How to use Adaptive Sound and media player settings on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Real screenshots

5 of 6 steps

What we did

Looked at each screen; changed nothing

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Sound and vibration

   Open Settings and tap Sound and vibration: Volume and haptics.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Adaptive Sound

   Scroll down. Adaptive Sound is below Live Caption. Ours said Off. Tap it.

   Done

3. 

   Turn on Use Adaptive Sound

   Turn on Use Adaptive Sound: Improves speaker sound quality by adapting audio to your environment. It was off on ours. The page says it uses the microphone to assess the acoustics near you, and that the audio is processed locally and never leaves your device.

   Done

4. 

   Tap Media

   Back on Sound and vibration, Media is below Spatial audio. Ours said Show player. Tap it.

   Done

5. 

   Pin media player

   Pin media player: To quickly resume playback, media player stays open in Quick Settings. It was on on ours.

   Done

6. Show media on lock screen

   The second switch, Show media on lock screen, keeps the player open on the lock screen too. It was on on ours. Turn it off if you don't want what you play to show there.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Adaptive Sound row? Google says Adaptive Sound is on Pixel 4a (5G) through Pixel 10, including Fold. Source: Change volume, sound & vibrate settings on your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet
• Looking for a Show player switch? On ours, Show player was only the text under Media. The Media page had two switches: Pin media player and Show media on lock screen.
• Using headphones? Google says Adaptive Sound doesn't work if you play sound through external speakers or headphones. Source: Change volume, sound & vibrate settings on your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet

If this does not work

• No difference after turning it on? Google says it adjusts speaker output without changing the volume. The page says it may be less noticeable at higher volumes. Source: Change volume, sound & vibrate settings on your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet
• Player gone from Quick Settings? Turn on Pin media player. Google says you find what is playing by swiping down from the top of the screen. Source: Change settings quickly on your Android phone
• Others can see your music on the lock screen? Turn off Show media on lock screen on the Media page.

About this guide

Adaptive Sound tunes your Pixel's speaker to the room you are in. The Media page decides whether the player stays open so you can pick up where you left off.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. We only looked and changed nothing.

Good to know

For calls and ringing, see Pixel not ringing. For vibration strength, see how to change vibration and haptics.

In short: Settings, Sound and vibration: Adaptive Sound (Use Adaptive Sound) and Media (Pin media player, Show media on lock screen).