How do I lock my Bluetooth volume?

What Does Locking Bluetooth Volume Mean?

Locking the Bluetooth volume on your smartphone ensures that the volume level stays consistent even when connected Bluetooth devices try to adjust it. Normally, when you connect headphones or speakers via Bluetooth, those devices can independently raise or lower the volume they output. Locking the volume prevents the connected Bluetooth device from doing this.

With volume lock enabled, your phone maintains full control over the volume level. This provides a consistent listening experience, as the volume will not spike up or down unexpectedly when switching between tracks or connecting new Bluetooth devices. The volume level is “locked” to what you manually set on the phone.

Volume locking is useful for protecting your hearing. It prevents dangerously loud volume levels that can occur if a connected Bluetooth device suddenly increases its own volume. You retain control over the maximum output volume to a safe level.

Check if Your Device Supports Volume Lock

Not all smartphones support the ability to lock Bluetooth volume. This feature is more commonly found on Android devices from major manufacturers like Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, and OnePlus. For example, many recent flagship models from Samsung Galaxy S and Note series contain this setting.

Some popular Android phones that allow you to lock Bluetooth volume include:

Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, S22 series

Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Note 20 series
Google Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, Pixel 6 series
LG V50, LG V60, LG G8

Motorola Moto G Power, Moto G Stylus
OnePlus 8, OnePlus 9 series

On the other hand, volume lock may not be available on cheaper Android models or older devices. For iPhones, this feature is not natively supported as of iOS 15 and requires a third-party app.

To check if your Android phone supports locking Bluetooth volume, go into the Bluetooth settings while a Bluetooth audio device is connected. Look for a setting called “Volume Control,” “Independent Volume Control,” or something similar. If you don’t see this option, your device likely doesn’t offer volume lock.

Enable Volume Lock on Android

You can enable volume lock on most Android devices running Android 8.0 and higher by adjusting a setting in the Bluetooth menu. Here are the steps:

First, open the Settings app and select Connected devices > Bluetooth. Next, look for an option called Advanced, Additional settings, or Developer options. On Samsung devices, tap the 3-dot menu in the top right and choose Advanced.

In these advanced Bluetooth settings, look for an option called “Disable absolute volume” or “Lock volume” and enable it. This will prevent the volume from changing automatically when connected to Bluetooth devices. The option may be called something slightly different depending on your Android OS version.

According to ScreenRant, disabling absolute volume gives you back manual control over the Bluetooth volume level. Now when you adjust volume on your phone or headset, it will stay at that level rather than reverting to a default.

Once you lock the volume, it will remain consistent across different Bluetooth devices. This prevents the sudden volume spikes that can occur, especially when switching between headphones and speakers.

Enable Volume Lock on iPhone

You can enable volume lock on your iPhone to keep a consistent volume level when using Bluetooth audio devices. This prevents the volume from getting too loud or too quiet as you adjust it on your iPhone.

Here are the steps to enable volume lock on an iPhone:

Open the Settings app and tap “Bluetooth”.

Tap the “i” icon next to your Bluetooth device.
Toggle on “Lock Volume” to prevent the volume from changing when adjusted on iPhone.

With volume lock enabled, the volume level will remain consistent between your iPhone and Bluetooth device (1). You can still adjust volume on the Bluetooth device itself, but it will no longer change when using the iPhone volume buttons or slider.

The “Lock Volume” setting syncs the volume control between the two connected devices. This prevents unwanted spikes or drops in volume if adjusted on just one device (2).

Use Your Headset App

Many major headset brands such as Sony, Bose, JBL, Beats, and Jaybird have their own apps that allow you to control various features. Look in your headset brand’s app for a “volume lock” or “volume sync” option.

For example, the Sony Headphones Connect app has an option called “Volume Limit” under Sound Settings that locks the maximum volume output to prevent sudden loud bursts of audio. The Bose Music app has a “Volume Limit” toggle that syncs volume levels between your mobile device and Bose headphones.

Consult your headset manual or the headset manufacturer’s website for more specific instructions on finding the volume lock function in their particular app. This is often the easiest way to limit maximum volume on your Bluetooth audio without having to dig into your phone’s system settings.

