How to use mono audio and audio balance on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

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

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Accessibility › Audio adjustment

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Scroll to Audio

   Open Settings and tap Accessibility. Scroll down past Captions to the Audio heading. Its first row is Audio description.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Audio adjustment

   Audio adjustment is the last row under Audio, below Hearing devices: Mono audio, audio balance. Tap it.

   Done

3. 

   Turn on Mono audio

   Mono audio is at the top: Combine channels when playing audio. It was off on ours, a grey switch with a cross. Tap it: it turns light, with a tick.

   Done

4. 

   Set Audio balance

   Below it, drag the Audio balance slider towards Left or Right to make that side louder. Ours started in the middle. When we dragged it left, a light bar filled the track between the slider and the middle.

   Done

5. 

   Put it back

   To undo it, drag Audio balance back to the middle and turn Mono audio off. On ours the light bar went away and the switch showed its cross again.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Audio adjustment row? Google says names can vary by market and device. On our Pixel 10a with Android 17 it was the last row under Audio in Accessibility. Source: Use accessibility features on Android
• Looking in Sound and vibration? Google lists Mono audio with its features for hearing and says to use the Audio adjustment features in your Accessibility settings. On ours, that is where it was. Source: Use accessibility features on Android

If this does not work

• Sound louder on one side? Check Audio balance on the same page. The slider should sit in the middle, as it was on ours. Source: Use accessibility features on Android
• Pixel Buds still uneven? Google says Pixel Buds have their own volume balance between the left and right earbuds, which can also switch to mono, and that the setting applies across all paired devices. Check it in the earbuds' settings too. Source: Change your Google Pixel Buds settings
• One earbud quieter on Xiaomi buds? Xiaomi's help for its Buds 5 Pro says to check in the Xiaomi Earbuds app that both earbuds are connected, clean the speaker holes, and that the audio itself may have unbalanced channels. Source: Why does one earbud's sound volume decrease after using the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro for a period of time?

About this guide

Mono audio combines channels when playing audio, as the switch says. The Audio balance slider makes one side louder than the other. Google says to use the Audio adjustment features in Accessibility settings to change balance or combine audio channels.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. We turned Mono audio on, moved the slider to the left, then put both back.

Good to know

The same Audio group on ours also had Audio description, Sound Amplifier, Sound Notifications and Hearing devices, for hearing aids. Flash notifications is there too.

For how music sounds, see how to use Adaptive Sound.

In short: Settings, Accessibility, Audio adjustment. Turn on Mono audio, or drag the Audio balance slider.