What iOS 27’s New Volume Controls Do—and Why They Matter
iOS 27 volume control is a new iPhone feature that replaces the old single Ringtone and Alerts slider with independent volume sliders for ringtones, alarms and timers, and alerts and system sounds, so you can set separate alarm volume, control phone call loudness, and manage independent notification volume without one change affecting all sounds at once. Until now, iPhone volume settings have tied call ringtones, alarm tones, and notification pings together, which often meant choosing between peace and missing something important. With the new layout in Settings, you can mute or quieten message notifications, keep ringtones loud for phone calls, and fine-tune alarm volume so it wakes you without being overwhelming. This brings iOS closer to Android-style audio controls and fixes a long-standing frustration for people who keep their phones on silent or frequently change volume during the day.
Where to Find the New iPhone Volume Settings
To use the separate alarm volume and other sliders, first make sure your iPhone is running iOS 27 or later. Then open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics. On current versions of iOS, you see one slider labeled Ringtone and Alerts. In iOS 27, this section expands into three areas: a main Ringtone slider at the top, plus Alarms and Timers, and Alerts and System Sounds below. Each of those sub-sections includes a Match Ringtone Volume toggle. According to PCMag, this toggle is the key that activates the independent sliders for alarms and notifications. When the toggle is on, that category follows the main ringtone volume like older versions of iOS. When you turn it off, a dedicated slider appears so you can set that category’s level separately.
How to Set a Separate Alarm Volume in iOS 27
To set independent alarm volume, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and find the Alarms and Timers section. Turn off Match Ringtone Volume; this unlocks a dedicated slider for alarms. Move the slider until alarm previews sound right for you: loud enough to wake you, but not as intense as a full-volume ringtone. Lifehacker notes that sliding all the way to the left lowers the volume significantly but does not completely mute alarms and timers, so you still get an audible alert. There is one exception: the Alarms and Timers slider does not control the Sleep Schedule or Wake Up alarm from the Health/Clock integration. That wake-up sound already has its own volume control in Clock > Alarms > Change (under Sleep/Wake Up), then Sound & Haptics, where you can fine-tune your morning alarm separately again.
Tuning Notification, System, and Ringtone Volumes Independently
The same approach applies to independent notification volume. In Settings > Sounds & Haptics, scroll to Alerts and System Sounds and switch off Match Ringtone Volume. You’ll see a new slider that controls sounds for incoming notifications and system feedback without changing how loud phone calls are. This is useful if repeated pings from messaging apps annoy you, but you still need to hear incoming calls clearly. At the top of the Sounds & Haptics page, use the main Ringtone slider for call volume. With all three sliders active, iOS 27 volume control finally lets you keep a high ringtone volume for calls, a moderate alarm level, and low or muted notification sounds. Mashable points out that this long-desired flexibility has existed on Android for years, and iPhone users have wanted it for a long time.
Tips, Limitations, and When You’ll Get the Feature
A few tips make these new iPhone volume settings easier to live with. If you prefer the old unified behavior, leave Match Ringtone Volume switched on for Alarms and Timers and Alerts and System Sounds; you’ll keep a single slider that still controls everything together. If you share your phone or switch cases often, test the physical volume buttons after setting your sliders to see how they interact with your preferred layout. Remember that per-app volume controls are not part of iOS 27 yet, so you cannot make one app louder and another quieter by default. The feature is available now in the iOS 27 developer beta, with a public beta expected later and a full release planned for the fall. If you rely on your phone, it is safer to wait for the stable release instead of installing early betas.
