Google restores speaker group volume control on Pixel in latest Android 15 beta

Ben Schoon | May 21 2024 - 2:37 am PT

For the past few years, easy volume controls for speaker groups and other Cast devices from Pixel phones has been disabled, but they appear to be returning in the latest Android 15 beta update.

Back in 2021, Google disabled the ability to use the volume buttons on a Pixel phone to control a speaker group and other Chromecast and Google Cast devices. That started in Android 12 and, at the time, was due to an undisclosed “legal issue.” Later on, it was revealed that this was among the fallout from the Sonos legal battle, which Google had lost. As a result, volume button controls were disabled in many places including the Home app and just with Cast devices connected in the background.

Some of that functionality has returned over time, such as the ability for Google devices to be used in more than one speaker group at a time.

Now, in Android 15 Beta 2, Google seems to have brought back volume controls. The folks over at Android Authority noticed that, when using multiple Cast devices in a speaker group, the Pixel’s volume controls work to adjust the volume of those connected devices. This was tested using two Nest Hub devices and YouTube Music. Sound off in the comments below if you’ve noticed the same change.

It’s unclear exactly what’s changed, but Google presumably found a workaround over the past few years.

This comes as Android 15 Beta 2 also brings a massively updated volume panel to Pixel devices among other changes.

For the time being, this functionality is only available if you install the latest beta, but if all goes well, it’s probably safe to assume this will carry on through Android 15’s stable release.