diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index 0bfe39b1ce..5ecaeb9568 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -167,16 +167,18 @@
   * Allow missing hours and milliseconds in SubRip (.srt) timecodes
     ([#7122](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/7122)).
 * Audio:
-  * Prevent case where another app spuriously holding transient audio focus
-    could prevent ExoPlayer from acquiring audio focus for an indefinite period
-    of time ([#7182](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/7182).
-  * Workaround issue that could cause slower than realtime playback of AAC on
-    Android 10 ([#6671](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/6671).
   * Enable playback speed adjustment and silence skipping for floating point PCM
     audio, via resampling to 16-bit integer PCM. To output the original floating
     point audio without adjustment, pass `enableFloatOutput=true` to the
     `DefaultAudioSink` constructor
     ([#7134](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/7134)).
+  * Workaround issue that could cause slower than realtime playback of AAC on
+    Android 10 ([#6671](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/6671).
+  * Fix case where another app spuriously holding transient audio focus could
+    prevent ExoPlayer from acquiring audio focus for an indefinite period of
+    time ([#7182](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/7182).
+  * Fix case where the player volume could be permanently ducked if audio focus
+    was released whilst ducking.
   * Fix playback of WAV files with trailing non-media bytes
     ([#7129](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/7129)).
   * Fix playback of ADTS files with mid-stream ID3 metadata.
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManager.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManager.java
index 30da62b944..5aeca440ff 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManager.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManager.java
@@ -75,15 +75,12 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
   @Documented
   @Retention(RetentionPolicy.SOURCE)
   @IntDef({
-    AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOST_FOCUS,
     AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS,
     AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_HAVE_FOCUS,
     AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT,
     AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT_DUCK
   })
   private @interface AudioFocusState {}
-  /** No audio focus was held, but has been lost by another app taking it permanently. */
-  private static final int AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOST_FOCUS = -1;
   /** No audio focus is currently being held. */
   private static final int AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS = 0;
   /** The requested audio focus is currently held. */
@@ -100,7 +97,7 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
 
   private final AudioManager audioManager;
   private final AudioFocusListener focusListener;
-  private final PlayerControl playerControl;
+  @Nullable private PlayerControl playerControl;
   @Nullable private AudioAttributes audioAttributes;
 
   @AudioFocusState private int audioFocusState;
@@ -165,6 +162,15 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
     return playWhenReady ? requestAudioFocus() : PLAYER_COMMAND_DO_NOT_PLAY;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Called when the manager is no longer required. Audio focus will be released without making any
+   * calls to the {@link PlayerControl}.
+   */
+  public void release() {
+    playerControl = null;
+    abandonAudioFocus();
+  }
+
   // Internal methods.
 
   @VisibleForTesting
@@ -183,10 +189,10 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
     }
     int requestResult = Util.SDK_INT >= 26 ? requestAudioFocusV26() : requestAudioFocusDefault();
     if (requestResult == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_REQUEST_GRANTED) {
-      audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_HAVE_FOCUS;
+      setAudioFocusState(AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_HAVE_FOCUS);
       return PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY;
     } else {
-      audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS;
+      setAudioFocusState(AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS);
       return PLAYER_COMMAND_DO_NOT_PLAY;
     }
   }
@@ -200,7 +206,7 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
     } else {
       abandonAudioFocusDefault();
     }
-    audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS;
+    setAudioFocusState(AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS);
   }
 
   private int requestAudioFocusDefault() {
@@ -325,63 +331,55 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
     }
   }
 
-  private void handleAudioFocusChange(int focusChange) {
-    // Convert the platform focus change to internal state.
-    switch (focusChange) {
-      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS:
-        audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOST_FOCUS;
-        break;
-      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT:
-        audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT;
-        break;
-      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK:
-        if (willPauseWhenDucked()) {
-          audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT;
-        } else {
-          audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT_DUCK;
-        }
-        break;
-      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN:
-        audioFocusState = AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_HAVE_FOCUS;
-        break;
-      default:
-        Log.w(TAG, "Unknown focus change type: " + focusChange);
-        // Early return.
-        return;
-    }
-
-    // Handle the internal state (change).
-    switch (audioFocusState) {
-      case AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_NO_FOCUS:
-        // Focus was not requested; nothing to do.
-        break;
-      case AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOST_FOCUS:
-        playerControl.executePlayerCommand(PLAYER_COMMAND_DO_NOT_PLAY);
-        abandonAudioFocus();
-        break;
-      case AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT:
-        playerControl.executePlayerCommand(PLAYER_COMMAND_WAIT_FOR_CALLBACK);
-        break;
-      case AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT_DUCK:
-        // Volume will be adjusted by the code below.
-        break;
-      case AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_HAVE_FOCUS:
-        playerControl.executePlayerCommand(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
-        break;
-      default:
-        throw new IllegalStateException("Unknown audio focus state: " + audioFocusState);
+  private void setAudioFocusState(@AudioFocusState int audioFocusState) {
+    if (this.audioFocusState == audioFocusState) {
+      return;
     }
+    this.audioFocusState = audioFocusState;
 
