How do I get volume level on Android?

Adjusting the volume on an Android device is easy and allows users to customize audio for ringtones, notifications, media playback, and system sounds. Android provides various ways to control volume through physical buttons, on-screen sliders, volume shortcut keys, per app settings, and automation. While volume adjustment is generally straightforward, some key tips and troubleshooting can help optimize your audio experience.

Using Physical Volume Buttons

All Android phones have physical volume buttons located along the edges of the device that can be used to adjust the volume. The location of these buttons varies between models and brands.

For example, Samsung Galaxy phones have the volume buttons on the left side of the device, while Google Pixel phones have them on the right side. Older devices or cheaper models may have the buttons placed on the back or top of the phone (Primewire, Admin, max (2021, June 28). Assistive Volume Button – Apps on Google Play).

Pressing the volume up or down button once will raise or lower the volume by one increment. Holding the volume button down will continuously raise or lower the volume until the maximum or minimum level is reached.

The physical volume buttons provide a quick and easy way to control the volume on your Android device without having to wake up or unlock the screen.

Adjusting Media Volume

Media volume on Android devices can be controlled separately from ringtone volume. This allows you to set different volume levels for music, videos, games and other media playback vs incoming calls and notifications.

To adjust media volume, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Here you will see a volume slider specifically for media. Drag this slider left or right to lower or raise the volume level.

To mute the media volume, simply drag the slider all the way to the left. You’ll see a “vibrate” icon indicating that media is now muted. Drag the slider right to bring the volume back up.

This keeps ringtone volume unaffected, so your calls and notifications will still play at the volume level you set for them. It’s useful if you want to mute a loud video while keeping ringer volume up to hear incoming calls.

Source: Android Central Forum

Adjusting Ringtone Volume

The ringtone volume controls how loud your phone rings for incoming calls and notifications. To adjust the ringtone volume on Android:

Open the Settings app and go to Sound & vibration or Sound. Look for the Ring volume slider. Drag the slider left to decrease the volume and right to increase it. The ringtone volume is linked to the notification volume by default, so adjusting one will change the other.

To mute the ringtone, drag the slider all the way to the left or toggle the “Mute” option. This will mute both ringtones and notifications.

Some Android devices may also have physical volume buttons that can control ringtone volume when no media is playing. Press the buttons to adjust the volume, and press and hold to quickly mute the ringtone.

You can also use volume shortcut keys when the phone is ringing. Pressing the Volume Up or Down key will snooze an incoming call, while pressing Power and Volume Up together will mute the ringtone.

If you need more customization options, some Android skins like OneUI allow per-app volume control and separate sliders for ringtone and notification volumes.

For additional details, see Google’s guide on changing ringtone volume on Android devices: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9082609?hl=en

Using Volume Shortcut Keys

The physical volume up/down buttons on Android devices serve a dual function – they can control both media volume for music, videos, games etc. as well as the general ringtone and notification volumes. By default, pressing these keys will adjust the media volume.

To control ringtone volume using the physical buttons instead, you need to first press the volume down key while your phone is on the home screen or in an app that is not playing media. This will switch the volume control to ringtone mode, after which pressing the volume up/down keys will change the ringtone volume. Pressing these keys while media is playing will revert back to media volume control.

The mute key or vibrate icon is usually located above the volume keys on Android devices. Tapping this will instantly mute/unmute the media volume. Long pressing this key will toggle between vibrate, mute and unmute modes. This affects ringtone, notification and alarm volumes only – it does not mute media volume.

Per App Volume Control

A helpful setting for controlling volume on Android is the ability to set individual volume levels for each app. This allows you to customize the loudness of apps independently.

On Android 8.0 Oreo and newer, these per-app volume controls are located in the app info screen for each app. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps, select the app, and tap Advanced > App details. There will be a volume slider under App details where you can adjust the volume for just that app.

By default, apps use the system media volume set with the physical volume buttons. But adjusting the per-app volume slider will override this default and allow custom volumes. For example, you could set a very low volume for a noisy game app, while keeping other apps at normal volume.

According to user reports on Reddit, apps like Volume Control can also provide per-app volume settings if your Android version does not have it built-in.

Automation and Routines

Android offers various automation features that can adjust volume levels automatically based on factors like time, location, or activity. This allows you to create routines that set volume to your preferences in different contexts.

For example, you can use the Bixby Routines app on Samsung devices or the Google Assistant Routines feature to increase media volume when you are at the gym or lower ringer volume at night when you are sleeping. These routines can be triggered automatically by time or location without any input needed from you.

You can also use voice commands with Google Assistant or Bixby to instantly change volume levels by voice. Just say a command like “Turn media volume up to 80%” or “Set ringer volume to vibrate only.” This provides a convenient hands-free way to control volume.

Automating volume adjustments ensures your Android device always has the ideal volume for your current context. Whether based on the time of day or your location, you can program it to switch volumes to suit your needs and preferences. For more details on setting up automated volume routines, refer to:

https://www.guidingtech.com/create-custom-routines-android/

Volume Limit and Parental Controls

Parents and guardians may want to set maximum volume limits on Android devices for hearing safety, especially for children. There are a few ways to limit the maximum volume on Android:

On Samsung Galaxy devices, go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Volume and tap the toggle for “Media volume limiter” to enable it. You can drag the sliders to set the maximum volume allowed for media, notifications, system sounds, etc. (1)

For other Android devices, you can use the app Volume Lock from the Google Play Store to lock the volume buttons and set maximum volume limits. (2)

Alternatively, on Android 8.0 and above, go to Settings > Sound > Advanced > Volume and set the maximum volume for media, alarms, and ringtones. There is also a toggle for “Prevent increasing media volume above safe level.”

If the maximum volume limits are not working properly, check that the settings are enabled, and that there are no other accessibility services or automation apps overriding the volume controls.

Troubleshooting Issues

If you’re experiencing problems with controlling or adjusting volume on your Android device, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

Fixes for volume stuck on mute

If your device’s volume seems to be stuck on mute, try these troubleshooting tips:

Check that the physical volume buttons aren’t stuck – try pressing them repeatedly to loosen them up (source).
Try restarting your device to reset any software issues causing volume to be muted (source).
Go into Settings > Sound and check that media volume, notifications, ringtones etc are not set to 0.

Use safe mode to determine if any third party apps are causing issues – volume should work in safe mode if an app is to blame.

No volume from specific apps

If you have no volume or audio from certain apps, try:

Checking the app’s individual audio settings – some allow you to set custom volumes.

Updating the app and your Android version to eliminate any compatibility issues.
Deleting and reinstalling the app to reset any problematic settings.

Physical buttons not working

If your device’s physical volume buttons are unresponsive, possible solutions include:

Inspecting the buttons for dirt/debris and cleaning them out.
Testing a different case/cover to see if it’s interfering.
Updating your version of Android if it’s a software issue.

Backing up data and performing a factory reset if all else fails.

Conclusion

There are several key ways to control volume on Android devices. Using the physical volume buttons and volume shortcut keys allows for quick adjustments. The media and ringtone volumes can be controlled separately in Settings. Per-app volume control provides more granular options to customize alerts and notifications on a per-app basis. Automation tools like Routines allow volume profiles to be changed automatically in certain conditions. Parental controls allow maximum volume limits to be set. Overall, Android offers robust volume control and customization options if you know where to look.

Having fine-tuned control over volume settings is important for managing notifications and interruptions. Custom volume settings allow users to avoid disruptions at work or at night, while still receiving important alerts. Volume limits can also protect children’s hearing health. Taking the time to fully customize Android’s volume settings to your needs and preferences is worthwhile for productivity, focus and health.