Edit:
So, it turns out that when using MPVolumeView iOS does not actually align the vertical image that you set in the same way as with other images. The solution is to create a slightly biased image (you can always use alpha if you need to convince it that the image is larger) and use it only for MPVolumeView . This is a kind of pain, but it works very well. Usually you need 2 to 4 pixel offsets for your new image.
To set the thumb image, you should use:
setVolumeThumbImage:forState:
For example, if you have an image called myThumbImage.png and an MPVolumeView called myVolumeView , you should use:
[myVolumeView setVolumeThumbImage: [UIImage imageNamed:@"myThumbImage"] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
This will find any image called myThumbImage.png that exists in your project, and it will use it for the thumb of the slider. You need to make sure that this image is the right size, 25x25 is usually a little big, but not a bad starting point.
Apple UISlider will UISlider off and change the look of the button when you click on it. To achieve this, create another image that looks the way you want (it can be the same image, only darker or completely different) and set it as the image displayed for the thumb when it is highlighted (what happens when you click on it).
You would do this using:
[myVolumeView setVolumeThumbImage: [UIImage imageNamed:@"VolumeThumbHighlighted"] forState:UIControlStateHighlighted];
That will search for an image named VolumeThumbHighlighted.png and use it for this purpose.
Note that you can also set images left and right, with stretch images, in several different ways than regular UISlider . You would use this code:
[myVolumeView setMinimumVolumeSliderImage:[[UIImage imageNamed:@"LeftTrackImage"] resizableImageWithCapInsets:UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 4, 0, 0)]forState:UIControlStateNormal]; [myVolumeView setMaximumVolumeSliderImage:[[UIImage imageNamed:@"RightTrackImage"] resizableImageWithCapInsets:UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 0, 0, 4)]forState:UIControlStateNormal];
This establishes that the image has an insert with an edge of 4, you can do whatever you want.
I will not fully explain this part, since it is not directly part of your question.