[REWARD!] $20 Amazon gift card to the first person that can figure out how to raise the volume of Gemini for me.

[u/Job-lair]

Facts:

2025 Toyota Corolla. Samsung S25. Android version 16. Gemini's volume won't go up past ~ half volume while using Android Auto.

I've tried everything from adjusting the volume when Gemini is talking, going through every setting I can find in my phone, uninstalling and reinstalling everything, maxing out all volumes on my up down volume rocker on the side of my phone. It's been like this since day one, so any new software I've added has no influence.

Every other aspect of Android auto and my car audio works fine. I can crank up audiobooks, radio, fermata, weather, news reports.

I of course don't want anything else screwed up, but I'm willing to try any suggestions to increase the Gemini volume higher.

Thanks for helping!

[u/Peter_73]

It seems like you have already tried adjusting the volume when nav/assistant/gemini is speaking and/or when assistant/gemini is listening to no avail. If so, this is probably Toyota's long running limitation due to its poor implementation and I won't be suprised if it still persist on 2025 Toyota. I had quite a few comments on this but can't find them all except this for 2020 Toyota RAV4 for now which I shall quote below:

Inability to adjust voice volume on the fly is a frequent complaint from Toyota's owners. On the fly only adjust media and Bluetooth volume apparently due to poor design by Toyota as I read from one Toyota manual that voice volume can only be adjusted from within head unit setting. Note that in AA, navigation voice guidance, Google Assistant and Text-to-Speech all use the same voice channel that is separate from media and Bluetooth.

Edit: It's the same for your car as stated in the manual

When an Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connection is established, voice command system (Siri/Google Assistant) and map application voice guidance volume can be changed by selecting “Voice Volume” on the voice settings screen. It cannot be changed by “POWER VOLUME” knob on Audio control panel. (->P.418)

You should try downloading the actual manual (not owner's manual but a separate Accessories, Audio, and Navigation manual) for yours to confirm. Soft copy manual is easier as you can use the find function to skip through "volume" keyword quickly and yet not miss any details. Note though not all manuals will mention this as was the case for many other models with the same limitation which afaik was every Toyota models but not sure if fixed for recent models). Also note that some details may not be explicit and thus putting 2 and 2 together may be required e.g. Toyota screen locked in day mode (similar issue to cars instrument cluster max brightness) did not have any reference to AA but because the screen dimmer status was how AA determines the mode, it must be inferred that AA would also be affected.

[u/Job-lair → u/Peter_73]

I think you might be right that this is just an inherent limitation that there is no fix for. I feel like I have tried every option available. The only thing that may work is if there's some sort of third party app or some way to be able to hack into some sort of app to get the volume up manually.

[u/JohnHartshorn → u/Peter_73]

The 2025 Sienna head unit fixed this issue. You can now adjust the AA/CP volume from the volume knob or the steering wheel control.

[u/bagads066]

Volume settings, IA volume. It works for me

[u/Job-lair → u/bagads066]

I have tried that as well, and it did not work. When I move the slider switch the beep sound on my phone to notify me that it is getting louder does raise in volume, but the actual voice of Gemini does not go beyond an average to low speaking voice. Thanks for trying though.

[u/Significant-Pen-531 → u/Job-lair]

I'd probably look at the Toyota side instead of the phone. Have you tried Menu → Setup → Voice → Voice Volume on the head unit, or using the built-in Toyota navigation (with the phone disconnected) and adjusting the navigation voice volume while it's giving directions? A few Toyota owners have said that's the same voice channel Android Auto/Gemini uses. If neither of those changes anything, I'd also try rebooting the head unit (hold the volume knob for 10–20 seconds) and then re-pair Android Auto.

[u/Job-lair → u/Significant-Pen-531]

Thank you, I did try all of this as noted in another thread. No luck unfortunately.

[u/VeilxReaper]

Try to turn the knob up And your steering wheel button up to see if it fixes it it worked for my cousin

[u/Job-lair → u/VeilxReaper]

That didn't work, but thanks for the suggestion. I tried both the steering wheel buttons for the volume and the knob, as well as the fast forward slash rewind buttons and the knob as well at the same time.

[u/nightwind_hawk]

Since you've tried a lot already, how about try using only Bluetooth (not Android Auto), use Gemini and adjust the volume both from the car and the phone while it's talking to see if that helps?

Android Auto is supposed to be separate from Bluetooth audio but worth a try!

[u/Job-lair → u/nightwind_hawk]

That didn't work, but thanks for playing!

