Skip to main content

Control the volume using the iOS device hardware buttons

  • November 25, 2025
  • 9 replies
  • 51 views
P

So.  I’ve just moved country and moved into a new house.  Was pretty happy with my old Gen1 system but have fancy new job and more money so figured it was time to finally make the leap to Gen2.  
Spent thousands getting a decent starting setup: Arc, 2x era300s, sub, FIVE, and a Move. 
Fiddle with my WiFi and new Gen2 system for a few days getting it all tuned and optimized.  
 

Am sitting here listening to music and child calls me from another room.  Reach for iPhone to turn music down so I can hear the child.  Use iPhone volume.  Nothing happens.  “That’s funny” thinks I, “they must have made it an option in settings”. Dig around in settings for a bit.  Nope. Can’t find anything.  Resort to googling on the internet.  Find a bunch of threads along the lines of: “NO MORE SONOS HARDWARE VOLUME CONTROL ON IPHONES”  Most of these posts are 2 years old.  

Ok.  What in the flying duck is this enshittification?  I want to know how come the crappiest $20 Bluetooth speaker you can buy lets you control the volume with your iPhone volume control but with my $3000-4000 sonos system I have to unlock my phone, find the Sonos app, click on relevant room, fiddle with a volume slider, and then click <Apply>  

Not only that, but they’ve known about this enshittification for 2 YEARS!!!! They’ve read the disgruntled user posts and done NOTHING.

[TLDR] Words cannot express how disappointed I am.  Have brand new house-wide Sonos Gen2 system, but I’m  too embarrassed to show it off to my mate because even his crappy Bluetooth speakers have better usability.

 

 

9 replies

jgatie
  • jgatie
  • November 25, 2025

There are literally dozens of threads explaining in excruciating detail why this is.  In short, iOS prevents developers from remapping the hard buttons and lock screen controls to 3rd party hardware.  Their functionality must reside with media playing on the device itself, and the Sonos app is not a media player, it is a controller.  At one time, Sonos used a hack to get around this restriction (they played a silent file on the device in the background), but Apple discovered the hack and threatened to remove them from the Apple store. Note that they also threatened Bluesound for the same infraction.  

Airgetlam
Triticale
Forum|alt.badge.img+7
  • Triticale
  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • November 25, 2025

Welcome to the club. After purchase the Era 300 to enjoy Atmos together my Arc and Sub I discovered that the only way was Sonos app, and then I suffered the ugly way to control the music with it.

I hope Sonos will solve this limitation in the future, although I don’t think so. 

In the meanwhile:

  • Use AirPlay as much as possible, being aware that you’re not getting Atmos or loseless quality.
  • Install Sonos Voice Control and speak with your speakers to control the music. That’s what I did. Ops! And try to install it in one of the Eras, as the Arc has a problem with the mic and you could suffer suddenly switching off of the Arc’s mic so Esposito never answer. If Arc is Ultra, don’t worry bout it.

Edit: if you connect your Sonos speakers through Bluetooth or AirPlay you can control the volume like your 20$ devices using the streaming service app 😅 

P
Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • November 25, 2025

The solution is so simple, I have no idea why Sonos refuses to do it.

Step 1. Buy Apple and Google.

Step 2. As the new owner change their rule that is blocking any other solution.

Step 3. Release a new app version with the now working buttons.

Come on Sonos, step up and make this happen!

N
Triticale
Forum|alt.badge.img+7
  • Triticale
  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • November 25, 2025

The solution is so simple, I have no idea why Sonos refuses to do it.

Step 1. Buy Apple and Google.

Step 2. As the new owner change their rule that is blocking any other solution.

Step 3. Release a new app version with the now working buttons.

Come on Sonos, step up and make this happen!

Add Amazon and Microsoft to the basket, please 😬

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • November 25, 2025

Not aware Microsoft and Amazon had rules that didn't allow an App to be offered in their stores if it allowed volume key use.

Triticale
Forum|alt.badge.img+7
  • Triticale
  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • November 25, 2025

Not aware Microsoft and Amazon had rules that didn't allow an App to be offered in their stores if it allowed volume key use.

I know, but I’m trying to solve also other issues playing Amazon music and streaming from the Pc till I get your NAS solution 😬

R
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Raguu
  • Enthusiast I
  • November 26, 2025

 

Sonos could implement the same approach used by Click (a third party Sonos controller), WiiM, and Bluesound by adding Dynamic Island and Live Activities support, which is Apple’s new preferred method for handling volume controls and hardware volume buttons in supported contexts.

P
  • pawnografik
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • November 26, 2025

 

Sonos could implement the same approach used by Click (a third party Sonos controller), WiiM, and Bluesound by adding Dynamic Island and Live Activities support, which is Apple’s new preferred method for handling volume controls and hardware volume buttons in supported contexts.

 

What is this Click of which you speak?  Any good?  Better than the Sonos native app?

 

R
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Raguu
  • Enthusiast I
  • November 26, 2025

 

Sonos could implement the same approach used by Click (a third party Sonos controller), WiiM, and Bluesound by adding Dynamic Island and Live Activities support, which is Apple’s new preferred method for handling volume controls and hardware volume buttons in supported contexts.

 

What is this Click of which you speak?  Any good?  Better than the Sonos native app?

 

 

Click requires a subscription, but a free trial is available if you want to try it (I don’t subscribe as it’s not worth it to me). Another iOS Sonos app that is free and supports hardware volume control (in certain use cases), lock screen integration, and Dynamic Island is Sonify. These are the ones I’m aware of, there may be others  


 

Terms & ConditionsCookie settingsAccessibility statement