This is a story as old as it gets. You are listening to loud music and your neighbor suddenly calls asking you to tone it down a little. Noise complaints from neighbors are pretty common, especially when you have guests over and listening to some music or having a blast alone. There is a neat little hack using which you can give your neighbor the ability to turn the volume down with a simple text using the Shortcuts app. Here is how it works.
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Shortcut to Turn Volume Down With a Message
It does exactly what it says on the tin. Whenever your neighbor sends you a message, the volume will be turned down automatically to a set percentage. You can also set it so that the message needs to have a specific word to activate the shortcut. That way, you guys can still message each other without triggering the shortcut every time.
The automation is pretty simple and takes a few moments to set up.
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- Select Automation tab and tap on the + icon in the upper right corner.
- Select Message.
- Select Choose and set your neighbor in the Sender field.
- Then tap on Choose below to type ‘volume down’ in Message Contains field.
- Select Run Immediately after option.
- Tap on Next at the top.
- Select New Blank Automation.
- Search for Set Volume and select it.
- You can select Media volume to any percentage you want here. Tap Done to save the shortcut.
I have set my media volume to 50% here. When my neighbor sends me a message with the phrase ‘volume down’, it will automatically trigger this shortcut and reduce the volume to 50%.
Don’t fight with your loud neighbor. Work with him and find a volume that is good music to his ears but not noise to your ears.
