Android devices come with a default volume panel that controls overall audio streams like media, notifications, ringers, and alarms. However, stock Android does not let you change the volume of individual applications separately, nor does it allow deep visual customization of the volume slider menu.
In this blog post, you will find a complete walkthrough of Volume++, an open-source Android tool that solves these exact problems. We will cover what Volume++ is, its core features, hardware requirements, step-by-step installation instructions, usage guidelines, troubleshooting tips, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Table of Contents
What is Volume++?
Volume++ is an open-source native Android application developed by noel-digital-fan. It is designed to replace your phone’s default system volume dialog with a customized, themeable overlay panel
Beyond visual upgrades, Volume++ introduces true per-app volume mixing to Android devices. This means you can adjust the sound level of a specific media app—such as Spotify or YouTube without changing the master volume of other running applications or background sounds. It achieves this advanced control without requiring root access by leveraging Shizuku technology.
Features of Volume++
Volume++ brings several powerful audio and customization tools to Android:
- Hardware Key Interception: Uses an Android Accessibility Service to capture your physical volume up and volume down button presses. It suppresses the default stock panel and displays a smooth floating overlay instead, complete with natural press-and-hold volume adjustments.
- Authentic Android Version Skins (Android 7 to 15): Includes faithful recreations of volume panel designs spanning from Android 7 (Nougat) up through Android 15. You can select any panel design you prefer regardless of the actual Android version installed on your device.
- Live Visual Editor (WYSIWYG): Features an on-screen editor allowing you to drag and reposition panel components for both portrait and landscape screen modes. It also includes a color editor to customize backgrounds, slider tracks, icons, accent colors, and buttons for each skin.
- Per-App Volume Mixing: Displays individual volume sliders for currently playing apps using hidden system APIs. You can set independent sound levels for each app active during a playback session.
- Audio Focus Management: Allows you to toggle whether an application can take audio focus. This prevents an app from automatically pausing or suppressing other active media playback when it starts making noise.
- Session Persistence: Remembers your custom volume settings for each app throughout an active playback session, maintaining your settings even across screen toggles or app backgrounding until the process ends.
Requirements
To run Volume++ smoothly on your mobile device, your setup must meet the following hardware and software criteria:
- Operating System: Android 7.0 (Nougat / API level 24) or higher.
- Shizuku Integration: The Shizuku framework must be installed and active (via Wireless Debugging, ADB commands from a computer, or Root). Shizuku is required for per-app mixing and audio focus controls to function.
- System Permissions:
- Accessibility Service: Required to intercept hardware volume keys.
- Display Over Other Apps (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW): Required to draw floating overlay panels on top of running apps.
- Notification Policy Access: Allows volume adjustment during Do Not Disturb modes.
- Query All Packages: Allows the app to identify running media apps for individual volume mixing.
Download
Volume++ is available directly from its official GitHub repository:
- Official Project Repository: https://github.com/noel-digital-fan/volume_plus_plus/releases
You can download the compiled APK file from the GitHub Releases section of the repository. Alternatively, advanced users can clone the repository and compile the APK from source code using Android Studio or the command line command ./gradlew assembleDebug.
How to Install
Follow these steps to install and set up Volume++ on your device:
- Download the Volume++ APK file from the official GitHub repository link provided above.
- Open the downloaded APK on your Android device and allow installation from unknown sources if prompted.
- Open the Volume++ application after installation completes.
- Grant the required system permissions when prompted by the application:
- Turn on the Volume++ Accessibility Service under your device Settings > Accessibility.
- Enable Display Over Other Apps in system permissions.
- Allow Notification Policy Access so volume adjustments work during Do Not Disturb mode.
- Set up Shizuku:
- If you do not have Shizuku, install it from F-Droid or Google Play Store.
- Start Shizuku using Wireless Debugging or computer ADB instructions provided within the Shizuku app.
- Open Volume++ and grant it permission to connect to Shizuku when prompted.
How to Use
Once all permissions and services are active, using Volume++ is simple:
- Launch Volume++ to access the main settings screen.
- Go to the Overlay Style section to pick your preferred Android volume panel skin (ranging from Android 7 Nougat to Android 15).
- Tap the Position & Color Editor if you wish to drag the volume slider to a different side of your screen or change its colors.
- Press the physical volume buttons on your phone. You will see the new custom overlay appear instead of your standard system panel.
- Open the Mixing tab in Volume++ while playing music or video. You will see separate volume controls for each active app, allowing you to fine-tune sound levels independently.
Credit
Volume++ is developed and maintained by noel-digital-fan. The app is built using Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, Material 3, and native Android WindowManager APIs.
Key technical frameworks integrated into this project include:
- Shizuku (developed by dev.rikka.shizuku), which makes non-root privilege escalation possible for per-app audio controls.
- AOSP / SystemUI, whose original volume dialog designs inspired the Android 7 through 15 visual skins recreated in Volume++.
The project is released under the open-source MIT License.
Troubleshoot
f you encounter issues while running Volume++, refer to these solutions:
- Physical buttons still show the old stock volume panel: Verify that the Volume++ Accessibility Service remains enabled in your system settings. Ensure your device battery optimization settings are not force-closing Volume++ in the background.
- Per-app volume sliders are missing or not adjusting volume: Make sure the Shizuku service is running in the background. Open the Shizuku app to verify its status and re-check that Volume++ is authorized.
- Custom panel overlay does not appear on screen: Check that the “Display over other apps” (System Alert Window) permission is granted in your phone’s App Info settings for Volume++.
- App volume resets back to default level: Per-app volume settings persist throughout an active application session. If an application is completely closed or cleared from RAM by Android, the level will reset when the app process starts fresh.
FAQs
No, Volume++ does not require root access. It utilizes Shizuku, which can run on non-rooted devices via Android Wireless Debugging or a simple ADB command from a computer.
No, Volume++ uses system-level permissions like QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES and system alert overlays to manage app processes. It is distributed as an open-source sideload utility via GitHub.
Yes, Volume++ works across various Android ROMs and manufacturer skins running Android 7.0 or higher.
Volume++ is lightweight and optimized. The Accessibility Service only performs action handling when hardware volume keys are physically pressed, resulting in minimal background battery usage.
Conclusion
Volume++ provides a complete solution for Android users who want tailored control over their device audio and volume aesthetics. By combining customizable visual panels styled after multiple Android versions with true non-root per-app volume mixing via Shizuku, it unlocks features that standard Android software leaves hidden.
If you have tried Volume++ or need help setting up Shizuku on your device, please leave a comment below!
