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iOS 18.2: Bring Volume Slider Back to iPhone Lock Screen

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple in iOS 18.2 has reinstated a Lock Screen feature that was unceremoniously nixed from its iPhone OS two years ago, leaving many users wondering why it was taken away in the first place.

lock-screen-volume-slider-ios.jpeg

The feature in question is the on-screen volume control slider in the Lock Screen media player interface. Prior to 2022, the volume slider was a familiar presence on the Lock Screen whenever media was playing. When Apple released iOS 16, however, it removed the control without explaining the reason.

Thankfully, Apple has brought back the control as an option in iOS 18.2. If you've updated your device, you'll find a toggle in Settings ➝ Accessibility ➝ Audio & Visual, labeled Always Show Volume Control. Enable the switch, and you'll be able to adjust volume from the Lock Screen without having to unlock your iPhone or use the physical volume buttons.

ios-18-2-volume-control-lock-screen.jpg

Elsewhere in iOS 18.2, provided you have a compatible device, you will find several Apple Intelligence features, including Image Playground and Genmoji. Be sure to check out our complete guide for full details on what's included.

Article Link: iOS 18.2: Bring Volume Slider Back to iPhone Lock Screen
 
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https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/bring-volume-slider-back-iphone-lock-screen/
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Glad the lock screen volume slider is an option now for people who want it, but personally I prefer to only have the playback slider and use the physical buttons for volume—because less chance of mistakenly adjusting the wrong slider, and I always prefer physical buttons when possible.
 
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Radeon85 said:
If they want to bring more features back, how about bringing back the iPhone homescreen landscape mode? Now that Face ID can unlock in landscape mode, there is no excuse not to bring it back.
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This. I have no idea why they have not included this landscape back into iOS. I am sure it has to do with home screen widgets, but I’m sure the engineers/designers could find a way to make it work.

Also, where are the 2-pane landscape apps??
 

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Hitmanbbq59 said:
This. I have no idea why they have not included this landscape back into iOS. I am sure it has to do with home screen widgets, but I’m sure the engineers/designers could find a way to make it work.

Also, where are the 2-pane landscape apps??
Click to expand...
I think they took away landscape with iPhone X when it adopted the longer aspect ratio. This was before widgets, so I think it has something to do with aspect ratio. Maybe they think landscape looks too awkward when it’s more stretched out horizontally. But I agree, I would like landscape support on iPhone like on iPad.

Somewhat related—I find it so annoying when certain iPhone apps like Netflix have a main UI that is only portrait, but video is played in only landscape. So within a single app you are frequently having to rotate the phone back and forth. This makes using the app while the phone is on a mount or stand infuriating.
 
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MacRumors said:
leaving many users wondering why it was taken away in the first place
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No, not really wondering about it.
If you’ve been following the news:

„Spotify says users on iPhone will no longer be able to control the volume of connected devices using their physical volume buttons after Apple "discontinued" the technology that enables the functionality.
…
Spotify claims that Apple is refusing to grant access to the same technology that allows Apple Music to play on third-party devices. In a continuation of long-held tensions between the two companies, the streaming service has gone as far as suggesting that this could violate the EU's Digital Markets Act, which requires major platforms to open up to third-party services.“

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/30/spotify-loses-iphone-volume-buttons-control/

Taking away volume slider while discontinuing physical button control…

Probably just Apple yet again abusing their gatekeeper status to gain an advantage over rivalling streaming services (and hardware makers that integrate other streaming protocols). Glad the EU has been taking action to end these anticompetitive shenanigans.
 
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Apple has a habit of controlling everything, often leaving users with less freedom. Whether it’s limiting features or changing policies, it’s only a matter of time before they take something else away. It’s a service that’s called “Apple Nonsensical”.
 
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subjonas said:
I think they took away landscape with iPhone X when it adopted the longer aspect ratio. This was before widgets, so I think it has something to do with aspect ratio. Maybe they think landscape looks too awkward when it’s more stretched out horizontally. But I agree, I would like landscape support on iPhone like on iPad.

Somewhat related—I find it so annoying when certain iPhone apps like Netflix have a main UI that is only portrait, but video is played in only landscape. So within a single app you are frequently having to rotate the phone back and forth. This makes using the app while the phone is on a mount or stand infuriating.
Click to expand...
More likely the notch forced them to remove landscape support due to the position on notch being either on the left or right of the screen and blocking important on screen elements.
 
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DougieS said:
More likely the notch forced them to remove landscape support due to the position on notch being either on the left or right of the screen and blocking important on screen elements.
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Not sure, seems like they could just move elements away from the side. They did that with the iPad Mini home screen icons, although in that case I have no idea why.
 
I also never really understood why the notch devices brought the end of the landscape home screens.

I don’t mind that as much as I do the removal of the two-pane apps in landscape. It was nice to be able to scroll down my sidebar on the left while scrolling separately in the document that was open on the right in files or mail or whatever. I hate that it’s become this slide over thing that prevents you from scrolling the open doc. It’s my single biggest gripe with iOS
 
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