Users of Google Pixel Buds have been reporting issues with the sound volume during phone calls. Here are some methods that have worked for others in fixing the volume issue.
Disconnect and Reconnect Bluetooth
Volume issues are common with any Bluetooth device, not only the Pixel Buds. Simply turning Bluetooth off then on again usually clears things up.
- Swipe down the notification panel from the top of the screen using two fingers.
- Tap the Bluetooth icon to turn Bluetooth off.
- Wait about 5 seconds, then tap the Bluetooth icon again to turn it back on.
Restart Phone
- Place the Pixel Buds in the charging case.
- Swipe down the notification panel from the top of the screen using two fingers.
- Tap the Bluetooth icon to turn Bluetooth off.
- Press and hold the “Power” button on the phone, then select “Restart”.
- Once the device is restarted, try using the Pixel Buds again.
Update Buds Firmware
Ensure you have the latest firmware for your buds. You can check the version by opening the Google app, then selecting “Menu” 
> “Settings” > “Google Assistant settings” > “Pixel Buds“. Firmware version 1.1767.6040-G1-61495-545 was the most current at the time of this writing.
The firmware is updated automatically. You can try to force an update by using the buds for about 10 minutes, then placing them back in the case.
Hard Reset
Reset the Google Pixel Buds back to the factory default setting so that you may set them up with your device again.
- Place the Pixel Buds in the case.
- Hold down the button on the case for about 15 seconds or until white light starts blinking. It should pop up a notification saying you have new pixel buds to set up.
- Walk through the steps to set your buds up with your device again.
Sean Riddolls says
OMG! – What a world of difference this fix makes! I thought my Pixel Buds were defective. Unlocking the Absolute Volume limiter increases the volume by 150%-200%
Settings > System > Developer Options > Networking > Disable Absolute Volume
Toggle this option off, then reboot your phone.
Robert T says
Yep I had the same issue as RafaSPFC. When I first got them, they were stuck at what sounded like 20% volume. I went into my developer options for Bluetooth and disabled the “absolute volume” option. Once I did that, the volume issue went away and now operating at full volume.
RafaSPFC says
Had the same issue on my Pixel 4XL with developer options enabled but not on my wifes Pixel4, So I went back into the developers Bluetooth settings and put everything back to OEM (Disable Absolute Volume setting OFF) restarted Bluetooth, and problem solved. I was able to revert all my Dev option changes and the volume did not drop. I consider it solved.
Quinton Stevens says
This fixed a different issue I was having. My left earbud was not connecting. In settings, it showed as charging even when it was in my ear. I let it die overnight and when I put it back into the case in the morning it showed the low battery level and it was charging. Once it got to 30% I tried it again and still nothing. Just showed charging in the case still even though the level wasn’t going up.
Something else I noticed was that if I had both headphones in, only the right would play, but if I put the right one in the case, the left one would play for like 3 seconds and then disconnect. Almost like the case had assigned the same ID to both headphones or something…
Ultimately, the hard reset steps worked for me even though unpairing didn’t work and neither did using them on a different device. The hard reset must repair the headphones to the case correctly or something.
Gabe r says
I was having the same problem and I would raise the volume on the phone but it wouldn’t work it was still very low. The trick is to raise the volume on the bud themselves. Not the best UI, but it works
Andy says
None of these worked to increase the sound volume!
The Google bud sound volume is fine when you’re in the quiet area, but when you on the bus or on the busy street you do want it a bit louder like the Bose sound sport.
dan says
None of these worked for me. My problem was basic stupidity, but it’s worth posting here because I can see it happening to someone else. The shape of the earbud makes it easy to put in your ear backwards — i.e. with the thicker part to the inside of your ear and the thinner part (with the speaker) facing out. The smaller part goes in and you get to look like Shrek … but the sound volume is just fine.
//dan.