Troubleshooting Guide¶

Encountering a problem with Flow Equalizer? Start with the quick checks below, then jump to the section that matches your issue.

Note: Flow Equalizer is not a music player—it processes audio from your apps.
It works best with Spotify and YouTube Music (not the YouTube video app).

Quick checks (order matters)¶

Enable an audio effect in Flow Equalizer first.
Turn on Equalizer (choose a preset), Bass Boost, or Virtualizer so processing is active.
Force‑stop and relaunch your music app, then start playback.
Works best with Spotify or YouTube Music (not YouTube).
(Long‑press the app icon → App info → Force stop → reopen → play a track.)
Return to Flow Equalizer and toggle the effect you enabled On/Off to A/B test.
Confirm your player shows as Connected.
If not connected, Flow Equalizer automatically tries to attach to the Global Audio Mix (system‑wide fallback, eg. YouTube App).
If audio still isn’t processed, manually enable Global/Legacy mode (if available) and reboot.
New to equalizers or effects? See the User Guide: Using the Equalizer & Effects for a 60‑second setup.

1. No Change in Sound (Effects Not Working)¶

Flow Equalizer must attach to your music app (or to the system mix as a fallback) to apply effects.

Best results: Use Spotify or YouTube Music (not YouTube).
Compatibility: Most players work; some need extra steps. See Supported & Unsupported Music Players.
Automatic fallback: If Flow Equalizer can’t attach to a player, it will automatically try to connect to Global Audio Mix. Success can vary by device and Android version.

Attach in the correct order:

Open Flow Equalizer and enable an effect (Equalizer/Bass Boost/Virtualizer).
Force‑stop your music app, reopen it, and start playback (works best with Spotify or YouTube Music).
Return to Flow Equalizer → confirm the player shows Connected and toggle the enabled effect On/Off to A/B test.
If it doesn’t connect, Flow Equalizer will attempt Global Audio Mix automatically.
If audio still isn’t affected, enable Global/Legacy processing manually (if available) and reboot.
Check for conflicting audio apps. Other equalizer/sound‑enhancer apps may take audio focus so Flow Equalizer can’t attach. Disable, uninstall, or freeze the conflicting app, then reboot. See Conflicts with Other Audio Apps.

2. New to Equalizers or Effects? (Guided Basics)¶

If you’re unsure how to use the Equalizer or what each effect does:

Read the User Guide: Using the Equalizer & Effects for plain‑language explanations and examples.
Quick orientation (1‑liners):
Equalizer: adjust frequency bands for bass/mids/treble balance.
Bass Boost: adds low‑end weight; too much can cause clipping.
Virtualizer/3D: widens stereo image; subtle settings work best.
Loudness/Output Gain: overall volume shaping; keep meters out of red.

Then come back here if something still isn’t working.

3. Flow Equalizer Stops Randomly¶

Some manufacturers aggressively kill background apps to save battery.

Fix (use the app setting first):

In Flow Equalizer Settings, tap Disable Battery Optimization (wording may vary) and allow the system prompt.
If issues continue, follow device‑specific steps at dontkillmyapp.com, then reboot.

4. Distortion, Crackling, or “Pumping” (Clipping)¶

Clipping happens when the signal is driven too hard.

Try this:

Lower Bass Boost or any very high boosts.
Reduce Output Gain slightly.
Enable the Limiter (if available).
In Settings, increase Processing time to give audio more headroom and reduce clipping.
Note: Higher Processing time adds latency (see Section 8 if you notice audio delay).

5. Sound Is Too Quiet or Too Loud¶

Try this:

Keep sliders within about ±6 dB; avoid extreme boosts/cuts.
Adjust Output Gain to taste.
Enable the Limiter (if available) and keep meters out of the red.

6. Conflicts with Other Audio Apps¶

Only one audio‑modifying app should be active.

Common conflicts:
- Sound Assistant (Samsung)
- AudioFX (LineageOS/custom ROMs)
- Other equalizer/sound‑enhancer apps

Fix:

Disable, uninstall, or freeze the conflicting app (these can take audio focus and block Flow Equalizer).
Reboot your device.

7. No Change over Bluetooth or with External DAC¶

Some devices/DACs use audio paths that bypass system effects or require specific formats.

Bluetooth devices — Try this:
Open Developer Options.
Set Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate to 48 kHz.
Set Bluetooth Audio Codec to SBC.
If you’re using Global/Legacy mode with Bluetooth: in Developer Options, disable “Disable Bluetooth A2DP hardware offload.” Then disconnect/reconnect your device.
External DACs: There’s no universal fix. If your DAC app offers a “no direct/bit‑perfect” toggle, turn it off and test a player that uses system effects.

8. Hearing a Delay (Lip‑Sync) in Videos or Games?¶

Latency increases when Processing time is set higher.

Try this:

In Settings, reduce Processing time to lower latency.
Keep EQ boosts moderate and Output Gain reasonable to avoid needing very high processing time.
If lip‑sync is critical, turn off non‑essential effects while watching videos or gaming.

9. Audio Clipping on Samsung Devices¶

Samsung’s UHQ upscaler can conflict with equalizers.

Fix:

Go to Settings → Sound quality and effects → set UHQ upscaler to “Bit upscaling only.”
In Flow Equalizer Settings, increase Processing time to reduce clipping (this adds latency).
If you later notice audio delay, see Section 8.

10. Persistent Notification—Can I Hide It?¶

This notification helps Android keep audio features running.

Options: You can minimize or silence it in Notification settings. Fully hiding it may increase the chance Android stops the app.

11. Seeing Too Many Ads?¶

Flow Equalizer keeps ads to the bare minimum, fewer and lighter than many equalizer apps that rely on frequent full‑screen interstitials or subscriptions, because our goal is simply to cover essentials—developer time, device testing, and support—not to make a profit.

Your options:

Go ad‑free permanently: Get the lifetime purchase to disable ads across the app.
Open Settings → Upgrade / Remove Ads (wording may vary) and complete the one‑time purchase.
Already purchased but still seeing ads?
Ensure you’re on the same Google account used for the purchase.
Make sure you’re online, then close Flow Equalizer (remove it from Recents or Force stop) and reopen it; the app automatically restores purchases on startup—there’s no Restore button.
If restoration doesn’t appear within a minute, follow In‑App Purchase Missing.

12. In‑App Purchase Missing¶

Purchases are one‑time and tied to your Google account.

Try this:

Open Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage.
Tap Clear Data and Clear Cache.
Reboot your device, open Flow Equalizer, and (if available) tap Restore purchase.

13. Calls or Voice Notes Sound Odd¶

Most equalizers don’t process call audio; some chat apps switch audio paths.

Try this:

Temporarily turn Flow Equalizer Off during calls/voice notes.

14. Still Stuck?¶

Help us help you:

Open app Settings and look for Help / Support or Send logs (wording may vary).
Include phone model, Android version, headphones/DAC, and music app.
Add a one‑line description (e.g., “No change with Spotify over Bluetooth”).