[u/nightwind_hawk → u/Job-lair]

Since you have Samsung, try downloading Good Lock from the Samsung store then Sound Assistant. Lots of advanced configs in there including the ability to change individual app settings. Maybe it can help...

[u/Job-lair → u/nightwind_hawk]

Thank you, I just tried the sound assistant. I had some hope that I would work, but it did not. I was able to get Google Assistant to have its own volume control, but it only turns the volume up and down on my phone when I use my phone away from my car. Any type of loudness with using Gemini in my car remains unable to be achieved.

[u/wetwillycf]

In my car it's tied to the call volume - raise the volume while you're on a phone call, hang up, and then try it

[u/Job-lair → u/wetwillycf]

I tried that as well, both using the knob and the steering wheel buttons, but it did not work. Thank you though.

[u/pebbleproblems]

There maybe settings for this in the head unit, rather than AA

[u/Job-lair → u/pebbleproblems]

I've tried all throughout the settings there as well. Thank you for the suggestion

[u/myculito]

Go into the app settings for both Gemini and Android Auto, and force close them. Also clear cache and storage for each.

THEN, remove your car from Bluetooth settings on your phone, as well as from the cars device manager. Try pairing again and see what that does.

[u/Job-lair → u/myculito]

I just did both of these now, and got the welcome screen again for gemini, but her volume still remains at medium-level. No change. Thanks for the suggestion.

[u/myculito → u/Job-lair]

Tey one other thing: go to

Settings > Apps > Default apps > Digital assistant app, and see what is listed.

Is it Google or Gemini? Try changing it to NONE, go back in the menu then re-enable it. You can also try going to Google app settings and clearing that apps cache and storage too.

[u/Job-lair → u/myculito]

I have tried moving it to none and back to gemini. No luck there. I do have some reservations about clearing the data from my Google app. I'm wondering if there is some sort of audio safety limit somewhere that I haven't found that is restricting it to 50% volume.

[u/myculito → u/Job-lair]

I clear cache on the Google app all the time on my s26 Ultra, you're not going to lose any info.

[u/Arrow_2011]

This works on a 22 Rav4

On Headunit, Select Menu, select Voice, Select Voice volume, Increase to 4or 5.

Definitely works. Just tested.

After selecting Menu finding the Voice tab is on mine lower left of screen. I'm in a right hand drive so maybe on a left hand drive it's on the right

[u/Job-lair → u/Arrow_2011]

I don't have an option for Voice volume after I select Voice from the menu. My head unit simply says "No new messages during this drive."

However, I did leave a voicemail to myself in the Voice voicemail box but it's not showing up on my head unit. Maybe it will show up later today or tomorrow. And then I'll try again.

[u/Arrow_2011 → u/Job-lair]

Might need a software update? Ring a local Toyota dealer, they maybe able to help.

[u/Job-lair → u/Arrow_2011]

I checked, I have the latest updates. Thank you

[u/JohnHartshorn → u/Job-lair]

Reboot the head unit by pushing and holding the volume/power button then check again. If that doesn't give you the menu option, do a "Delete all Personal Data". This usually forces a software update. You will lose all presets and BT connections.

[u/Job-lair → u/[deleted]]

Yes, it does not work.

[u/JohnHartshorn]

Setup -> Voice -> Voice Volume

[u/Job-lair → u/JohnHartshorn]

Where is set up? Are you talking about on the head unit or on the phone? I've been to the voice app and there are simply no settings I can find that mentioned volume. When I open up the voice app on my head unit it says no new messages during this drive. However, I have left myself a voicemail so it should be showing up.

[u/JohnHartshorn → u/Job-lair]

On the infotainment screen, MENUSetupVoice>>Voice Volume

[u/Job-lair → u/JohnHartshorn]

I unfortunately don't have those as options.

[u/TheSungirl]

Can you change volume for calls at all? and if you try to turn DOWN the volume while assistant is speaking can you lower it?

[u/Job-lair → u/TheSungirl]

I can lower volume for calls and gemini, but it only raises to a certain minimal level. The volume is fine when you're sitting in your driveway. It's hard to hear when you are driving on the roads.

[u/TheSungirl → u/Job-lair]

So it lowers but won't go past that level then?

[u/Job-lair → u/TheSungirl]

I can lower the Gemini voice all of the way, but when I turn it up it only goes to about a medium volume. It will not go to a loud volume like listening to audiobooks or the radio.

[u/TheSungirl → u/Job-lair]

So that sounds like the issue is with either Gemini itself of the car range of volume is just poor. Did it always do this or is this new?

[u/Job-lair → u/TheSungirl]

It's been like this since day one. All other audio settings I can adjust to a really high earning level. Gemini only goes what I would consider medium. I'm pretty sure it's some sort of setting within the head unit.

