iPhone CarPlay - Way to control text alert volume in carplay only?

[lyphe416]

Hi,

Just bought a new car and love using Carplay with it. The one issue we have is that no matter the volume of music, text alerts come through at a jarring volume. I assume this is because I have my text volume on high by default so I can hear it when I'm walking around with my iPhone in my pocket.

That said, is there a way to reduce the text alert volume in Carplay mode, without turning down the text alert volume when I'm out of carplay mode. If not, it means I have to open my messages every time I get into and out of the car to change the volume.

Hoping there is a way to do this that I've missed.

Ty!

 

[bransoj]

More likely to be a case of turning the volume on the car side. Try someone ringing your phone and while its ringing turn the volume down on the car stereo. On the couple of cars i've used carplay on there are separate volume settings for the radio etc then notification things.

 

[Davidalan]

More likely to be a case of turning the volume on the car side. Try someone ringing your phone and while its ringing turn the volume down on the car stereo. On the couple of cars i've used carplay on there are separate volume settings for the radio etc then notification things.

On my Toyota that is the way it works. When directions for turns are given out, by using the volume button to lower the spoken directions.

 

[lyphe416]

Hmmmmmm ... tried to adjust the volume when testing ringtones and seems to change the entire system instead of just the notification. Will have to mess around a bit more.

 

[AZhappyjack]

There are two volume levels within CarPlay - the basic audio/radio/music app playback level and the alert level. You can only adjust the level of the one currently playing. So simply adjusting the volume while the radio/music app is playing will only affect the level of the playback.

To adjust the alert level, you have to adjust the volume WHILE the alert is playing...

So, invoke Siri and get her to "talk" - like asking for information that will cause her to speak for a few seconds... and WHILE SHE IS TALKING, you can adjust the volume for the alert playback.

 

[CUAviator]

I have a somewhat different question:
How do I keep CarPlay from reducing my music SO MUCH and for SO LONG when an alert comes in.

- when I’m using just Bluetooth for music and maps (not CarPlay), when a text or map direction comes in, the music volume lowers slightly and equally in both speakers and then seamless returns to normal when the alert is done.

- Using CarPlay (with cable or Bluetooth), when an alert comes in, the music volume is cut off in the left speaker, there’s a huge reduction in the right, then when the alert is done, there’s a pretty significant pause before the volume returns to normal.

— is there way to adjust how CarPlay adjusts the volumes?

 

[5692943]

Hi,

Just bought a new car and love using Carplay with it. The one issue we have is that no matter the volume of music, text alerts come through at a jarring volume. I assume this is because I have my text volume on high by default so I can hear it when I'm walking around with my iPhone in my pocket.

That said, is there a way to reduce the text alert volume in Carplay mode, without turning down the text alert volume when I'm out of carplay mode. If not, it means I have to open my messages every time I get into and out of the car to change the volume.

Hoping there is a way to do this that I've missed.

Ty!

I faced this one as well with blaringly-loud directions a few years ago. Raised a Feedback for it, and recently they released the Announcement Volume Control, available from the ^ button while you're in navigation mode. You have three options, low, med, high.

Here is the support article detailing the how-to's for it.

Change settings for spoken directions in Maps on iPhone

In Maps on iPhone, turn spoken directions off, adjust their volume, change their voice or language, and more.

support.apple.com

 

[5692943]

I have a somewhat different question:
How do I keep CarPlay from reducing my music SO MUCH and for SO LONG when an alert comes in.

- when I’m using just Bluetooth for music and maps (not CarPlay), when a text or map direction comes in, the music volume lowers slightly and equally in both speakers and then seamless returns to normal when the alert is done.

- Using CarPlay (with cable or Bluetooth), when an alert comes in, the music volume is cut off in the left speaker, there’s a huge reduction in the right, then when the alert is done, there’s a pretty significant pause before the volume returns to normal.

— is there way to adjust how CarPlay adjusts the volumes?

Hi CUAviator, there's an AWESOME new feature coming for Airpods Pro2 with spatial audio. It really surprised me when I got the update (18.2 Dev Beta2 i believe).
While in navigation mode, wearing AirPods (not CarPlay), the directions sounded like they were coming from the footwell near my feet, and the music was not interrupted as much.
I freaked out because I thought I had dropped my phone into the footwell and started looking for it.
SOOOOO cool.

If you have Apple Watch, you can also disable spoken directions and limit them to "hazards only".
While in navigation mode, tap the sound icon and choose the option with the !
Your watch will ping you for turns, and also give audio cues low-high for right turn, high-low for left turn.
If you have Watch on silent, it'll do cool haptics.

 

[brian.tully]

Hi,

Just bought a new car and love using Carplay with it. The one issue we have is that no matter the volume of music, text alerts come through at a jarring volume. I assume this is because I have my text volume on high by default so I can hear it when I'm walking around with my iPhone in my pocket.

That said, is there a way to reduce the text alert volume in Carplay mode, without turning down the text alert volume when I'm out of carplay mode. If not, it means I have to open my messages every time I get into and out of the car to change the volume.

Hoping there is a way to do this that I've missed.

Ty!

Congrats on the new car! You didn't specify which make/model of car you bought, but in my VW the alert/notifications volume are handled by the car's infotainment system settings and not within CarPlay/iPhone. Most new model cars have their own infotainment operating system that allows you to configure your car's features/settings. It's most likely found under audio or driver's assistance settings, where there's usually a setting to adjust the volume of alerts. I have mine set to "low" whereby it speaks the text/directions/alert at a relatively low volume while simultaneously lowering the music volume that's playing alongside it.