This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
Google's decision to remove the ability to control Chromecast volume using Android device volume keys in Android 12 has left many users puzzled. The feature, which has been a staple in Android for years, allowed users to control the volume of nearby Chromecast sessions using the volume keys of their Android devices.
However, with the release of Android 12 in October, this feature was mysteriously removed. According to reports, the disappearance of this feature is linked to a patent dispute between Google and Sonos, an audio company that took Google to court in 2020 over alleged patent infringement.
9to5google reported that preliminary rulings had been in favor of Sonos, although the final verdict has not yet been made. A Google representative acknowledged the lack of Chromecast volume rocker controls, stating that this was 'intended' and that a fix of sorts would be included with Android 12 Beta 5.
Three months down the line, Android 12 has now been rolled out to all users with eligible phones ranging from the Pixel 3 to the Pixel 6 Pro, but the Chromecast volume issue has not been resolved yet. A Google representative disclosed on Twitter that there was a legal issue that they could not share in public, and that they were still working on a fix.
9to5google claims to have looked at the code change where the problem was introduced, and conclude that Google intentionally disabled the volume controls for all 'remote sessions'. However, they admit that they cannot learn the context behind the change because the associate number is not available to the public.
On the brighter side, the change does not appear to be permanent as Google has promised that the issue will be fixed with the release of Android 12L, which is expected to be rolled out in early 2022. Android 12L has been referred to as Android 12.1, and it primarily targets large screen devices.
Two phones, the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL currently exist in limbo, having received the Android 12 update, but are not listed as eligible to receive the upcoming Android 12L update. This potentially means they will be locked out from using the volume control feature on their devices forever unless Google adds the two devices to the eligible list before next year.
