Low Bluetooth Earphone Volume? Try This Android AVRCP Fix

I usually love using my Nothing Ear (a) earbuds with the LDAC codec, set to “Treble Boost” mode, and Dynamic Bass at level 4. It delivers a crisp, exciting V-shaped sound signature that I really enjoy. However, when commuting on the subway, the background noise often makes the volume feel strangely insufficient.

Reddit GooglePixel Community Explore this post and more content in the GooglePixel community. www.reddit.com

I was hesitant to push the volume higher, worried that it might lead to audio distortion or cracking. After looking into it, I found a frequent recommendation on Reddit: changing the Bluetooth AVRCP setting in Android Developer Options from 1.5 to 1.6. To my delight, it restored that punchy, clear sound without any distortion. Here is how I did it.

1. Enabling Developer Options

First, you need to unlock the hidden Developer Options menu on your smartphone. It takes less than a minute.

1. Go to Settings and tap About Phone.
2. Find Build Number and tap it seven times in a row.
3. Once prompted, enter your phone’s lock screen PIN to enable Developer Mode.
4. Return to the main Settings menu, and you will see Developer Options at the bottom.

2. Applying AVRCP Version 1.6

Now, it is time to change the Bluetooth transmission standard within the new menu.

1. Enter Developer Options and scroll to the Networking section.
2. Tap Bluetooth AVRCP Version and change the default from 1.5 to 1.6.
3. Depending on your device, you may need to toggle Bluetooth off and on, or perform a full system reboot for the changes to take effect.

What is Bluetooth AVRCP?

“AVRCP” might sound unfamiliar. Simply put, it is the standard for how Bluetooth devices “talk” to each other like a remote control. It stands for Audio/Video Remote Control Profile. Think of it as the language your smartphone and earbuds use to communicate commands.

• A2DP (Audio Distribution Profile): Handles the transmission of the audio itself.
• AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile): Handles how that audio is controlled (volume, play/pause, etc.).

Android often defaults to older versions to ensure maximum compatibility. Understanding the versions helps explain why 1.6 is superior:

• AVRCP 1.3 (2007): Introduced basic metadata transfer like track titles and artist names.
• AVRCP 1.4 (2008): Introduced “Absolute Volume,” which synchronizes the volume between the phone and the earbuds.
• AVRCP 1.5 (2012): Optimized Absolute Volume control and improved connection stability.
• AVRCP 1.6 (2014): The latest standard, which maximizes data transfer efficiency and adds support for album art.

Experiencing the Sound Change

Strictly speaking, AVRCP controls the interface rather than the audio signal itself, so it shouldn’t technically “boost” volume. However, it is more accurate to say that it recovers volume that was previously being lost due to protocol limitations.

After switching to 1.6, the volume increase is definitely noticeable. Before, I worried that cranking up the volume in a noisy subway would lead to audio cracking. Now, the heavy bass (at level 4) and the crisp highs are much more distinct. It feels like the 1.6 standard is more efficiently handling the high-bitrate LDAC data, allowing the earbuds to perform at their full potential without distortion.

If you have been worried about audio quality loss while trying to increase your Bluetooth volume, I highly recommend giving this a try.