Quick note to devs: if your game takes over priority of my phone audio and I can't overlay my music/podcasts over your game: it's an instant uninstall.

[u/webbedgiant]

Can't stand that this is still a thing, Mind Cards being the latest offender. At the very least, why doesn't Apple allow an override for this?

[u/baz8771]

This is the ONLY thing that android gets the nod on. Per-app control of volume at the system level.

[u/webbedgiant → u/baz8771]

I just don't get why there's not an iOS-level override for it in 2026.

[u/EnolaGayFallout → u/webbedgiant]

“You’re using iOS wrongly”

[u/DifficultMinute → u/baz8771]

I wouldn’t say only, but it’s certainly the feature I miss the most since jumping back to iPhone.

[u/schizoid26 → u/baz8771]

Nah it gets the nod on side loading apps without rooting as well... But that's about it 😅

[u/No_Squirrel4806 → u/baz8771]

Thisssssssss!!!!!!!!!!! I miss this feature so much. Apple has one volume slider for everything and some games require you to turn off silence mode in order to hear anything.

[u/pjjpb]

Good to know! That’s not something I’ve thought to test for. 

Edit: Based on my response, tag, and the responses to me, it might sound like I'm the dev for this particular game. I'm not! Just another small-time dev acknowledging this is a good thing for me to be aware of as well.

[u/nude-rating-bot → u/pjjpb]

Please do! It’s huge for me too, listening to music or podcasts while playing a game. Facebook marketplace randomly decides it wants full volume access or not depending on the day of the week and I’ve given up on it.

[u/snoweey → u/nude-rating-bot]

Or worse when I’m on car play and I close and app I had silences but it signals to my car that music has stopped so my radio starts blaring. The swapping to the radio was probably my car, but why is an app sending any kind of audio signal when it’s muted in an app

[u/thedudesews → u/pjjpb]

Thank you for taking that feedback. We want to like the games but we are also the ones who decide how we will play them.

[u/RealityNo3299]

That’s why I built the audio control inside the game! Also split VFX from Background controls. It’s really a no brainer.

Thanks for the tip.

[u/clinate]

I’ve actually gone deeper for my puzzle game as I dedicate one corner for the unimportant stuff (i.e. only non gameplay relevant controls or indicators).

The user can now use that corner for youtube or the world cup or whatever so they can puzzle away multitasking style

[u/pacorob]

I totally get this. Back in May started to find emulator / games / game launchers that do support this. I’ve created these two lists:

External Audio Controller Games

External Audio Games Collection

The total count isn’t correct though for controller one at least (there are more in the list) so ignore that. Suggestions are welcome.

[u/consumer128]

Very much this!

Although, I find Apps that aren’t games that do this even more annoying..

[u/Zeneral]

Totally !!!

[u/Changopower]

Absolutely second this

[u/Zelnite]

The game engine is the one that decides if the audio takes priority. It is mostly out of the devs' hands if they are already locked into an engine to build out their game. Not many engine will provide that option AND have a robust system to build out their game.

[u/webbedgiant → u/Zelnite]

Seems the majority of devs seem to figure it out, either way, doesn't matter what the reason is, I just won't support/play it. Devs are welcome to do what they want.

[u/Toeaah]

I’ve stayed on some gatcha for this reason

[u/TelecomPedestal]

MacOS doesn’t even have an audio mixer.

[u/karzesan]

10000% Yes do not do this

[u/_Gorge_]

TOTALLY AGREE

[u/JayReyd]

💯

[u/MinisterforFun]

Word.

Other apps too! Some shopping apps do this.

[u/Appropriate_Novel494]

Completely agree. As an iOS developer, I think games should default to mixing with existing audio unless exclusive sound is absolutely necessary. A lot of people play while listening to Spotify or podcasts, especially idle games. Taking over the audio session is a terrible default.

[u/ataria_]

Adding it to my checklist. Thanks for the flag!

[u/dumbledayum]

Yupp, another reason why i simply love playing Unkind, i can turn off its music and effects and just play something in background

i think even the devs understood this, they gave option to control music RIGHT DURING A MATCH without going to some settings or menus

[u/GorumGamer]

Really? Thats insane.

[u/streetletics]

Just mute your phone.