Chromecast volume controls are disabled on Android 12 due to a ‘legal issue’ [Update: Fix incoming] - 9to5Google

Following the launch of Android 12 to Pixel devices, it’s been discovered that the update disables the once-handy volume controls for nearby Chromecast media sessions due to a “legal issue.”.

Before Android 12, if your phone was actively casting something like YouTube or Netflix to another device like a TV or smart display, you were able to use your phone’s volume rocker to adjust the Chromecast volume.

A Googler eventually acknowledged the lack of Chromecast volume rocker controls, stating that this was “intended” and that a fix of sorts would be included with Android 12 Beta 5.

Fast forward to today, with Android 12 now out of Beta and available on everything from the Pixel 3 to the Pixel 6 Pro, the Chromecast volume issue has not been resolved.

As spotted by Mishaal Rahman on Twitter, another Googler has once again confirmed that the Android 12 volume rocker cannot work with Chromecast sessions, and this is the intended behavior right now.

In this second acknowledgment, the Googler mentions that there is a “legal issue” at play in Android 12’s removal of the volume rocker controls for Chromecast sessions.

Meanwhile, Google has released the list of Pixel devices that will be able to install the Android 12L Beta, and the Pixel 3a is not listed.

While not outright confirmation, it strongly suggests the Pixel 3a will also not receive the Android 12L update when it becomes available next year.

Update 11/3: As of today, the Pixel 3a is now poised to receive the Android 12L update, with Google adding that first-ever affordable Pixel phone to the list of Android 12L Beta compatible devices.

That leaves only the Pixel 3 in the weird position of possibly permanently losing access to volume rocker controls for Chromecast sessions.

This means that an upcoming update for Pixel phones could see Chromecast volume rocker controls return well before the release of Android 12L?