How to Stop Your Android Phone from Automatically Lowering Music Volume During Notifications (Audio Ducking)

When you are listening to music on your Android phone and you receive a text message, the operating system employs a feature known as “Audio Ducking.” The volume of your music is automatically and abruptly lowered to about 20% for a few seconds so that the loud “Ding!” of the notification chime can play clearly over the speakers, after which the music’s volume slowly ramps back up to normal.

While this ensures you never miss a text message, it is incredibly annoying if you are in a group chat that is constantly buzzing. If your phone receives ten messages in a row while you are driving or working out, your music will constantly stutter, fade in, and fade out, completely ruining the listening experience and breaking your concentration.

You can force Android to decouple your notification sounds from your media stream, allowing your music to play at a constant, uninterrupted volume even while alerts arrive.

How to Stop Audio Ducking on Android

Because standard Android lacks a master “Ducking” toggle, you must manage this through Do Not Disturb or per-app sound settings.

Method 1: Use Do Not Disturb (The Easiest Way)

1. Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap the Do Not Disturb icon to turn it on.
3. Long-press the icon to open the settings. Ensure that “Alarms and other interruptions” allows Media to play.
4. When DND is active, your phone will completely silence notification chimes, meaning the music will never be forced to duck in the first place.

Method 2: Use Samsung Sound Assistant (For Galaxy Devices)

If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can install their official Sound Assistant app for absolute control:

1. Open the Galaxy Store and download the official Sound Assistant app (part of Good Lock).
2. Open the app and scroll down to the Advanced settings.
3. Locate the toggle for Alerts through headphones (or Multi-sound depending on the version).
4. You can configure the app to play notification sounds simultaneously without lowering the music volume.

Your music will now remain at a steady, uninterrupted volume, ensuring your playlists are never hijacked by a busy group chat.