     float volumeMultiplier =
         (audioFocusState == AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT_DUCK)
             ? AudioFocusManager.VOLUME_MULTIPLIER_DUCK
             : AudioFocusManager.VOLUME_MULTIPLIER_DEFAULT;
-    if (this.volumeMultiplier != volumeMultiplier) {
-      this.volumeMultiplier = volumeMultiplier;
+    if (this.volumeMultiplier == volumeMultiplier) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.volumeMultiplier = volumeMultiplier;
+    if (playerControl != null) {
       playerControl.setVolumeMultiplier(volumeMultiplier);
     }
   }
 
+  private void handlePlatformAudioFocusChange(int focusChange) {
+    switch (focusChange) {
+      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN:
+        setAudioFocusState(AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_HAVE_FOCUS);
+        executePlayerCommand(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
+        return;
+      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS:
+        executePlayerCommand(PLAYER_COMMAND_DO_NOT_PLAY);
+        abandonAudioFocus();
+        return;
+      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT:
+      case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK:
+        if (focusChange == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT || willPauseWhenDucked()) {
+          executePlayerCommand(PLAYER_COMMAND_WAIT_FOR_CALLBACK);
+          setAudioFocusState(AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT);
+        } else {
+          setAudioFocusState(AUDIO_FOCUS_STATE_LOSS_TRANSIENT_DUCK);
+        }
+        return;
+      default:
+        Log.w(TAG, "Unknown focus change type: " + focusChange);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private void executePlayerCommand(@PlayerCommand int playerCommand) {
+    if (playerControl != null) {
+      playerControl.executePlayerCommand(playerCommand);
+    }
+  }
+
   // Internal audio focus listener.
 
   private class AudioFocusListener implements AudioManager.OnAudioFocusChangeListener {
@@ -393,7 +391,7 @@ import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.MonotonicNonNull;
 
