topic S23+ only goes to vibrate and not mute after update in Galaxy S23

S23+ only goes to vibrate and not mute after update

k1riby — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:09:31 GMT

S23+ and since the last update, when I turn volume down, it stops at vibrate, and I want that to go all the way to mute.

I realize I can do the drag down menu and mute it there, but I just want my volume buttons to do this, the way it used to before the last big "AI" b.s. update.

I keep researching but it says a lot of bunk about routines, or starting in safe mode. I'm not that smart!

Please help me, and seriously, explain it to me like I'm 10 years old.

Re: Volume difficulties

CEParsons — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:43:46 GMT

Settings > Modes and Routines > Routines. Tap the + in the top right.

If: button action > volume down > press and hold

Then: Sound Mode > Silent

Save the routine. Your phone now silences when you long press volume down.

Volume down controlling media not working properly since One UI 8 update

qeilse — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:20:32 GMT

I'm about to lose my mind over here. I have the S23 Ultra. Since the update this week to UI 8, Android 16, whenever I hold the volume down button to control media, nothing happens. I have to click multiple times and it slowly goes down in increments. When I press and hold volume up, it shoots up as expected. When I press and hold down when controlling ringtone/vibrate/mute.. No issues. Just volume down when controlling media. Has anyone else run into this?

Re: Volume since update

realaud — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:06:46 GMT

I don't use the volume buttons to control media. However, I suspect it probably goes down in increments so it doesn't go lower than you want it to faster than you want it to. Frankly, that kind of incremental control should be on the volume up, as one wouldn't want it to get too loud too rapidly, especially if wearing buds.

Try turning off the "control media with volume buttons", rebooting the phone and turning it back on. It may not do anything, but it may just reset the action.

Re: Volume difficulties

all_bran — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:07:12 GMT

Button Action doesn't appear as an option under the IF condition for me. Galaxy S23 running whatever is latest firmware on 12.12.25

Absolutely ridiculous what they've done to this phone.... Removed alarm icon from the top. Limited the top row notifications to 3. All for what? To have a bunch of blank unused space? Absolute **bleep**.

Re: Re: Volume difficulties

CEParsons — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:13:41 GMT

You must have Routines+ installed for button actions to show.

https://apps.samsung.com/appquery/appDetail.as?appId=com.samsung.android.app.routineplus

As for the status bar, samsung has chosen to have the status bar clean rather than cluttered. The 3 notification limit accommodates the now bar when present.

Re: Volume difficulties

all_bran — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:14:25 GMT

I tried to turn on the accessibility feature to mute all sounds when pressing side + volume up. That was a mess. It's like a separate routine that runs over the phone but gives no notifications that it's actually on. Volume bar still shows that sound is on, but it's in No Sound mode...? Also dumb...

Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

Netwvrk — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:30:14 GMT

This is the most braindead update I have ever experienced.

It's almost like someone was trying to justify their position and couldn't think of anything.

If you're going to copy apple with every move, we myswell ditch Samsung all together.

Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

Pianodude58 — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:52:07 GMT

It's now a two-step process
Click the Volume Button
Click the Speaker Icon to Silence
Reverse the process to turn back On

Or you can just pull down the Quick Panel and Click the Speaker Icon.

Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

CEParsons — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:12:00 GMT

Please use the search function prior to posting. This particular topic has been addressed ad nauseum and has been consolidated into a mega thread.

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-S24/How-do-I-silence-my-phone-on-One-ui-8/td-p/3368456?src=ShareByUserCM

Mods may move your post there as well, just an FYI.

The current workaround to restore your desired functionality involves Routines+.

Download here: https://apps.samsung.com/appquery/appDetail.as?appId=com.samsung.android.app.routineplus

Go to Settings > modes and routines > routines and create the routine in my attached screenshot.

If you did this, your phone now silences when you hold the volume down button.

Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

Netwvrk — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:22:56 GMT

The entire complaint is you can't silence vibrations without turning on your f'ing screen. This is HORRIBLE for work meetings.

Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

Pianodude58 — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:26:03 GMT

Isn't it protocol, or at least common sense, to mute your phone before attending a meeting? And I attend a lot of meetings.

Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

nullandvoid — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:31:14 GMT

Too bad I can't give extra likes to this post. I still can't believe the heat this change is generating. I don't see a rationale for it other than the fact that it's a change from something they are used to. In my mind, vibration is the same as mute anyway, but that's me, especially if one does not actually want vibration all they have to do is go to sounds and vibration and turn the vibration intensity down to 0 (or whatever the lowest increment is). Should they have left the action alone? Definitely. Even though I never used the feature myself, there was no reason for the change - even if there are 10 other ways to quickly mute the phone. The resistance to creating a routine to restore the feature also confounds me, as it's a tiny extra step one only has to do once and never think about it again.

Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

CEParsons — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:02:04 GMT

I have a hard time believing that so many people want to be completely unreachable which is effectively what the mute function does. It seems to me that keeping a phone totally silent much of the time defeats the purpose of having one in the first place.

I actually think changing the feature was the right move. I have had more people IRL asking me for help because "my phone isn't ringing/notifying me" only to find out they had unknowingly muted it.

When it is on, unless you are actively looking at it, you are completely uninformed of notifications, even important calls. I would like to know if a friend or family member is trying to reach me, or if a colleague is contacting me.

I just struggle to understand the outrage. Especially difficult to understand the outright refusal to set button actions and reinstate the desired behavior.

Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

CEParsons — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:21:11 GMT

You can. See my comment above.

They likely changed the default behavior because accidental silencing resulting in missed notifications is a more pressing issue than 0.05 extra seconds before a meeting.

Another potential solution: set sound mode as a lock screen short cut.

There are about 15 different ways to accomplish the task of muting the phone, including using buttons without turning on the screen as I outlined above.

Re: Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

nullandvoid — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:24:53 GMT

Frankly, I never even knew there was a setting below vibrate, I never pressed the button that long, so it's not a feature I miss. I am not one that feels they have to conseve seconds in order to perform an action.

Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

Netwvrk — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:25:40 GMT

I have never once accidentally silenced the phone from this...but adding steps to something that already worked perfectly is just silly

Re: Re: Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

CEParsons — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:43:06 GMT

I have never used the volume buttons to change my sound mode, only for media volume. I have always used modes and routines to automatically set my work sound profile when I arrive.

I didn't even notice it had been changed until I saw the outcry here.

Re: Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

CEParsons — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:28:26 GMT

It's a more frequent occurrence than you may realize. I have actually fixed this issue for multiple people IRL within the past month. As such, I welcome the change.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Volume Button No Longer Can Silence phone

nullandvoid — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 21:12:49 GMT

I, too, created a "silent mode" that I manually turn on from my watch when I am in a place, such as a hospital or doctor's office, where the phone needs to be silent. Sometimes I use theater mode instead, but in My silent configuration, I configured a volume level for BT ear gear.