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terrapin1969

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 31, 2015
34
1
I will try to explain this the best I can.

When my iPhone XR on iOS 16.0.2 is connected via Bluetooth to my car and a phone call comes in, the loudest my volume will go on the car infotainment system is 50. Its like it is locked or something. Can that be fixed? Normal?

The second question I have is when my car is connected to CarPlay, the volume buttons on my actual phone do nothing. Is that normal?

Thanks for any help
 
I have an iPhone 14 with iOS 16 and works perfectly thru my 2022 Ford F150 Lightning EV truck on wireless Carplay.

Volume is controlled thru the steering wheel buttons.

My phone's volume control does not change the volume either.

You may need to update your Carplay software.

Try connecting the Lightning cable to the vehicle's USB port, turn off Bluetooth and see if that changes it.
 
Thanks. So the phone volume buttons are, technically, disabled while using carplay? I assume that's because the app doesn't want you messing with the phone while driving...

But if yours is doing it too I'm assuming it's not going to change if connected with a cable?
 
Thanks. So the phone volume buttons are, technically, disabled while using carplay? I assume that's because the app doesn't want you messing with the phone while driving...

But if yours is doing it too I'm assuming it's not going to change if connected with a cable?
My volume is not set to high - it turns on at a low level and I have to turn it up on my steering wheel buttons.

Have you updated your CarPlay software ?
 
Yep. Carplay is updated. Like I said, if your physical phone buttons are disabled too I'm sure it's by design...
 
Couple things - CarPlay volume should only be changed on the head unit, not the phone volume buttons. With a BT connection, you may be able to use the phone's buttons like any other BT device.

Go to the BT settings and select the device you are connecting to - the head unit of your vehicle. You'll see Device Type - be sure it's set to Car Stereo, not headphones.

You may want to check the settings in Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety > is reduce loud sounds enabled? If so, is it set to anything below 100 decibels? If your head unit is set as headphones, this setting may come in to play and limit you to the 50% volume level.
 
Couple things - CarPlay volume should only be changed on the head unit, not the phone volume buttons. With a BT connection, you may be able to use the phone's buttons like any other BT device.

Go to the BT settings and select the device you are connecting to - the head unit of your vehicle. You'll see Device Type - be sure it's set to Car Stereo, not headphones.

You may want to check the settings in Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety > is reduce loud sounds enabled? If so, is it set to anything below 100 decibels? If your head unit is set as headphones, this setting may come in to play and limit you to the 50% volume level.
Thanks. Yes. So the physical phone buttons do nothing when connected to carplay but I'm learning this is likely by design.

Concerning the volume issue, all my settings are as you suggest. I am now realizing that, when connected to Bluetooth, the volume level displayed on the car screen, that goes up to 50, is simply the representation of the total volume range of the phone itself. Not limited to half volume. It's hard to describe.
 
Thanks. Yes. So the physical phone buttons do nothing when connected to carplay but I'm learning this is likely by design.

Concerning the volume issue, all my settings are as you suggest. I am now realizing that, when connected to Bluetooth, the volume level displayed on the car screen, that goes up to 50, is simply the representation of the total volume range of the phone itself. Not limited to half volume. It's hard to describe.

Okay - that makes sense. When it displays 50, it's 100% volume. When it's 25, it's at 50% volume.
 
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