@kontextso/soundon

Tiny React Native module to detect if the device media volume is ON (greater than 0).

Works on iOS and Android. No permissions required.

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Installation

# with npm
npm install @kontextso/soundon

# with yarn
yarn add @kontextso/soundon

After installing, run platform-specific native installs:

• iOS: from your app's ios/ directory

pod install

• Android: autolinking will register the module automatically (React Native >= 0.60).

Expo

This package contains native code. In Expo you need to use a Custom Dev Client or the Bare workflow.

• For development: run expo prebuild and use expo run:ios / expo run:android, or build a custom dev client with EAS.
• Managed workflow without a custom client is not supported.

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Usage

import {isSoundOn} from '@kontextso/soundon';

async function checkVolume() {
  try {
    const on = await isSoundOn();
    console.log('Media volume is', on ? 'ON (> 0)' : 'OFF (0)');
  } catch (e) {
    // iOS may reject if the audio session cannot be activated
    console.warn('Failed to read output volume', e);
  }
}

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API

• isSoundOn(): Promise<boolean>
  • Resolves true if the current media/output volume is greater than 0, otherwise false.
  • On iOS, the promise can reject (error code: soundon_error) if the audio session cannot be activated.

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Platform details

• iOS

  • Uses AVAudioSession.sharedInstance() and reads outputVolume.
  • Temporarily sets the session category to .ambient with .mixWithOthers and activates the session to read volume.
  • Does not start playback and should not interrupt other audio.

• Android

  • Uses AudioManager and compares STREAM_MUSIC current volume to its max.

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Notes and limitations

• This checks media/output volume only.
• It does NOT account for:
  • iPhone ring/silent switch
  • Do Not Disturb / Focus modes
  • Per‑app volume or hardware controls on external devices
• The value is point-in-time. Call isSoundOn() again to refresh. The module does not emit change events.