Skip to main content

Bluetooth integration along with Spotify Connect for iOS for Volume adjustment propsed solution compliant with apple’s terms on other apps, help from Claude in drafting.

  • February 4, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 61 views
B

I recently got an Era 100 and I’m loving the sound quality, especially with Spotify lossless over Spotify Connect. But I’ve hit a frustrating usability issue that I think affects a lot of iPhone users.


The Problem:
When streaming via Spotify Connect (which gives me lossless audio), I can’t use my iPhone’s hardware volume buttons to control the speaker. I know this is because of Apple’s iOS restrictions - they only let volume buttons work for apps that play audio on the device itself, not “remote control” apps like the Sonos app.


This means I’m constantly choosing between:
    ∙    Bluetooth: Instant hardware button control, but compressed audio
    ∙    Spotify Connect: Lossless quality, but no hardware volume buttons


Proposed Solution:
What if the Era 100 could use both connections simultaneously?
    ∙    WiFi (Spotify Connect): Handles the audio stream (lossless quality)
    ∙    Bluetooth (HID profile): Handles control signals only (play/pause/volume)


Why This Would Work:
The Era 100 already has both WiFi and Bluetooth radios. Control signals are tiny (maybe 1kb/s), so there’s no bandwidth conflict. The speaker would just:
    1.    Stream lossless audio via Spotify Connect over WiFi
    2.    Accept volume/playback commands via Bluetooth HID
    3.    Ignore any Bluetooth audio entirely
This is similar to how wireless headphones handle multiple Bluetooth profiles at once.


Why This Matters:
Right now, iOS users have to sacrifice either quality or convenience. This solution gives us both - lossless audio with instant, tactile volume control. I think a lot of people would appreciate this.
I know this might not be an easy or simple as it seems to be at first glance request, but the hardware is already there. It seems like a firmware update could make this happen.
Thoughts? Is this something the product team might consider?

4 replies

jgatie
  • jgatie
  • February 4, 2026

Sonos originally hacked the volume controls by playing a silent file in the background, fooling iOS into thinking it was a media player, thus allowing the volume/lock screen controls to operate.  Apple found this hack and told Sonos to cease and desist or risk removal from the App Store.  I highly doubt the addition of a Bluetooth connection which basically does the same thing as playing a silent file is going to convince Apple to allow the hard buttons/lock screen to control 3rd party hardware.

Also, the reason for this rule has nothing to do with bandwidth used, it has to do with a uniform iOS experience across apps.  

    B
    • blubird22
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 4, 2026

    If the user willingly pairs over both Wi-Fi and bluetooth for this purpose, no audio file needs to be playing in the background to my knowledge, or one very short one could trigger on Volume button press if really needed but the HID should be fine. How are JBL speakers allowed to change with the volume button? It may need to be two separate connections on your phone but if a user has bluetooth on, why  not let them use this? Unless Apple’s requirement is that a bluetooth device cannot have a microphone or be listening in any other way even, which would not make sense given the AirPods exist along with various other devices. Making it opt in could maybe ease Apples stance as well. This is the opposite of what I’ve experienced as a uniform IOS experience as the end user, every other speaker I have owned I’ve been able to change with the side buttons. I think the addition of lossless streaming to Spotify recently should be cause for reconsidering and potential for a solution.

    jgatie
    • jgatie
    • February 4, 2026

    If the user willingly pairs over both Wi-Fi and bluetooth for this purpose, no audio file needs to be playing in the background to my knowledge, or one very short one could trigger on Volume button press if really needed but the HID should be fine. How are JBL speakers allowed to change with the volume button? It may need to be two separate connections on your phone but if a user has bluetooth on, why  not let them use this? Unless Apple’s requirement is that a bluetooth device cannot have a microphone or be listening in any other way even, which would not make sense given the AirPods exist along with various other devices. Making it opt in could maybe ease Apples stance as well. This is the opposite of what I’ve experienced as a uniform IOS experience as the end user, every other speaker I have owned I’ve been able to change with the side buttons. I think the addition of lossless streaming to Spotify recently should be cause for reconsidering and potential for a solution.

     

    Apple’s requirement is hard buttons and lock screen controls can only be used for media players which are on the device itself.  Apple issued a cease and desist for a hack that fooled iOS into thinking a media player on the device was playing (“playing” meaning actual audio was able to be heard) when it really wasn’t.  This is no different than playing via a Bluetooth connection that also doesn’t actually play anywhere.

    As to your opinion of what you’ve “experienced as a uniform IOS experience as the end user”, your argument is with Apple, not Sonos.  These are Apple’s rules, they are the ones who need to change. 

      B
      • blubird22
      • Author
      • Contributor I
      • February 4, 2026

      alright ill write to apple, thanks for your replies.

        Terms & ConditionsCookie settingsAccessibility statement