume, the settings will be retained every time you use that app.
Sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidAuto/comments/13k86h5/android_auto_and_volume/
Volume Normalization
Android Auto has a feature called Sound Check that keeps the volume steady across different apps and audio sources. When enabled in the Advanced Settings, Sound Check will normalize and balance the volume so there aren’t any jarring volume changes when switching between apps or Bluetooth sources.
According to one Reddit user, Sound Check has helped provide a more consistent listening experience: “Turned on normalize sound and toggled the EQ (Equalizer) to OFF in the Spotify settings and now it sounds 3 times louder with punchy bass! WOW!” (Source)
If you find the volume is too inconsistent in Android Auto, especially when switching music apps, enabling Sound Check is worth trying. Just go into Advanced Settings and toggle it on. This should help prevent those sudden volume spikes or drops.
Troubleshooting Low Volume
If you find the volume in Android Auto is too low even at maximum levels, there are a few troubleshooting steps to try:
First, check if a volume limit is enabled in your Android settings that could be restricting the maximum volume level. Go to Settings > Sound and see if there is a volume limit enabled and turned down. Setting this to the maximum may help increase Android Auto’s volume.
Try using different cables and stereo systems to rule those out as potential causes. Some USB cables are unable to transmit high quality audio, so switching to the cable that came with your phone or a high-quality aftermarket USB cable may help. Additionally, some car stereos may not play nicely with Android Auto, so trying a different car or stereo can determine if the issue is with the audio system.
It’s also worth checking that the phone’s internal speaker and headphone jack audio work properly by playing music or audio through them directly, not through Android Auto. If the volume through the phone’s own speaker and headphone jack is low, that likely indicates an issue with the phone’s hardware or audio components.
As one Reddit user pointed out, checking if your Android device has an built-in equalizer enabled can make a difference: “Many people don’t know their phones have equalizers built in.” Source
Trying these basic troubleshooting steps can often resolve volume problems in Android Auto.
Voice Command Volume
Android Auto allows you to adjust the volume of voice prompts separately from media volume. This helps balance navigation voice prompts against your music or podcasts playing in the background.
To change voice volume in Android Auto, open the Android Auto app on your phone and go to Settings > Voice. Here you can adjust the voice volume specifically for your Google Assistant and navigation guidance in Android Auto.
Turning down the Voice volume in the Android Auto app will lower the volume of voice prompts coming from Google Maps navigation or Google Assistant while leaving the media volume unchanged. This prevents navigation instructions from blaring over your music.
If voice prompts are too quiet even at max volume, check the main volume controls on your car deck or steering wheel. Raising the master volume can help boost softer Android Auto voice commands. Just be careful not to increase the volume too much to avoid blowing out your speakers.
Adjusting the Voice volume slider in the Android Auto app is the simplest way to find the right balance between voice and media volume. This gives you more granular control over sound levels compared to car hardware knobs.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few key ways to control and adjust volume in Android Auto.
The default volume controls like the physical volume buttons on your phone or steering wheel allow basic volume up/down. You can also dive into the settings to adjust maximum volume limits for safety. Per-app volume controls give you more granular control for navigation, media, and voice.
Volume normalization and troubleshooting tips can help resolve issues with volume being too low. And voice commands allow hands-free volume adjustments.
Being able to easily control volume in Android Auto is important for safe driving, so you can keep your eyes on the road. The methods covered in this guide give you flexible options to get volume just right for your needs and preferences.
Summary
Android Auto simplifies volume control while driving by consolidating core phone functions into a driver-friendly interface. Even with this simplified experience, Android Auto still offers several ways to adjust volume, both system-wide and per-app.
The most convenient volume controls are right from your steering wheel or on your vehicle’s touchscreen. You can also use voice commands or tweak settings to set volume limits and defaults. So whether you need driving directions, music, or hands-free calling louder or quieter, Android Auto has you covered.
With per-app volumes, overall maximum limits, and multiple ways to turn the volume up or down, Android Auto strikes a balance between simplicity and customization. You get the straightforward experience needed to minimize distractions, along with options to fine-tune audio to your preferences.
