Mastering Volume Control on Your iPhone and iPad

Hey there! Today, I’m going to show you the ropes on how to handle volume control on your iOS devices, specifically your iPhone and iPad. Don’t fret, it’s simpler than you might think!

When it comes to managing the volume on your iPhone and iPad, there are a couple of handy tricks you should definitely be aware of. Let’s dive right in!

First things first, let’s talk about adjusting the volume during a call. There are two ways to do this. The first way is by using the Volume buttons on the side of your device. When you’re on a call, press the Volume Up button to increase the volume, or the Volume Down button to decrease it. Easy peasy, right?

Here’s another nifty tip for you: did you know that you can use the volume buttons to control the ringer volume independently? Yes, you heard me right! When you’re not on a call and you press the Volume buttons, it actually adjusts the ringer volume. So, if you want to crank up the ringer volume or tone it down a notch, go ahead and give those buttons a try.

Now, let’s talk about controlling the volume for media playback and system sounds. For this, I need to introduce you to the Control Center. To access the Control Center, simply swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (if you have an iPhone X or later) or swipe up from the bottom of your screen (if you have an iPhone 8 or earlier). On an iPad, you can swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.

Once you’re in the Control Center, you’ll see a bunch of useful shortcuts. To adjust the media playback volume, look for the volume slider. Slide your finger up or down on the slider to increase or decrease the volume, respectively. You’ll also notice a little speaker icon next to the slider, which indicates the output device. Tapping on the speaker icon allows you to switch between different audio output options, like your iPhone speakers or a connected Bluetooth device.

Speaking of Bluetooth devices, let’s talk about adjusting the volume when you’re connected to one. If you’re listening to music or watching a video on a Bluetooth speaker, for example, you can adjust the volume from your phone or the speaker itself. Give it a try and see which option works best for you!

Lastly, I want to mention a neat little feature called Volume Limit. It allows you to set a maximum volume level to protect your ears from excessively loud sounds. To enable Volume Limit, go to your device settings, tap on “Music” or “Sounds & Haptics,” then select “Volume Limit.” From there, you can set the maximum volume limit that works for you. It’s a great way to enjoy your media without worry.

And that’s a wrap! You’re now equipped with the knowledge you need to take control of the volume on your iPhone and iPad. Have fun exploring the different ways you can adjust the volume to suit your needs. Take charge and enjoy your multimedia experience like never before!

Do you ever find it perplexing how to control the volume on your iPhone or iPad in iOS? I mean, sometimes pressing the buttons on the side of the iPhone doesn’t seem to affect the volume of your music, right? And what about adjusting Siri’s volume or those navigation prompts? It can all be pretty confusing, but don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I’ll help you make sense of it all, so let’s jump right in and chat about it!
Ok, first things first. You need to know that by default on the iPhone and iPad, the buttons on the side of your device only control the volume of media when something is actually playing. Simple, right? But when there’s no sound coming out, those buttons do something else entirely – they adjust your ringer and alert sounds. So keep that in mind!

Image credit: Apple.

When you press the buttons on your iPhone, you’ll see an overlay that changes from “Ringer” to “Volume” if you’re controlling media output.


So, if you’re listening to an iTunes song or watching Netflix, you’ll see “Volume” there and know what’s happening.
But what if you want to adjust the volume for media you might play in the future? Let’s say you’re lying in bed browsing Reddit and you don’t want to wake up your whole household if you accidentally play a video. That’s where the Control Center comes in! Just swipe up from the bottom of your screen and drag the volume slider there…

…and then any videos or songs will output at that new level.
Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Sounds to change how your volume buttons work. If you toggle off the “Change with Buttons” option, like I’ve done below, then you don’t have to worry about the difference between the physical side buttons and the slider in the Control Center. The buttons will always adjust media volume.

I think that’s really convenient. After all, I can always mute my iPhone if I don’t want it to ring.
Finally, here are a few other tricks related to iOS volume settings:

Maps and Navigation

Hey there! If you want to adjust how loud the voice is when you’re navigating, you have a couple of options. First, you can use the side buttons. But there’s also another way!

Go to Settings and then select Maps. In there, you’ll find the setting that allows you to control how loud any media you’re playing gets when the voice prompts occur. Let me tell you more about the choices you have:

• No Voice: This one silences all navigation prompts. You won’t hear anything.
• Low Volume: With this option, prompts and media play at the same volume level.
• Normal Volume: With this choice, media plays at a lower volume while you’re being guided.
• Loud Volume: If you pick this, the voice volume increases and the media volume decreases while you’re navigating.

Now let’s talk about Siri.

In order to change Siri’s volume, you have to invoke the voice assistant. Just hold down the Home button until you see the Siri prompt appear on the screen. Once you’ve done that, you can use the side buttons to set how loud you want Siri’s voice to be. Easy-peasy!

But wait, there’s more!

Let’s move on to the Music app. There’s a nifty option you can configure if you’d like.

Head over to Settings, then tap on Music. Scroll all the way down to the bottom, and you’ll find a labeled setting called “Volume Limit.” To use it, move the slider underneath. This will keep you from cranking up the volume too much. It’s great for protecting your ears, especially if you’re a young music lover!

If you have a kiddo who tends to blast music all day long, changing this setting can be really helpful. After adjusting the volume limit, go to Settings, then General, then Restrictions. From there, select Volume Limit and choose “Don’t Allow Changes.” This way, your young one won’t be able to turn up the volume to ear-splitting levels. Sorry, kids, but sometimes we need to take care of you!