Google added a new feature to Pixel phones that will constantly remind you to lower the volume of the headphones’ audio when it exceeds the safe limit. It would automatically lower the volume if you don’t. The feature aims to address the rising concerns of ear damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud volumes. However, it has been widely criticized by fans, as evident from Reddit reports. That said, a recent report claims that Google is preparing a new toggle page to finally deal with this.

Pixel phones may get a new “Hearing Wellness” settings page

Android Authority reports that they have discovered a hidden “Hearing Wellness” menu inside the Android System Intelligence app’s code. The option will be present in the Settings app under the Sound & Vibration submenu on Pixel devices. There are two toggles: Sound Exposure Notifications and Hearing Health.

Both of these were originally a part of Android 14 QPR1 and became available on all Android devices with the Android 15 release. The new Hearing Wellness menu will offer a more user-friendly way to toggle them, which wasn’t the case before.

Currently, you can’t turn off these alert notifications

When the two options are on, your Pixel will send you a notification when the volume of your headphones exceeds a safe threshold. The Google support page notes the threshold is the sound pressure limit of 100 decibels over five minutes or 105dB per minute. When the volume reaches this threshold, you will start seeing a notification on your Pixel device, asking you to “Keep listening or Lower the volume.”

Currently, these alert notifications are on by default on Pixel devices, and you cannot turn them off. If you dismiss the alert, the feature will automatically lower the volume. This is because this behavior is mandatory in some regions, which means that users in those regions can’t disable the feature even from this new page.

These alerts follow the recommendations set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The guidelines for healthy sound pressure are a part of the third edition of IEC 62368-1 safety standards. These are in force in the US, the EU, and Canada. Google says the latter is locked in some regions as a part of regulatory requirements.
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Source: ndroidheadlines.com