- A few months ago, Apple started preventing iOS users casting media to third-party devices from controlling the volume using their iPhone’s physical buttons.
- Apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Sonos now require users to launch their apps and use the digital volume slider to control connected devices.
- Spotify has rolled out an update to its iOS app that makes the volume control process a bit faster.
Back in May, we reported that a recent iOS update broke physical volume button controls when casting media to third-party devices. So, those using Spotify, YouTube, Sonos, and similar services are required to launch the respective apps and use the digital volume slider when casting. This makes an action as simple as lowering the volume much more time-consuming and unintuitive due to Apple’s whims. To make controlling the volume when using Spotify Connect a tad easier, the music streaming giant has rolled out an update to its iOS app.
Apple’s hypocrisy explained
While Apple banned third-party apps from using the iPhone’s physical volume buttons to control connected devices, first-party apps have retained the privilege. So, for example, users can rely on Apple’s Remote app to control an Apple TV using the iPhone’s physical volume buttons. Similarly, the Apple Music app supports physical volume button controls when casting.