This problem exists on every Verizon Moto Z Force in existance since a software update around Aug/Sep 2016. Notification sounds have become so low as to be useless and cannot be turned up by any means. Also, the ringtone for phone calls has an "escalating volume" feature that starts almost silent for the first several seconds, which many people find annoying. Basically a $720 phone has been made useless and Verizon nor Motorola/Lenovo seem to care. Many frustrated owners are returning their phones.
Please refer to the 30+ pages of desperate owners on this Lenovo (Motorola) community forum:
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/forums/v3_1/forumtopicpage/board-id/Moto_Z_Force/thread-id/954/page/1
Desperate owners are resorting to 3rd party apps to help mitigate this glaring failure. Since Verizon and Motorola/Lenovo have ignored the owners of these $720 flagship devices though multiple follow-up software updates (inclduing Nougat 7.0), these may be the only solutions for now:
Missed call reminder - Android Apps on Google Play
MegaSound - Android Apps on Google Play
Owners discuss their various success with these apps to mitigate this complete disaster.
Yes, Verizon needs to put some pressure on Lenovo to get this problem fixed. The only reason I am not returning our phone is because we got it for $5.00 a month, plus the 2 moto mods for free. For now, we are resorting to keep the stereo mod attached to the phone so that the text messages are audible. But this is highly inconvenient and we cannot use the Otterbox we bought from Verizon.
If I didn't have to go into Amish country so often (where Verizon is the only carrier that has service), I would be strongly considering switching to another carrier. "Verizon Exclusive" $700.00 phone that cannot even get the basic volume of a text message to work.
The whole escalating volume thing is super annoying as well. The best part is, you can't undo the updates to go back to how the phone originally was when we first got it.
Update: The app MacroDroid is the best workaround found so far, it is free and definitely works when set up properly (and does a ton of other helpful stuff too). The key is to set up a macro properly (Trigger: Notification; Action: Play a Sound) - then, in the app general Settings, you need to set sounds to play through as "Media".
MacroDroid - Device Automation - Android Apps on Google Play
Quiet notifications moto z - Page 29 - Lenovo Community
Verizon, where are you, any updates on a real fix??
Lenovo nor Verizon are planning a fix for this poorly written hard coded phone. We all have just boarded another sinking flagship.
Lenovo's software coders know of the problem and could easily fix this ridiculous issue. It goes much deeper than just sending an OTA out to fix the 10's of thousand of unfortunate owners of the droid line of phones. Most of the apps don't really fix the volume issue but rather put an already bleeding bandaid on it which over time will interfere with you're battery optimization features build in the phone. If you're lucky to be tech savvy, just root your phone and edit the ring code the same as the media code. There have been a few reports on social on how to do this. But be warned even many tech-savvy guys have bricked their new phone. What many don't know is at their phone is not really bricked there is a back door to bring that phone back alive easily but many don't know it. So for now just get used to it the way it is and use the help hardware sound fix and make it part of your life or like many while they're driving down the road they throw their phone out forget about it and move on with there life. Good luck to all
We have been running Macrodroid, and it works well as a temporary solution. The problem with this though, is that you now have to remember to turn down your media audio if you want your phone on silent.
And I 2nd this: Where are you, Verizon, to give an answer to us about this?
It is insane that this issue still is not resolved. This is a major issue. I'm on 7.0 & November 1, 2016 security patch. Notification volume is barely audible.
Update, Motorola/Lenovo have a software update that is being reported as having a fix for this issue. Currently it is being rolled out OTA for "unlocked moto z models only" this leads me to assume that we are now playing the waiting game for Verizon testing before we will see it.
On another more important note regarding customer service, I would have expected Verizon to have provided this information to all of us!!! But as we all know that is just not verizons style. If it wasn't for their great coverage and cell service there is no way in [Removed] this company would still be in business!
Thank you verizon for keeping us informed and up to date!
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Message edited by Verizon Moderator
Motorola has to write the code and submit it for final testing approval. There was an update released on 12/28/2016. Moto Z Droid Edition and Moto Z Force Droid Edition Software Update | Verizon Wireless
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
Obviously Motorola has written the code as they have been pushing it out to the unlocked moto z for 3 days now. So now we must be waiting on Verizon to test it and verify it before pushing it out to us. (That is a good thing) but I think it would have been helpful to receive an update from a Verizon official, in this thread, concerning the status of such.
The latest update from Verizon that you mention is security updates.
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