     @Override
     public void onAudioFocusChange(int focusChange) {
-      eventHandler.post(() -> handleAudioFocusChange(focusChange));
+      eventHandler.post(() -> handlePlatformAudioFocusChange(focusChange));
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/SimpleExoPlayer.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/SimpleExoPlayer.java
index e940be00a2..b09cdace9d 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/SimpleExoPlayer.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/SimpleExoPlayer.java
@@ -1565,9 +1565,9 @@ public class SimpleExoPlayer extends BasePlayer
   public void release() {
     verifyApplicationThread();
     audioBecomingNoisyManager.setEnabled(false);
-    audioFocusManager.updateAudioFocus(/* playWhenReady= */ false, Player.STATE_IDLE);
     wakeLockManager.setStayAwake(false);
     wifiLockManager.setStayAwake(false);
+    audioFocusManager.release();
     player.release();
     removeSurfaceCallbacks();
     if (surface != null) {
diff --git a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManagerTest.java b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManagerTest.java
index 8735840e7b..f05d001adf 100644
--- a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManagerTest.java
+++ b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/AudioFocusManagerTest.java
@@ -229,6 +229,54 @@ public class AudioFocusManagerTest {
         .isEqualTo(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void updateAudioFocus_pausedToPlaying_withTransientDuck_setsPlayerCommandPlayWhenReady() {
+    AudioAttributes media = new AudioAttributes.Builder().setUsage(C.USAGE_MEDIA).build();
+    Shadows.shadowOf(audioManager)
+        .setNextFocusRequestResponse(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_REQUEST_GRANTED);
+    audioFocusManager.setAudioAttributes(media);
+
+    assertThat(audioFocusManager.updateAudioFocus(/* playWhenReady= */ true, Player.STATE_READY))
+        .isEqualTo(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
+
+    // Simulate transient ducking.
+    audioFocusManager
+        .getFocusListener()
+        .onAudioFocusChange(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK);
+    assertThat(testPlayerControl.lastVolumeMultiplier).isLessThan(1.0f);
+
+    // Focus should be re-requested, rather than staying in a state of transient ducking. This
+    // should restore the volume to 1.0.
+    assertThat(audioFocusManager.updateAudioFocus(/* playWhenReady= */ true, Player.STATE_READY))
+        .isEqualTo(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
+    assertThat(testPlayerControl.lastVolumeMultiplier).isEqualTo(1.0f);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void updateAudioFocus_abandonFocusWhenDucked_restoresFullVolume() {
+    AudioAttributes media = new AudioAttributes.Builder().setUsage(C.USAGE_MEDIA).build();
+    Shadows.shadowOf(audioManager)
+        .setNextFocusRequestResponse(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_REQUEST_GRANTED);
+    audioFocusManager.setAudioAttributes(media);
+
+    assertThat(audioFocusManager.updateAudioFocus(/* playWhenReady= */ true, Player.STATE_READY))
+        .isEqualTo(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
+
+    // Simulate transient ducking.
+    audioFocusManager
+        .getFocusListener()
+        .onAudioFocusChange(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK);
+    assertThat(testPlayerControl.lastVolumeMultiplier).isLessThan(1.0f);
+
+    // Configure the manager to no longer handle audio focus.
+    audioFocusManager.setAudioAttributes(null);
+
+    // Focus should be abandoned, which should restore the volume to 1.0.
+    assertThat(audioFocusManager.updateAudioFocus(/* playWhenReady= */ true, Player.STATE_READY))
+        .isEqualTo(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
+    assertThat(testPlayerControl.lastVolumeMultiplier).isEqualTo(1.0f);
+  }
+
   @Test
   @Config(maxSdk = 25)
   public void updateAudioFocus_readyToIdle_abandonsAudioFocus() {
@@ -318,6 +366,28 @@ public class AudioFocusManagerTest {
     assertThat(Shadows.shadowOf(audioManager).getLastAbandonedAudioFocusRequest()).isNull();
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void release_doesNotCallPlayerControlToRestoreVolume() {
+    AudioAttributes media = new AudioAttributes.Builder().setUsage(C.USAGE_MEDIA).build();
+    Shadows.shadowOf(audioManager)
+        .setNextFocusRequestResponse(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_REQUEST_GRANTED);
+    audioFocusManager.setAudioAttributes(media);
+
+    assertThat(audioFocusManager.updateAudioFocus(/* playWhenReady= */ true, Player.STATE_READY))
+        .isEqualTo(PLAYER_COMMAND_PLAY_WHEN_READY);
+
+    // Simulate transient ducking.
+    audioFocusManager
+        .getFocusListener()
+        .onAudioFocusChange(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK);
+    assertThat(testPlayerControl.lastVolumeMultiplier).isLessThan(1.0f);
+
+    audioFocusManager.release();
+
+    // PlaybackController.setVolumeMultiplier should not have been called to restore the volume.
+    assertThat(testPlayerControl.lastVolumeMultiplier).isLessThan(1.0f);
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void onAudioFocusChange_withDuckEnabled_volumeReducedAndRestored() {
     // Ensure that the volume multiplier is adjusted when audio focus is lost to
@@ -367,7 +437,7 @@ public class AudioFocusManagerTest {
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void onAudioFocusChange_withTransientLost_sendsCommandWaitForCallback() {
+  public void onAudioFocusChange_withTransientLoss_sendsCommandWaitForCallback() {
     // Ensure that the player is commanded to pause when audio focus is lost with
     // AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT.
     AudioAttributes media = new AudioAttributes.Builder().setUsage(C.USAGE_MEDIA).build();
@@ -385,7 +455,7 @@ public class AudioFocusManagerTest {
 
   @Test
   @Config(maxSdk = 25)
-  public void onAudioFocusChange_withAudioFocusLost_sendsDoNotPlayAndAbandondsFocus() {
+  public void onAudioFocusChange_withFocusLoss_sendsDoNotPlayAndAbandonsFocus() {
     // Ensure that AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS causes AudioFocusManager to pause playback and abandon audio
     // focus.
     AudioAttributes media =
@@ -411,7 +481,7 @@ public class AudioFocusManagerTest {
 
   @Test
   @Config(minSdk = 26, maxSdk = TARGET_SDK)
-  public void onAudioFocusChange_withAudioFocusLost_sendsDoNotPlayAndAbandondsFocus_v26() {
+  public void onAudioFocusChange_withFocusLoss_sendsDoNotPlayAndAbandonsFocus_v26() {
     // Ensure that AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS causes AudioFocusManager to pause playback and abandon audio
     // focus.
     AudioAttributes media =