Apple unveiled iOS 27 at WWDC, bringing the first split‑volume controls for iPhone audio. Users can now assign distinct levels to ringtones, alarms & timers, and alerts & system sounds instead of a single master slider. The change targets long‑standing complaints about muffled alarms or blaring notifications, giving each sound class its own loudness dial.

Previously iOS merged ringtone, alert and alarm volumes into one setting, forcing users to compromise. iOS 27 introduces three independent sliders and a “Match Ringtone Volume” toggle; when off, the alarm slider no longer mirrors ringtone loudness. Alerts and system sounds—text chimes, keyboard clicks, camera shutter—receive their own dedicated level.

The new controls stop users from lowering ringtone volume to hear alarms or cranking alerts to hear messages. While iOS still lacks per‑alarm volume knobs, the added granularity resolves a common pain point for many iPhone owners. Apple’s tweak demonstrates a willingness to refine core UX details rather than chase headline features, improving overall volume settings.

Developers will see the new settings reflected in the Settings > Sounds & Haptics UI, where each slider is labeled clearly. Early adopters can test the feature on beta builds, and Apple promises the same granularity across iPadOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate 27. The update lands with the public iOS 27 release later this fall.