Android Volume Steps

android-volume-steps.md

Android Volume Steps

Warning

This is a rather old guide and may or may not work with modern versions of Android.

Connect through ADB

1. Boot into TWRP
2. Connect device to computer
3. Terminal: List devices with adb devices
4. TWRP: Mount > System

Get and edit props file

1. Terminal:

# Android <= 9
adb pull /system/build.prop

# Android 10 - 11
adb pull /system/default.prop

# Android >= 12
adb pull /default.prop

2. Editor: Add the following settings to the pulled file

ro.config.vc_call_vol_steps=14
ro.config.media_vol_steps=30

Push props file

1. Terminal: Push file back to the device

# Android <= 9
adb push build.prop /system/

# Android 10 - 11
adb push default.prop /system/

# Android >= 12
adb push default.prop /

2. Terminal: Adjust permissions of the pushed file

adb shell

# Android <= 9
cd /system
chmod 644 build.prop

# Android 10 - 11
cd /system
chmod 644 default.prop

# Android >= 12
cd /
chmod 644 default.prop

For Android 10, build.prop is default.prop

Thanks for the note. I didn't have to do this in a long time. Totally forgot about this Gist 🙈

It was sort of a guess on my part. But your instructions worked fine. Never tried adb side loading until now!

Does this work for pixel devices?

I have no idea. I used this successfully with LineageOS. This article on XDA sounds like it works on Pixel devices too: https://www.xda-developers.com/google-pixel-2-25-media-volume-steps/

The only way to find out is to try it, I guess 😁

It'll work on any stock Android, as long as you edit the right .prop file. Not on HTC devices with Sense UI though, it produces 2 sets of volumes on the volume control.

Thank you @bickbick for the clarification 👍

@bickbick On a Pixel 3 with latest Android only /system/build.prop seems to be present. The /system/default.prop file is not present.

OK, it's only Android 10 that has default.prop so far. All previous versions use build.prop. I'm using Lineage 17.1 (10) and it works fine. Got an old HTC M8, using it as a HD Audio player, hence the need for at least 60 volume steps on media.

Thanks for the guide! I ended up instead using the Magisk Hide Props Config Module because I already had that anyway. Made it easy to just run props at boot and set the custom values. However, it's creator points out that ro.debuggable can sometimes trigger safetyNet here. Thought that'd be a good addition to this thread.

Sensitive props
Some apps trigger if they find "sensitive props". Also, on some devices SafetyNet triggers if certain props are not set to the expected values. A few props are set to "safe" values by MagiskHide by default. These prop are known to trigger some apps that look for root and "tampered" devices. Currently these are (apart from props for the bootloader state):

ro.debuggable (set to 0 by MagiskHide)
ro.secure (set to 1 by MagiskHide)
ro.build.type (set to user by MagiskHide)
ro.build.tags (set to release-keys by MagiskHide)
ro.build.selinux (set to 0 by MagiskHide)

OK, thanks for more info on this subject.
I've got a Samsung A71 now and can't mod the .prop file......sigh. But PowerAmp media player has a way to extend the volume steps without rooting the phone. (I would like to root the phone though, maybe when it's out of warranty!).

is this works for all android?

Not sure. You have to try.

Great. Thanks for the update! Cheers Richard

…

On Mon, 17 Jan 2022 at 07:22, ZhuohuiLi123 ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ Just an update for Android 12. The default.prop is located at the root, so you don't need /system/ just type "adb pull default.prop "to pull the folder to your adb path location when you push, you have to type "adb push default.prop /", don't forget the "/" otherwise it will show something like "push require an argument" — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/1b5488921d6af22dfe02053739e43522#gistcomment-4031102>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AOU2RMTRKZJ3424VGNAQHPDUWO7R3ANCNFSM4K275E3Q> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

I want to try it, but is it safe?

I want to try it, but is it safe?

@masterewot I haven’t used this technique in quite a long time. So I can’t say if it’s safe to use or if it still works at all.

I want to try it, but is it safe?

@masterewot I haven’t used this technique in quite a long time. So I can’t say if it’s safe to use or if it still works at all.

I just tried it in my LG V20 H910 LineageOS 20, doesn't work at all, guess I will have to go back to magisk extensions.

@peace20021 There are some differences between Android versions regarding which file to edit. So I guess with newer versions that came out since I documented this “trick” things unfortunately changed again.

for chmod you need to run adb shell chmod
Maybe handy to point out

Thanks for sharing this. As a datapoint for others, the following worked for me on LineageOS 21 (a.k.a Android 14) on beckham, after enabling USB debugging and rooted debugging:

adb root

adb pull /system/build.prop

(make edits as described)

adb shell mount -o remount,rw /system

adb push build.prop /system

adb shell chmod 644 /system/build.prop

(reboot the device)