How to Control the Volume of Each App on Your Mac
How to Control the Volume of Each App on Your Mac
If you are a Mac user, you may have encountered situations where you want to control the volume of individual apps separately. This can be useful when you want to listen to music at a lower volume while keeping the volume of other apps, such as video conferencing software, higher. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to achieve this level of control. In this article, we will explore different ways to control the volume of each app on your Mac.
1. Using the Volume Mixer:
– Open the “System Preferences” on your Mac.
– Click on the “Sound” icon.
– Go to the “Output” tab.
– Check the box that says “Show volume in menu bar.”
– Close the “Sound” window.
– Now, you will see a volume icon in the menu bar.
– Click on the volume icon and select “Open Volume Mixer.”
– A window will appear showing all the open apps with individual volume sliders.
– Adjust the volume sliders for each app according to your preference.
2. Using Third-Party Apps:
– There are several third-party apps available that provide more advanced volume control options.
– One popular app is “Background Music,” which allows you to control the volume of each app individually.
– Download and install the app from the Mac App Store or the developer’s website.
– Once installed, open the app and you will see a list of all the open apps.
– Adjust the volume sliders for each app as desired.
3. Using Keyboard Shortcuts:
– Mac also offers keyboard shortcuts to control the volume of individual apps.
– Open the app for which you want to control the volume.
– Press and hold the “Option” key on your keyboard.
– While holding the “Option” key, press the volume up or down keys.
– This will adjust the volume of the selected app only.
4. Using Audio MIDI Setup:
– Open the “Audio MIDI Setup” app on your Mac.
– You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
– In the app, click on the “+” button at the bottom left corner and select “Create Multi-Output Device.”
– Check the boxes next to the apps you want to control individually.
– Close the app and go to the “Sound” settings in “System Preferences.”
– Select the newly created multi-output device as the output device.
– Now, you can control the volume of each app separately by adjusting the volume slider for the multi-output device.
5. Using Soundflower:
– Soundflower is a free third-party app that allows you to route audio between different apps.
– Download and install Soundflower from the developer’s website.
– Once installed, go to “System Preferences” and open the “Sound” settings.
– In the “Output” tab, select Soundflower (2ch) as the output device.
– Open the app for which you want to control the volume.
– Go back to the “Sound” settings and select your regular output device.
– Now, you can control the volume of the selected app separately.
In conclusion, controlling the volume of each app on your Mac can be achieved through various methods. Whether you prefer using the built-in volume mixer, third-party apps, keyboard shortcuts, or audio routing tools, there are options available to suit your needs. Experiment with these methods to find the one that works best for you and enjoy personalized volume control on your Mac.
