Android 12 devices can’t use Chromecast volume controls due to a ‘legal issue’

For a long time, Android products have been ready to command the quantity of nearby Chromecast sessions by only using the volume keys. For case in point, if you cast YouTube from your mobile phone to your Nest Hub or television, you can management the Nest Hub or TV’s quantity by using your phone’s quantity keys. It is a helpful attribute that quite a few Android people have grown to enjoy.

Nonetheless, the element was taken out from Android right after the third Android 12 beta. It was at just one issue thought to be a bug that Google would repair in an forthcoming beta update. A Googler then jumped into the IssueTracker thread and not only verified the aspect was no for a longer time there, but that it was the supposed habits and would be readded to the computer software in Android 12 beta 5. In other words and phrases, Google eradicated it on objective. But why?

Regrettably, Android 12 beta 5 came and went with no Chromecast quantity controls. We have even been given a big bug-repairing update to the secure launch of Android 12, and we’re still missing the element. The solution to manage Forged volume is however existing in Android 12’s audio options, but it is greyed out and can’t be modified (see the screenshot at the bottom of this report).

Seemingly, according to a Googler on the IssueTracker thread (h/t 9to5Google and Mishaal Rahman), a “legal issue” is stopping Google from introducing the element back into Android.

We never yet have phrase as to what the lawful difficulty could be. Having said that, we do know Google has been in an ongoing legal battle with Sonos considering that early 2020. Sonos claims Google stole several of its wi-fi speaker patents. We have attained out to Google for remark and will update this tale if we hear back again.

Android 12L is predicted to get there for Pixel gadgets in Spring 2022, so some buyers really do not have extended to wait around. On the other hand, Google not too long ago dropped assistance for the Pixel 3 with November 2021’s safety patch, so it’s unclear irrespective of whether or not Pixel 3 products will ever obtain an update to resolve the problem.

It is not all poor for Android buyers, nevertheless. You can nonetheless regulate your Chromecast device’s volume, just in a somewhat less handy way. As a substitute of simply utilizing your volume buttons, you can tap the Chromecast notification, then proceed to change the volume, either by employing the volume keys or the on-display screen volume slider.