App Volume Mixer
Per-app volume control in your menu bar, like the Windows Volume Mixer.
$9.99 one-time
Learn moreMac Sound & Audio Guide: Per-App Volume, Ducking, Outputs
How sound works on macOS, what the built-in controls can and cannot do, and how to fix the most common annoyances.
What macOS can do out of the box
| Task | Built into macOS? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Change the volume of everything | Yes | Volume keys, Control Center › Sound |
| Switch speakers or headphones | Yes | Control Center › Sound, or Option-click the Sound menu bar icon |
| Different volume per app | No | A per-app mixer such as App Volume Mixer |
| Mute one app only | No | Per-app mixer, or the app's own mute if it has one |
| Stop calls from lowering other apps | No setting | See why Macs duck audio during calls |
| Louder than 100% | No | Per-app boost (App Volume Mixer goes up to 400%) |
| Each app to a different speaker | No | Paid tools today — vote if you want this from us |
Useful built-in shortcuts
- Option-Shift + volume keys changes volume in quarter steps for fine control.
- Option + volume key opens Sound settings.
- Audio MIDI Setup (in Applications › Utilities) sets sample rate and creates multi-output devices, so one sound plays on two outputs at once.
Learn
Mac sound & audio guides
Clear answers to common Mac questions about sound, networking and automation.
App Volume MixerHow to Change the Volume of Individual Apps on MacmacOS has a single volume slider. Here is how to set a different volume for each app on your Mac — mute one app, keep another loud — in under a minute.Read guide App Volume MixerWhy Does My Mac Lower Other Apps' Volume During Calls? (And How to Fix It)FaceTime, Zoom, Teams and camera intercom apps make macOS duck all other sound. Here is what causes it, what you can change, and how to bring the volume back.Read guide Frequently asked questions
Does macOS have a volume mixer?
No. macOS has one system volume. A third-party app such as App Volume Mixer adds a slider and mute button for each app in the menu bar.
Why does my Mac get quieter when I join a call?
Call and intercom apps turn on Apple's voice processing, which automatically lowers other audio. There is no system setting to disable it; you can quit the app, adjust its audio settings, or boost the other apps.
Do I need an audio driver for per-app volume on Mac?
Not on macOS 14.2 or later. Core Audio process taps let an app change other apps' sound without installing a virtual audio device.
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