Absolute Bluetooth Volume (ABV) is a feature that allows the volume of your Bluetooth device to synchronize with the volume of your Android phone. This means that adjusting the volume on your phone will simultaneously change the volume on your Bluetooth device. However, some users may prefer to have independent control over their phone’s volume and their Bluetooth device. In this article, we’ll show you how to disable Absolute Bluetooth Volume on Android and explain the benefits and drawbacks of doing so.
What is Absolute Bluetooth Volume on Android?
Absolute Bluetooth Volume, introduced in Android devices back in 2015 with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), redefined how we manage audio by seamlessly syncing volume adjustments between your Android phone and paired Bluetooth audio peripherals.
This unified volume control, enabled by default on devices running Android 6.0 and later, eliminates the need for separate volume adjustments, offering a more convenient audio experience.
What Happens if You Disable Absolute Bluetooth Volume?
Absolute Bluetooth Volume unifies the volume controls of your phone and the Bluetooth device you pair it with. Adjusting the volume on your phone directly applies the change to the connected Bluetooth audio device, creating a streamlined experience.
This convenience can eliminate the hassle of managing separate sliders for your phone and Bluetooth device. However, some users encounter issues. For example:
- The Android volume level may still be too loud on Bluetooth headphones or speakers, even at the lowest setting.
- Conversely, even at the maximum phone volume, the Bluetooth device may remain too quiet.
However, one common problem with Bluetooth Absolute Volume is a possible discrepancy between the volume levels of the two devices. For example, the Android volume level might still be too loud on your Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth speaker even on the lowest settings. Or the opposite: cranking up the volume to the max on your phone might be too quiet on the Bluetooth device.
And the internet forums are flooded with users complaining about low Bluetooth volume on Android devices or Bluetooth volume being too loud on the lowest setting. This isn’t as common but people who are really particular about their preferences definitely can notice it. It all comes down to optimization and compatibility between your phone and your Bluetooth audio device.
If you disable Bluetooth Absolute Volume, you’ll get a separate slider for Bluetooth devices. After that, when you use the phone’s physical volume buttons to increase or lower the volume, it will change only the media volume on your phone.
And, if you don’t have a way to increase the volume on the Bluetooth device (with physical buttons or touch controls), you’ll need to expand the Volume panel on your phone and use a separate Bluetooth volume slider to increase or lower the volume on your headphones.
How to Disable Bluetooth Absolute Volume on Android?
Android absolute volume is enabled by default on all Android devices running Android 6 and later iterations. And there’s no option to disable it under Sound settings, as one would expect. In order to disable Bluetooth Absolute Volume on your Android, you’ll need to enable Developer options first.
Here’s how to disable Android absolute volume on your phone:
- Open Settings.
- Select About phone. You might need to open Software Information.
- Locate the Build number and tap 7 times on it until you unlock the Developer options. This usually requires entering a PIN/password/pattern.
- Now go back to Settings and open Developer options from the bottom of the settings list. On some Android devices, you’ll find Developer options under System.
- Locate Disable absolute volume and enable this option.
You can disable Developer options on your Android if you don’t need them. The changes you made won’t disappear.
Now that you know what Absolute Volume does, you can try disabling it. Maybe, the dedicated Bluetooth slider works better for you. We mentioned the compatibility and optimization of the software. There are both third-party and some first-party apps you can use to improve your listening experience.
For example, I use the Sound Assistant Good Lock module on my Samsung to reduce the step volume. Switching from a volume step of 10 (100, 90,…20, 10, 0) to 2 (100, 98,…6, 4, 2, 0) provides me with precise control of volume in general.
This transmits well to my Bluetooth earbuds as I can set the volume to be as low as 2% instead of the factory 10% when I need to. Some third-party apps can do the same, and you can find them on Play Store.
Still, with all that said, Android absolute volume is the most convenient way to control the volume on your Bluetooth devices with your phone. Second only to touch controls that allow you to put your phone away.
That should do it. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in February 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
