How to customize the volume panel on Android, with or without an app
The volume panel is one of the most seen parts of an Android phone, and one of the least customizable. This guide explains why, and what your options are.
Why you can't just restyle it
The panel that appears when you press a volume button is drawn by the system itself (a part of Android called System UI), not by a normal app. Regular apps are not allowed to change how it looks. That is a safety decision: if any app could change system screens, an app could also draw a fake one on top of your banking app.
So every way of changing the panel is one of three things: a setting the phone maker added, a themeing feature inside a custom ROM, or an app that draws its own panel and tries to take the place of the real one.
Option 1: settings from the phone maker
Some manufacturers include a little customization. Samsung phones, for example, can be extended with Samsung's own Good Lock modules, and one of them (Sound Assistant) lets you change parts of the volume panel. This is the safest route because it comes from the maker and needs no extra permissions from a third party. The downside is that it only works on that brand and the options are limited to what the maker chose to offer.
Option 2: a custom ROM or a rooted phone
Custom ROMs can change System UI directly, so they can offer any style. This route needs an unlocked bootloader and usually voids the warranty. It also stops some banking and payment apps from working. For most people it is more risk than a volume panel is worth.
Option 3: an app that draws its own panel
Several apps replace the panel without root. They usually need two permissions:
- Accessibility service. This is how the app learns that you pressed a volume button, and in some cases lets it hide or replace the system one. See our guide on what the accessibility permission really allows.
- Display over other apps. This lets the app draw its panel on top of whatever is on screen. See what "Display over other apps" means.
Because both permissions are powerful, the quality of the app matters a lot more than how pretty its panel is.
How to choose a volume panel app safely
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Where it comes from | The official Play Store page, or the developer's own website. Never a re-upload on a file-sharing site. |
| Internet permission | A volume panel has no need for the internet. If the app asks for it, find out why. |
| Open source | Public code means other people can check what it does. It is not a guarantee, but it is a good sign. |
| What the accessibility service says it can do | Android lists the service's capabilities before you enable it. Read them. |
| Reviews and updates | An app that was updated recently and has detailed reviews is a better bet than one that was never touched. |
What it costs you
An app-drawn panel is a small extra process on your phone. A well-made one barely uses any battery, but a badly made one that keeps checking the screen can. If your battery drains faster after installing one, check Settings > Battery to see how much it used, and remove it if it stands out.
Summary
If your phone maker offers a built-in option, use it. If not, a trusted app is the next best thing, as long as you read the permissions first. Rooting or a custom ROM for the sake of a volume bar is almost never worth it.