I have a confession – I used to hate Docker. But I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and I’ve realized that Docker actually has a reputation problem, and it’s partly deserved. Even now, with Android 16 rolling out, there is a “master switch” for volume that overrides your main slider, and it’s buried so deep in the UI that most people probably assume their phone just has weak speakers.

And if you’re using a Samsung device (I tested this on my Galaxy S25 running One UI 8.1), or really anything with a heavy manufacturer skin, the volume slider you see in the quick panel isn’t the whole story. It’s a lie. There is a separate, hidden setting called Media Volume Limit. The problem isn’t the safety feature. It’s the UI design. It’s terrible.

You’d think this toggle would be under “Safety” or “Digital Wellbeing,” right? Nope. On One UI 8.1, here is the ridiculous path you have to take: Go to Settings > Sounds and vibration, tap Volume, and then — this is the kicker — look at the top right corner. See those three tiny vertical dots? Tap them, and then select Media Volume Limit.

When I opened this menu, the toggle was on, and the “Custom Volume Limit” slider was sitting at about 70%. I turned it off, went back to my movie, and — well, let me back up. The difference isn’t subtle. It’s the difference between “is this thing on?” and “okay, that hurts.”

The “Absolute Volume” Glitch

If that doesn’t fix it, or if you’re on a Pixel (I checked my Pixel 10 Pro just to be sure), you might be dealing with the Bluetooth Absolute Volume conflict. This one has been haunting Android for a decade, and I can’t believe I’m still writing about it in 2026.

Basically, your phone has a volume level, and your Bluetooth headphones have their own internal volume level. “Absolute Volume” is supposed to sync them so one slider controls both. But it breaks. Constantly.

The fix requires diving into Developer Options. If you haven’t enabled them yet (tap Build Number 7 times in About Phone), do that. Then search for “Disable Absolute Volume”.

Why Is This Still Happening?

Honestly? Regulations. The EU has strict standards on maximum sound pressure levels for portable audio devices. Manufacturers are terrified of lawsuits or regulatory fines, so they play it safe. They ship devices with software limiters engaged by default.

It makes sense for the wired earbuds included in the box (does anyone even get those anymore?), but it makes zero sense for external Bluetooth speakers or high-impedance headphones that need more power to drive properly.

One More Place to Look: Adapt Sound

While I was angry-tapping through menus, I remembered another setting that messes with perceived volume: Adapt Sound (or “Personalized Spatial Audio” on some devices). On Samsung devices, it’s under Sound quality and effects. It runs a hearing test—plays beeps at different frequencies—and boosts the frequencies you can’t hear well. I ran the “Over 30 years old” preset (don’t judge me), and while it didn’t technically increase the maximum decibel output, it boosted the treble and high-mids significantly.

The Bottom Line

If your phone sounds quiet, don’t just accept it. The hardware is usually capable of much more than the software is letting it do. It’s annoying that we have to dig through three layers of sub-menus to find a switch that effectively uncaps the performance we paid for, but that’s modern mobile OS design for you. Hide the power tools, keep the interface “clean,” and hope nobody notices.

And, well, that’s not entirely accurate. Check the three dots. It’s always in the three dots.