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Avid Contributor I
May 28, 2024 5:24 PM UTC

iOS Hardware Volume Control

Feature request:

Bring back ability to control volume with iOS (iPhone, iPad) physical volume buttons.

The removal of it is exceedingly aggravating.  The work around sucks.

 

I will own 11 Sonos devices.  But I will buy no more as long as it works this way.  This situation is so poorly communicated and badly implemented that I am gone as a customer until you resolve this.

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20 replies

Lyricist I
Jul 4, 2024 6:52 PM UTC

Last two days, my physical volume controls on my iPad are WORKING for Spotify/Sonos again??  It’s back to the way it was, a.k.a. - working, yet one ‘click’ is way too much volume, it’s not granular enough - but it is better than nothing.  Anyone else notice this feature is back?  Is this a hiccup, am I just dumb-luck, or wtf is going on at Sonos or Apple?

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Lyricist III
Jul 28, 2024 9:41 PM UTC

Why hasn’t some big group of tech companies sued Apple to remove the restriction? 

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jgatie
Jul 28, 2024 10:05 PM UTC

Why hasn’t some big group of tech companies sued Apple to remove the restriction? 

 

Because they'd  lose, if they could even get a lawyer would take the case, which is highly doubtful.

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Lyricist I
Aug 20, 2024 10:39 AM UTC

I’ve noticed that I can control my Sonos volume using two the volume buttons on the side of my iPhone, particularly when I’m listening to my Sonos through the Audible and Spotify apps. So are the iPhone volume buttons only inoperable  inside the Sonos app itself?

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Lyricist III
Aug 20, 2024 6:15 PM UTC

Why hasn’t some big group of tech companies sued Apple to remove the restriction? 

 

Because they'd  lose, if they could even get a lawyer would take the case, which is highly doubtful.

You’re no help! 

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Prodigy III
Aug 20, 2024 6:27 PM UTC

It’s interesting… the main reason quoted for not being able to use Lock Screen controls is that unless you are playing something on the phone itself, which Sonos does not, then you aren’t supposed to use Lock Screen controls. This is why Sonos for a while had the idea of playing no sound on the phone… (ok it messed with hearing aids, so for that reason alone it wasn’t the best idea...)

Yet… 

If I use my iPhone as a remote control for my Apple TV, what appears on the Lock Screen? Apple TV controls… But I’m not playing anything from my iPhone…

So what exactly are the rules/restrictions then? 

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MoPac
Headliner III
Aug 20, 2024 8:05 PM UTC

 Great if was an option disabled by default.  Don’t want the wacky volume issues like AirPlay, Spotify Connect etc.  Sliders fo me work just fine.  Would be nice though to have + / - volume control as an option to replace sliders.

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Schlumpf
Virtuoso
Aug 20, 2024 8:10 PM UTC

I’ve noticed that I can control my Sonos volume using two the volume buttons on the side of my iPhone, particularly when I’m listening to my Sonos through the Audible and Spotify apps. So are the iPhone volume buttons only inoperable  inside the Sonos app itself?

Yes, and also for any other app that isn’t able to output audio on the phone itself. Just controlling another Apple device that way seems to be allowed as that’s an Apple device internal solution.

@Ian_S 

And exactly because of that imo the Apple to Apple exception works. Apples os is their own playground. And there they are the boss and make the rules. 

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Ralf
Prodigy III
Aug 20, 2024 8:32 PM UTC

 

@Ian_S

And exactly because of that imo the Apple to Apple exception works. Apples os is their own playground. And there they are the boss and make the rules. 

Which is exactly the sort of abuse of position that the EU are happy to get worked up over… 😉

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Schlumpf
Virtuoso
Aug 20, 2024 8:38 PM UTC

@Ian_S 

Thats life and business… but both changes constantly. 😎 So let’s cross our fingers things will get more user friendly in future. 

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Ralf