Bring the Volume Bar Back to Your iPhone's Lock Screen in a Few Easy Steps

If you're listening to music or a podcast and want to change the volume without unlocking your iPhone, then you probably press the buttons on the side of your phone. Those buttons can increase or decrease your volume a set amount, but they could leave you choosing between a volume that is slightly too loud or a bit too quiet. Thankfully, you can bring the volume bar back to your device's Lock Screen, giving you more precise control over your iPhone's volume without unlocking your device. Apple removed the volume bar from your Lock Screen when the company released iOS 16 in 2022. But when the company released iOS 18.2 in 2024, that update allowed you to bring the volume bar back to your iPhone's Lock Screen. If you like using the volume bar, you can return it to your Lock Screen. Here's how you can reintroduce the volume bar to your Lock Screen in a few easy steps. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. How to get the volume bar on your iPhone 1. Open Settings. 2. Tap Accessibility. 3. Tap Audio & Visual under Hearing. 4. Tap the toggle next to Always Show Volume Control. Apple/Screenshot by CNET Now, the next time you're listening to music or a podcast at the gym or on the bus, you can change the volume by using the slider on your Lock Screen. Apple/Screenshot by CNET For more iOS news, here's my review of iOS 26, how to reduce the Liquid Glass effects in the update and how to enable call screening on your iPhone. You can also check out our iOS 26 cheat sheet.