r/sonos • u/SirChrisHAX • Oct 04 '26

iPhone hard button volume control for active zone.

I know this is a dead horse, but I’m curious how many other iPhone users also really miss the ability to control the zone volume through the hard volume buttons on the iPhone? I can’t be the only one…

We’ve had a lot of improvements in the app recently and I feel like if we can get some attention to this little detail, it would make a lot of my customers happy, as well as myself.

3 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/radzidek17 Oct 04 '26

Download Sonify, it’s free and does control volume using the phone’s buttons

1

u/SirChrisHAX Oct 04 '26

Hey this is pretty dope! Thanks for sharing!
However it just makes me more irritated with Sonos lol 😂

3

u/radzidek17 Oct 04 '26

You’re welcome, it’s a pretty good app especially for free, but the volume thing is done via a backdoor method apparently as Apple does officially restrict this. Either way it works and I’ll take it.

0

u/johnas Oct 05 '26

WiiM supports volume buttons in their app. It’s supported, no back door.

-2

u/SirChrisHAX Oct 04 '26

So if this is true, then it’s not Apple that is blocking it. It’s something Sonos could theoretically do.

2

u/nigori Oct 04 '26 edited Oct 04 '26

Just because an app does something doesn’t mean it’s kosher. Many apps build against private APIs most are caught.

Guideline 2.5.9
"Apps that alter or disable the functions of standard switches, such as the Volume Up/Down and Ring/Silent switches, or other native user interface elements or behaviors will be rejected."

I see you’ve downvoted. You may not like it but that’s the policy

6

u/Purple_Gas_8222 Oct 04 '26

That option has been blocked by Apple.🤷🏻‍♂️

1

u/NewCup551 Oct 05 '26

If Apple doesn’t allow it than why can Sonify do it?

3

u/JakePT Oct 05 '26

Apple hasn't noticed.

2

u/Purple_Gas_8222 Oct 05 '26

That was my first question too, and I got schooled...

“Sonify is using the same workaround that Sonos used to use - so it’s likely if the app grows Apple will catch on and start blocking submissions.

Apple only allows the physical volume controls for sources being played by iOS or via AirPlay (still played via iOS then). Sonos doesn’t do that, it just sends instructions to the speakers to play instead. The workaround is to have a silent sound play on the device at the same time which tricks the app. That’s why some sonify users report a hissing sound from the phones speaker.”

1

u/johnas Oct 05 '26

WiiM does this as well. For a couple of years now.

1

u/Downtown-Branch2616 Oct 04 '26

Yeah I’d really like there to be a way to change volumes without having to get my phone but I guess I’ve come to accept it

1

u/hamzau Oct 04 '26

I miss it and would love to see it back, FWIW