react-native-nitro-audio-manager

⚠️ This package is currently in alpha and under active development. Please report any issues that you run across on either platform.

A React Native library powered by NitroModules that gives access to AVAudioSession on iOS and AudioManager on Android. This library is designed to give more granular control of audio sessions than what is typically needed in packages like:

• expo-video
• expo-camera
• react-native-video
• react-native-vision-camera
• etc.

⚠️ When using this library alongside those packages, you'll often need to disable or override their built-in audio session handling, to avoid conflicts. react-native-video recently announced they will be supporting an audio session disabled prop.

Features

• Configure audio sessions (category, mode, options, etc.)
• Configure audio manager preferences
• Activate and deactivate sessions / audio focus
• Get device inputs/outputs (headphones, etc.)
• Get and set system volume
• Listen for system volume changes
• Listen for input/output changes
• Listen for audio interruption / category changes events

Installation

Using npm:

npm install react-native-nitro-audio-manager react-native-nitro-modules

Using yarn:

yarn add react-native-nitro-audio-manager react-native-nitro-modules

Documentation

Table of Contents

• Volume Control
  • getSystemVolume()
  • setSystemVolume()
  • useVolume()
• Listeners
  • addListener()
• Inputs / Outputs
  • getOutputLatency()
  • getInputLatency()
  • getCurrentInputRoutes()
  • getCurrentOutputRoutes()
  • getCategoryCompatibleInputs()
  • forceOutputToSpeaker()
  • cancelForcedOutputToSpeaker()
• AudioSession / AudioFocus Management
  • configureAudio()
  • getAudioSessionStatus()
  • activate()
  • deactivate()

Volume Control

getSystemVolume(): Promise<number>

Returns a promise with the current system volume:

• iOS: A single number in the range [0–1].
• Android: The music stream volume in the range [0–1] (Android has mutliple streams).

Example

    import { getSystemVolume } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

    const volume = await getSystemVolume()
    console.log(volume) // ex. 1.0

setSystemVolume(value, options): Promise<void>

Sets the system between 0 and 1.

• value: A number in the range [0–1]. On Android, there is a slight rounding inaccuracy. For example, setVolume(0.5) may set the volume to 0.53.
• options.showUI: (Android Only) If true, shows the system volume UI. On iOS, the system UI always appears when volume changes. Default: true.

Example

import { setSystemVolume } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

await setSystemVolume(0.5, { showUI: true })

useVolume(): number

A hook that gives live feedback of the volume (listens for volume changes).

Example

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
import { useVolume } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

export default function VolumeDisplay() {

  const volume = useVolume(); // 0.0 to 1.0

  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.label}>Current Volume:</Text>
      <Text style={styles.volume}>{(volume * 100).toFixed(0)}%</Text>
    </View>
  );
}

Listeners

addListener(type, listenerCallback): () => void

Adds a type-safe system event listener for audio session changes.

• type: 'audioInterruption' | 'routeChange' | 'volume'
• listenerCallback: A callback function receiving event-specific data depending on the type.

Returns an unsubscribe function that removes the listener.

---

Listener Types

Type	Event Payload	Description
'audioInterruption'	InterruptionEvent	Fired when an audio session is interrupted or resumed (e.g., incoming phone call, app backgrounding).
'routeChange'	RouteChangeEvent	Fired when audio output devices change (e.g., Bluetooth connected/disconnected, headphones plugged in).
'volume'	number (normalized between 0.0–1.0)	Fired when the system volume changes.

---

Example

import { useEffect } from 'react'
import { addListener } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

useEffect(() => {

    // Listen for audio interruptions (incomming phone calls, category changes on ios, etc.)
    const removeInterruptionListener = addListener('audioInterruption', (event) => {
    console.log('Audio interruption event:', event);
    });

    // Listen for route changes (headphones connecting, etc.)
    const removeRouteChangeListener = addListener('routeChange', (event) => {
    console.log('Route changed:', event);
    });

    // Listen for volume changes
    const removeVolumeListener = addListener('volume', (volume) => {
    console.log('Volume changed:', volume);
    });

    return () => {
        removeInterruptionListener();
        removeRouteChangeListener();
        removeVolumeListener();
    }
},[])

Inputs / Outputs

getOutputLatency(): number

Returns the current output latency in seconds.

• Android: Output latency is calculated as buffer-size / sample-rate.
• IOS: Output latency comes from AVAudioSession.outputLatency.

Example

import { getOutputLatency } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

const latency = getOutputLatency();
console.log(`Output Latency: ${latency * 1000} ms`);

getInputLatency(): number

Returns the current input Latency in seconds.

• Android S+ only: Calculated using INPUT_FRAMES_PER_BUFFER and sample rate.
• older Android: Not available — returns -1.0.
• IOS: Input latency comes from AVAudioSession.inputLatency.