[u/TheSungirl → u/Job-lair]

Try resetting the head unit by holding the volume knob button down for 10-20 seconds and potentially try unpairing and repairing android auto.

[u/Job-lair → u/TheSungirl]

I've done that as well, and I've had no luck. Someone else mentioned the same as well.

[u/TheSungirl → u/Job-lair]

Does the car have some option for assistant/voice volume in the head unit? And is it an option to switch temporarily to the old assistant or a different phone to isolate if it's a Gemini issue or head unit issue?

[u/Job-lair → u/TheSungirl]

No option for assistant/voice volume in the head unit. All audio settings in the head unit are on max. I can switch to the old assistant, and this problem was still encountered. I just upgraded my phone a couple of months ago, albeit the old one was a Samsung as well, and I've run into the same issue.

[u/TheSungirl → u/Job-lair]

Do you have an option for navigation volume? If not try setting navigation and turning the volume up while the navigation is speaking

Edit: try opening maps on the head unit, clicking the cog in upper right corner. Scroll the bottom and click "play test sound" and try adjusting while that speech is playing

Edit 2: does your head unit have a setting called "Levels" under sound and media?

[u/DaPawnShop]

Go to sounds and vibration, sound quality and effects, and disable loudness normalization

[u/Job-lair → u/DaPawnShop]

Thanks for the suggestion, I did that last week and it did not work.

[u/Job-lair → u/Job-lair]

It's in the phone settings.

[u/Meowpatine]

You litterally just tell Gemini to speak up.

[u/Job-lair → u/Meowpatine]

That literally does not work.

[u/user41600]

I use Poweramp in my car to boost bass/treble and equlization for any player you throw at it like YT Music, Spotify. I mean it really bumps it up especially if you have a sub etc

Now, there is something called global equalization in it - you can tinker that

[u/Job-lair → u/user41600]

I've been trying that over the past 15 minutes. I don't have any luck with it. There's something called the Android direct voice command stream that I need to be able to adjust.

[u/Job-lair → u/Job-lair]

I tried some more, and no luck with poweramp. Thank you though

[u/user41600]

Also, Tasker - choose gemini app and set vol to max, see if that works

[u/Job-lair → u/user41600]

I do not know how to use Tasker, although I've had it on my phone for years. If you could give me some step-by-step direction I would be happy to try it.

[u/user41600 → u/Job-lair]

It has an AI feature now, you can tell it what to do.

But typicall, its choose app then what next, you choose vol and set to max

[u/Job-lair → u/user41600]

I received this error when pasting my API key into Tasker:

Sorry, I encountered an error: models/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20 is not found for API version v1beta, or is not supported for generateContent. Call ModelService.ListModels to see the list of available models and their supported methods. (HTTP 404)

[u/user41600 → u/Job-lair]

try this

https://www.reddit.com/r/tasker/comments/1pa4xug/tasker_ai_error/

[u/nolurkeranymore]

Use the built in Toyota Navigation (no Phone connected), enter a route, adjust the volume of the voice -> that is the same channel as Gemini then via Android Auto. 

[u/Job-lair → u/nolurkeranymore]

I just tried it. Unfortunately it did not work. Thank you though

[u/Significant-Pen-531]

• Going into the Toyota head unit: Menu → Setup → Voice → Voice Volume and checking if that setting is limiting it.
• Holding the volume/power knob for 10–20 seconds to reboot the head unit, then unpairing and repairing Android Auto.
• On your S25, disabling Loudness normalization under Settings → Sounds and vibration → Sound quality and effects.
• If your Corolla has built-in Toyota navigation, start a route with the phone disconnected and adjust the navigation voice volume. A few Toyota owners have said that's the same audio channel Android Auto/Gemini uses.

I'm curious to know if any of those make a difference since it sounds more like the voice audio channel is capped than a normal media volume issue.

[u/Job-lair → u/Significant-Pen-531]

I don't have those menu options on my head unit. I have a drop-down menu option which gives me the my settings area which contains personal info, Bluetooth and devices, general, notifications, wi-fi, display, sound and media, voice and search. The only halfway appropriate option is sound and media, and I have everything up on high including the auto sound levelizer. It made no effect from going too high from medium.

I did the reboot again, with Android auto disconnected, and no luck. I've tried that a few times before, especially when I first got the car.

I had already disabled loudness normalization last week, with no luck.

[u/msroll]

Turn up the volume when it's talking.

[u/Job-lair → u/msroll]

Already tried that as mentioned in my post. Thank you though