Android 14, the upcoming major update for the popular mobile operating system, is expected to bring many new features and improvements. One of them is a convenient one-tap shortcut for muting audio, which will make it easier to control the volume on your device.
How does the one-tap mute shortcut work?
The one-tap mute shortcut is a simple but useful tweak to the output switcher, which lets you choose where the audio is playing from. The output switcher is accessible from the media player that appears in the notification shade when you are listening to music, podcasts, or other audio content.
With Android 14, tapping the speaker icon at the left of the volume bar will immediately mute the audio. Another tap will unmute it to about a sixth of the full range. This is much faster and easier than sliding the volume bar all the way down or trying to tap the very left of the bar, which may not get you to zero percent.
The one-tap mute shortcut works with on-device speakers, Bluetooth headphones, the Pixel Tablet’s Dock speaker, and other Cast devices such as Nest Hub. It also works with multiple audio sources, so you can quickly mute or unmute any of them.
What are the benefits of the one-tap mute shortcut?
The one-tap mute shortcut is a handy feature for situations where you need to quickly silence your device without pausing or stopping the audio. For example, you may want to mute your device when you are in a meeting, a library, or a public place where loud noises are not appropriate. Or you may want to mute your device when you receive a phone call or a notification that you need to attend to.
The one-tap mute shortcut also saves you time and effort by reducing the number of taps or swipes required to adjust the volume. You don’t have to open the settings app or use the physical volume buttons to mute your device. You can just access the output switcher from the media player and tap once.
What are some other changes in Android 14 for audio?
The one-tap mute shortcut is not the only change in Android 14 for audio. The output switcher also has a new “Speakers & Displays” heading that shows you all the available devices that can play audio from your phone or tablet. You can easily switch between them by tapping on their icons.
The media player itself also has some minor changes in Android 14. It now radiates a wave-like animation when you play or pause the audio, and it has a lava lamp-esque design that changes colors according to the album art. The media player also supports more formats and codecs, such as FLAC and Dolby Atmos.
When will Android 14 be released?
Android 14 is currently in beta testing, and it is expected to be released in September 2023. The beta version is available for Pixel devices and some other models from OnePlus, Samsung, and other manufacturers. You can sign up for the beta program here
However, keep in mind that beta versions may have bugs and issues that can affect your device’s performance and stability. You should back up your data before installing Android 14 beta, and only do so if you are comfortable with testing software that is not fully polished.
Android 14 will bring many new features and improvements for audio, as well as for other aspects of your device. The one-tap mute shortcut is one of them, and it will make it easier to control the volume on your device with just a single tap.