Example

import { getInputLatency } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

const latency = getInputLatency();
console.log(`Input Latency: ${latency * 1000} ms`);

getCurrentInputRoutes(): PortDescription[]

Returns an array of the currently connected input routes.

• iOS & Android: Provides a list of active input devices, such as built-in mic, headset mic, or Bluetooth SCO.
• Always returns an array, even if empty.

Example

import { getCurrentInputRoutes } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

const inputs = getCurrentInputRoutes();
console.log('Current Input Routes:', inputs);

getCurrentOutputRoutes(): PortDescription[]

Returns an array of the currently connected output routes.

• iOS & Android: Provides a list of active output devices, such as built-in speaker, Bluetooth headphones, or wired headset.
• Always returns an array, even if empty.

Example:

import { getCurrentOutputRoutes } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

const outputs = getCurrentOutputRoutes();
console.log('Current Output Routes:', outputs);

getCategoryCompatibleInputs(): PortDescription[] | undefined

Returns an array of available input ports that are compatible with the currently active audio session category and mode.

@platform iOS only

• If the session category is playAndRecord, the returned array may contain:
  • Built-in microphone
  • Headset microphone (if connected)
• If the session category is playback, this function returns an empty array.
• On Android, this function returns undefined.

Example

import { getCategoryCompatibleInputs } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

const inputs = getCategoryCompatibleInputs();
if (inputs) {
  console.log('Compatible input ports:', inputs);
} else {
  console.log('No inputs supported with category');
}

forceOutputToSpeaker(): void

Temporarily forces the audio output to use the built-in speaker, overriding the current route.

@platform iOS only

This change remains active until:

• The audio route changes automatically, or

• You call cancelForcedOutputToSpeaker() manually.

• If you want to permanently prefer the speaker, you should set the defaultToSpeaker option when configuring your audio session category.

cancelForcedOutputToSpeaker(): void

@platform iOS only

Cancels the temporary forced routing to the speaker caused by forceOutputToSpeaker().

Example

import { cancelForcedOutputToSpeaker } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

cancelForcedOutputToSpeaker();

AudioSession (IOS) / AudioFocus (Android) Management

On iOS, configuring audio sessions is done manually via configuring categories, modes, options, and preferences.

Newer android phones / later SDK versions (version 33+) handle Android focus automatically within the phone so applying some of these settings may not function on later systems.

Because of the uniqueness required for each platform and the occasional need to just set one platform (the other may work naturally), a decision was made to allow flexibility with configuring, activating, and deactivating for each platform.

configureAudio(params): void

Configures a very type-safe platform-specific audio session.

• iOS: Configures the AVAudioSession with the params provided..
• Android: Configures the AudioManager with the params provided.

NOTE: If one is not provided, it ignores that platform.

---

Parameters

type ConfigureAudioAndActivateParams = {
  ios?: {
    category: AudioSessionCategory;
    mode?: AudioSessionMode;
    policy?: AudioSessionRouteSharingPolicy;
    categoryOptions?: AudioSessionCategoryOption[];
    prefersNoInterruptionFromSystemAlerts?: boolean;
    prefersInterruptionOnRouteDisconnect?: boolean;
    allowHapticsAndSystemSoundsDuringRecording?: boolean;
    prefersEchoCancelledInput?: boolean;
  };
  android?: {
    focusGain: AudioFocusGainType;
    usage: AudioUsage;
    contentType: AudioContentType;
    willPauseWhenDucked: boolean;
    acceptsDelayedFocusGain: boolean;
  };
};

---

Example

import { 
    configureAudio, 
    AudioSessionCategory, 
    AudioSessionMode,
    AudioSessionCategoryOptions,
    AudioContentTypes,
    AudioFocusGainTypes,
    AudioUsages
} from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

await configureAudio({
  ios: {
    category: AudioSessionCategory.PlayAndRecord,
    mode: AudioSessionMode.VideoRecording,
    categoryOptions: [
        AudioSessionCategoryOptions.MixWithOthers, 
        AudioSessionCategoryOptions.AllowBluetooth
    ],
    prefersNoInterruptionFromSystemAlerts: true,
    prefersInterruptionOnRouteDisconnect: true,
    allowHapticsAndSystemSoundsDuringRecording: true,
    prefersEchoCancelledInput: true, // iOS 18.2+
  },
  android: {
    focusGain: AudioFocusGainTypes.GainTransientMayDuck,
    contentType: AudioContentTypes.Music,
    usage: AudioUsages.Media,
    willPauseWhenDucked: true,
    acceptsDelayedFocusGain: true,
  },
});

getAudioSessionStatus(): AudioSessionStatus | AudioManagerStatus | undefined

Retrieves the current audio session or audio manager configuration, depending on the platform.

