# Initialize the AVAudioSession on app startup

> Considerations around initializing AVAudioSession when your application starts.

We strongly recommend that you set the AVAudioSession to AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback, AVAudioSessionCategoryAmbient, or to another non-recording category on app startup.

**Caution**: Configuring the AVAudioSession near to or during voice chat can lead to unexpected volume changes. Limit this activity to the early stages of the app’s life cycle, unless you are [restoring the device audio volume](./restore-audio-volume.md).