The most common reason for low volume is that Sound Check is turned on. Other possible reasons include using certain EQ presets, setting a volume limit, or having the volume turned down inside the Apple Music app itself.
1. Check Default Volume Levels
The first thing to check when Apple Music is playing at a low volume is the default volume setting on your device. Sometimes, the volume may have been lowered accidentally—so it’s good to confirm before changing other settings.
For iPhone:
For Mac:
2. Disable Headphone Safety
To help prevent hearing damage, Apple limits your headphones’ volume by default and may show you a warning if you’re listening at high volume for too long. Apple devices have a dedicated Headphone Safety feature that keeps the audio below a safe limit.
3. Disable Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is designed to deliver a more immersive audio experience, but sometimes it can make songs sound quieter, especially if the original track isn’t mixed for Atmos. If you notice a drop in volume when playing certain songs, try turning Dolby Atmos off.
4. Disable Sound Check
The Sound Check feature aims to keep all songs at a similar volume so that switching between tracks or genres doesn’t cause abrupt changes in loudness. But in some cases, Sound Check can make music sound too quiet compared to the intended original level. If this is affecting your listening experience, consider disabling it.
For iPhone:
For Mac:
5. Change EQ to Late Night
If you find some songs lack bass or sound tinny, the built-in Equalizer (EQ) on Apple devices may help, though sometimes certain EQ settings can actually lower the overall volume. Here’s what you can do to fix the Apple Music low volume issue: If you’d rather not turn EQ off, another option is to set it to “Late Night,” which can make the quiet parts of songs louder and make everything sound more balanced:
6. Disable Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio aims to make music feel more immersive by making it sound as if it comes from all around you. However, this effect can sometimes make the overall audio seem quieter. You can turn off Spatial Audio with these steps:
7. Turn Off Lossless Audio
Lossless audio preserves songs in a higher quality format, which can sometimes result in different volume levels compared to standard (compressed) audio. If you notice changes in loudness, you can try switching between Lossless and the default format to see which sounds better to you.
8. Re-Pair Audio Device
Glitches or interruptions in the Bluetooth connection between your device and your speakers or headphones can also cause low sound. If you notice sudden volume drops, it could be helpful to “forget” your Bluetooth device and pair it again for a fresh connection.
