Support

Email support@sprocketyard.com. A real person reads every message.

It helps a lot if you include:

• Your streaming device, like an NVIDIA Shield or Chromecast with Google TV
• The make and model of your receiver or soundbar
• The app version, shown on the app's setup screen
• What you expected to happen and what happened instead

Before you write

My receiver or soundbar doesn't show up

Your streamer and your audio device need to be on the same home network. Guest networks and some mesh or access point settings keep devices from seeing each other. If it still doesn't appear, use "Configure manually" and enter its IP address. You can usually find that in your router's device list or the device's own network settings.

It worked, then stopped after the receiver went to sleep

Some receivers turn off their network connection in standby. Look for a setting like "Network Control" or "Network Standby" and set it to stay on.

It connects but never updates

Some receivers only allow one control connection at a time. If you also use a home automation system or another control app that talks to the receiver, it may be holding that connection.

The volume bar doesn't appear

The app needs Android's "Display over other apps" permission. Open the app and check the permission step in setup.

There's no "Display over other apps" setting

Chromecast with Google TV and many TVs with Google TV built in hide this setting. The app still needs it, since that's what lets it draw the volume bar over whatever you're watching. When the setting is hidden, the permission step shows a command to run from a computer instead. It only grants that one permission, and you only need to do it once.

1. Turn on Developer options on your TV. Go to Settings, System, About, and press OK on "Android TV OS build" seven times.
2. In Developer options, turn on network debugging. It may be called "Wireless debugging" or "USB debugging" depending on your TV.
3. If your TV shows a pairing code under Wireless debugging, pair first with adb pair and the address and code it shows.
4. On a computer with adb installed, connect to the TV's IP address with adb connect. Say yes when the TV asks to allow debugging.
5. Run the command the app shows. It looks like adb shell appops set com.sprocketyard.volumeoverlay SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow

You can turn debugging back off afterward. The permission stays.

Android asks about "Nearby devices"

Starting with Android 17, apps have to ask before they can reach other devices on your home network. Android calls this "Nearby devices." The app only uses it to talk to your receiver or soundbar. If you said no, open Settings, Apps, See all apps, Volume Overlay, Permissions, and allow Nearby devices. When Android won't ask again, the app's permission step shows an "Open app settings" button that takes you there.

It says "Can't reach" on screen

Your streamer can't connect to your receiver or soundbar. Check that it's turned on or in network standby, that it's on the same network as your streamer, and that its IP address hasn't changed. If the address changed, open the app and use "Search again" or "Configure manually" to pick it up again.

When the TV and receiver turn on together, the receiver can take a few seconds to get back on the network. A little reconnecting right then is normal and clears up on its own.

Common questions

What do I need?

An Android TV or Google TV device running Android 9 or later, like an NVIDIA Shield, a Chromecast with Google TV, or a TV with Google TV built in. Your receiver or soundbar has to be on the same home network, wired or Wi-Fi.

Does it work with my receiver or soundbar?

Denon and Marantz receivers and Sonos are tested on real hardware. HEOS speakers, Onkyo, Pioneer and Integra, Yamaha MusicCast, Sony, Bluesound and NAD, Bose SoundTouch, Arcam and JBL Synthesis, Anthem, Rotel, McIntosh, Lyngdorf, StormAudio, Trinnov and Classé are built from each maker's published control docs but not tested on hardware yet. If you have one of those, we'd love to hear how it goes, good or bad.

Will it change my volume?

No. It only listens. Your remote, the receiver's knob and your phone app keep working exactly as they do now, the app just shows you what they did.

My TV still shows its own little volume popup

Some TVs show a plus or minus when the remote sends volume to the receiver, and not every TV lets you turn that off. Look in the TV's sound or HDMI-CEC settings first. If it's there to stay, make the two work together: move the bar to another edge, resize it, or give it a look that sits next to the TV's popup instead of fighting it.

Does it need the internet or an account?

No. Everything happens on your home network, and there's nothing to sign up for. See the privacy policy for exactly what it does.