Try Third-Party Apps

Since the built-in volume control options on Android and iOS have limitations, you may want to try using third-party apps to get more granular control over locking your Bluetooth volume:

Some apps like Volume Lock and BT Volume Lock allow you to set specific volume levels for different Bluetooth devices. They can override the system volume and lock it to your preferred setting.

However, these third-party apps require accessibility service access to function properly. And they may not work reliably on all devices due to differences in Bluetooth implementations across various phone models.

So while apps like Volume Lock offer more granular options, they are not guaranteed solutions. You may need to experiment with different apps to find one that works well for your particular phone.

What Gets Locked?

When you enable volume lock on your Bluetooth device, the volume level remains fixed at the setting you locked it at. This means the volume buttons on your smartphone or headset will no longer be able to adjust the volume level up or down. Additionally, any volume changes made directly on the connected Bluetooth device will not affect the locked volume level. Essentially, locking the Bluetooth volume locks the volume at a set level regardless of any volume button presses or adjustments made on either the host device or connected device.

Some key things that get locked when Bluetooth volume lock is enabled:

The volume level set when locking is fixed and cannot be changed by volume buttons
Volume buttons on the smartphone or headset do not adjust level

Volume changes made on connected Bluetooth device do not adjust level

So in summary, the volume is completely locked to the level set when enabling the lock feature, which prevents any volume adjustments from having an effect until it is unlocked again.

What Doesn’t Get Locked?

Locking the Bluetooth volume does not restrict all volume control on your device. There are some limitations to what gets locked down:

You can still manually adjust the volume in your Bluetooth settings. The volume lock only applies to the physical buttons.
Your device’s volume buttons may still adjust notification or call volumes. It depends on your specific device and settings.
Any existing volume limits will still apply. For example, if you have a maximum volume level set, locking the Bluetooth volume will not override this.

So in summary, locking the Bluetooth volume mainly stops the physical volume buttons from changing playback volume. But you still have some manual controls available, and existing software limits still apply.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues with locking the volume on your Bluetooth headset, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:

Restart Your Phone and Headset

Restarting your phone and headset is a basic troubleshooting step that can often resolve minor software glitches. Completely power down both devices and then restart them. This will reload the software and can enable volume lock if it was previously disabled.

Unpair and Re-pair Your Devices

Sometimes the pairing connection gets corrupted, which can cause problems with volume lock and other features. Unpair the headset from your phone’s Bluetooth settings. Then pair the devices again as if connecting for the first time. This resets the connection which may fix volume control issues.

Check for Software Updates

Make sure your phone operating system and headset firmware are fully up-to-date. Software updates often include bug fixes and optimizations that can improve Bluetooth connectivity. Install any available updates and then check if volume lock starts working properly.

Try a Different Headset

If you’ve tried the above steps and are still unable to lock volume on your current headset, try connecting a different Bluetooth headset. This can determine if the issue is with your phone’s software or caused by the headset itself. Test volume lock with another known working headset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about locking Bluetooth volume:

What devices allow you to lock Bluetooth volume?

Most modern Android and iOS devices support locking Bluetooth volume, including phones from Samsung, Google, Apple, and other major brands. You’ll need to make sure your Bluetooth headset also supports volume lock. Check your device and headset manuals for specific compatibility information.

How do I adjust volume levels if locked?

When Bluetooth volume is locked, you can only control the overall volume using your paired Bluetooth device (such as headphones or a speaker). The device’s volume controls will adjust the overall level. You won’t be able to separately change the volume on the phone.

Will locking stop all volume changes on my phone?

Locking Bluetooth volume only affects the volume for that Bluetooth device connection. Your phone’s volume for non-Bluetooth sources like music, videos, and speakerphone will still be adjustable as normal.

What happens if I disable absolute volume?

Disabling absolute volume on Android will unlink the Bluetooth device’s volume from your phone’s volume. You’ll be able to control both volumes separately again. Locking volume essentially enables absolute volume.

Can I lock volume on phone calls?

Yes, locking Bluetooth volume will also lock the volume level during phone calls made using a paired Bluetooth headset. Your headset’s volume buttons will control the call volume when locked.

Will this work with my Bluetooth car kit?

You can lock Bluetooth volume with car kits and head units. The car’s volume knob will control the overall level if locked. You may need to enable absolute volume in your car’s Bluetooth settings for optimal locking.

Check your car manual or the manufacturer’s website for instructions on pairing devices and adjusting Bluetooth settings.