• iOS: Returns an AudioSessionStatus object containing details like category, mode, options, and audio routing preferences.
• Android: Returns an AudioManagerStatus object containing details like focus gain, usage, content type, and ringer mode.

Example

import { Platform } from 'react-native'
import { getAudioStatus, AudioSessionStatus } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

if(Platform.OS === "ios") {
    const status = getAudioStatus() as AudioSessionStatus;
    console.log('Audio Session Status:', status.category);
}

AudioManagerStatus (Android Only)

Property	Description
mode	Current audio mode (e.g., NORMAL, IN_COMMUNICATION).
ringerMode	Current ringer state (NORMAL, VIBRATE, or SILENT).
focusGain	Requested focus gain type (e.g., GAIN, GAIN_TRANSIENT).
usage	Type of audio usage (e.g., MEDIA, GAME, VOICE_COMMUNICATION).
contentType	Type of content (e.g., MUSIC, MOVIE, SONIFICATION).
willPauseWhenDucked	Whether playback pauses automatically when ducked.
acceptsDelayedFocusGain	Whether delayed audio focus gain is accepted.

---

AudioSessionStatus (iOS Only)

Property	Description
category	Active AVAudioSession category (e.g., playback, playAndRecord).
mode	Active AVAudioSession mode (e.g., default, videoRecording).
categoryOptions	Array of enabled category options (e.g., allowBluetooth, defaultToSpeaker).
routeSharingPolicy	Current route sharing policy (e.g., default, longFormAudio).
isOutputtingAudioElsewhere	Whether audio output is being redirected to another app or device.
allowHapticsAndSystemSoundsDuringRecording	Whether haptics and system sounds are allowed while recording.
prefersNoInterruptionsFromSystemAlerts	Preference to avoid interruptions by system alerts.
prefersInterruptionOnRouteDisconnect	Whether an interruption should occur when audio route is disconnected.
isEchoCancelledInputEnabled	Whether echo-cancelled input is currently active.
isEchoCancelledInputAvailable	Whether echo-cancelled input is supported by the current input device.
prefersEchoCancelledInput	Whether echo-cancelled input is preferred when available. Can only be used with Category: 'PlayAndRecord' and Mode: 'Default'

activate(options?): Promise<void>

Activates the native audio session (iOS) or audio focus (Android).

• iOS: Calls AVAudioSession.setActive(true).
• Android: Requests audio focus via AudioManager.
• Other platforms: No-op.

⚠️ On iOS, activating the audio session is a pretty cumbersome operation and can operate.
Consider deferring it slightly with setTimeout(() => activate(), 100) if needed.

---

Parameters

type ActivationOptions = {
  platform?: 'ios' | 'android' | 'both'; // Default: 'both'
};

• platform:
  • 'ios' → Only activate iOS AVAudioSession.
  • 'android' → Only activate Android audio focus.
  • 'both' → (default) Activate both when applicable.

---

Example

import { activate } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

await activate(); // activates both iOS and Android

await activate({ platform: 'ios' }); // activates only iOS
await activate({ platform: 'android' }); // activates only Android

---

deactivate(options?): Promise<void>

Deactivates the native audio session (iOS) or abandons audio focus (Android).

• iOS: Calls AVAudioSession.setActive(false), optionally restoring previous audio sessions.
• Android: Abandons audio focus via AudioManager.abandonAudioFocus.
• Other platforms: No-op.

---

Parameters

type DeactivationOptions = {
  platform?: 'ios' | 'android' | 'both'; // Default: 'both'
  restorePreviousSessionOnDeactivation?: boolean; // Default: true
  fallbackToAmbientCategoryAndLeaveActiveForVolumeListener?: boolean; // Default: false
};

• platform:
  • 'ios' → Only deactivate iOS session.
  • 'android' → Only abandon Android focus.
  • 'both' → (default) Deactivate both when applicable.
• restorePreviousSessionOnDeactivation (iOS only):
  If true, resumes any previous audio (e.g., background music) after deactivation. Default: true.
• fallbackToAmbientCategoryAndLeaveActiveForVolumeListener (iOS only):
  Used internally when listening for volume events after deactivation. Default: false

---

Example

import { deactivate } from 'react-native-nitro-audio-manager';

await deactivate(); // deactivates both iOS and Android

await deactivate({ platform: 'ios' }); // deactivates only iOS
await deactivate({ platform: 'android' }); // deactivates only Android

await deactivate({ restorePreviousSessionOnDeactivation: false }); // deactivate without restoring music

Contributing

See the contributing guide to learn how to contribute to the repository and the development workflow.

License

MIT

---

Made with create-react-native-library