The MixDesk blog
Straight answers about controlling sound on a Mac.
A Mac volume mixer like the Windows one
Switched from a PC and miss the right-click Volume Mixer? Here's the closest thing on macOS, and where it matches Windows and where it honestly doesn't.
How to mute an app on Mac fast (one click from the menu bar)
One app suddenly blares and you want it silent NOW. Here are the fastest ways to mute a single app on a Mac, and the one-click way from the menu bar.
A Sound Control alternative for Mac
Sound Control by Static Z Software gave every app its own volume and EQ, but it's effectively unmaintained on modern macOS. Here are your real options today.
How to mute YouTube (and its ads) on a Mac
An autoplay YouTube video or a mid-roll ad blasts out of nowhere. Here's how to mute YouTube on a Mac fast — the tab-mute trick and a one-click browser mute.
A Background Music alternative for macOS
Background Music is free and popular, but it installs an audio driver and can break. Here's a maintained, no-driver alternative for per-app control on the Mac.
The best menu-bar volume control for Mac
The built-in Mac volume control is one slider in the menu bar. Here's what a good menu-bar volume app should do, and the native, one-click pick I'd reach for.
How to control Spotify's volume separately on your Mac
Spotify blasting while everything else sits quiet? Here's why Spotify's own volume is clumsy on a Mac, and how to give it a proper separate slider.
How to mute or lower music during calls on your Mac (Zoom, Teams, Discord)
Music blasting when a Zoom call starts? Here's how to quickly mute or lower music and browser audio on your Mac the moment you join a call.
How to mute a browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) on your Mac
A hidden tab starts blasting an autoplay ad and you can't find it. Here's how to mute Chrome, Safari, or Firefox on a Mac fast — tab by tab, or all at once.
One app is way too loud on your Mac? Here's how to fix per-app audio
One app blasting while everything else is fine? Here's why macOS gives you a single slider, and how to find the loud app and turn it down or mute it fast.
A simpler, cheaper SoundSource alternative for Mac
SoundSource is excellent but costs $47 and does a lot. If you just want to see levels, mute anything, and control your music, MixDesk is $9. Here's how to pick.
How to balance sound between apps on macOS
Game too loud over your call? Music drowning out a podcast? Here's how to balance the volume of different apps on a Mac.
How to see which apps are using audio on your Mac
Hearing sound but can't tell where it's coming from? Here's how to find which app is using your Mac's audio right now.
Why doesn't macOS have a volume mixer like Windows?
Windows has had a per-app volume mixer for over a decade. The Mac still doesn't. Here's the actual reason, and what you can do about it.
How to mute one app on a Mac without muting everything
You want to silence one noisy app and leave the rest playing. macOS makes that harder than it should be. Here's how to do it.
How to control the volume of individual apps on a Mac
macOS only gives you one volume slider for everything. Here are the real options for setting the volume of individual apps, from free workarounds to a proper mixer.