Automate Per-App Volume on Mac with Shortcuts

Short answer: macOS can't automate per-app volume on its own. SoundDial adds six actions to the Shortcuts app (Set App Volume, Mute App, Mute All Apps, Apply Volume Profile, Set Output Device, Set App Output Device) and sounddial:// links that any launcher or script can open.

You do the same volume routine every day. Music down before the first meeting, Slack muted during focus time, the podcast app up when you put your headphones on, everything back to normal in the evening. Each change takes a few seconds, but they add up, and you forget half of them. So can a Mac do this for you, per app?

What macOS can automate on its own

Apple's Shortcuts app can change the system volume, and you can run a shortcut from the menu bar or with a keyboard shortcut. But macOS has no per-app volume in the first place, so there is nothing in Shortcuts that says "set Spotify to 40%" or "mute Slack". A few apps have their own volume control you could reach some other way, but most don't.

To automate per-app volume, you need an app that has per-app volume and exposes it to automation.

SoundDial's Shortcuts actions

SoundDial is a menu-bar app that gives each app that plays sound its own volume slider from 0% to 200%. Version 2.0 adds six actions to the Shortcuts app:

• Set App Volume: set one app's volume.
• Mute App: Mute, Unmute or Toggle one app.
• Mute All Apps: mute every app at once.
• Apply Volume Profile: switch to a profile you've saved.
• Set Output Device: change the Mac's output device.
• Set App Output Device: send one app to a specific output device.

The actions work without opening a SoundDial window, so a shortcut runs in the background and you just hear the result.

Build your first shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
2. Search the actions for SoundDial.
3. Add Set App Volume, pick the app (for example Spotify) and enter 40.
4. Add Mute App, pick Slack and choose Mute.
5. Name the shortcut, for example "Deep work", and run it.

Profiles make this even shorter. In SoundDial, set your apps the way you like them, choose Save current mix as a profile and name it, say, Work. A profile stores each app's volume, mute, EQ and balance. A single Apply Volume Profile action then brings back the whole mix: running apps change right away, and the others pick up their settings the next time they launch.

One limit to plan for: profiles don't store output routing. If your Work setup also sends Spotify to your speakers, add a Set App Output Device action after Apply Volume Profile in the same shortcut.

sounddial:// links for launchers and scripts

SoundDial also responds to sounddial:// links. Any launcher or script that can open a URL can control it, and so can open in Terminal:

open "sounddial://volume?app=Spotify&value=40"

The commands:

• sounddial://volume?app=Spotify&value=40 (value 0 to 200)
• sounddial://mute?app=Slack, sounddial://unmute?app=Slack, sounddial://toggle-mute?app=Slack
• sounddial://mute-all
• sounddial://profile?name=Work applies a profile; sounddial://profile-save?name=Work saves the current mix under that name
• sounddial://output?device=AirPods sets the Mac's output device
• sounddial://route?app=Spotify&device=Speakers sends one app to a device
• sounddial://eq?app=Spotify&preset=bassBoost sets an EQ preset
• sounddial://balance?app=Spotify&value=-50 (-100 is fully left, 100 fully right)
• sounddial://output-volume?value=40 and sounddial://sample-rate?value=48000
• sounddial://toggle, sounddial://show, sounddial://hide, and sounddial://settings?section= to open Settings

Two global hotkeys

SoundDial also has two global hotkeys: Control-Option-S shows or hides SoundDial, and Control-Option-M mutes or unmutes all apps shown in the main list. They don't need the Accessibility permission, and in Settings you can record a different key, reset them or turn them off. SoundDial flags a combination that conflicts with another shortcut.

Automation ideas

A mix for each part of the day

Make one shortcut per routine: "Work" applies your Work profile, "Evening" applies a quieter one. Put them in the menu bar or give them keyboard shortcuts, and switching your whole mix is one click. If your version of the Shortcuts app offers automations, you can also run them when something happens on your Mac, such as a Focus turning on.

One key for quick changes

Point a launcher command or a keyboard-triggered script at sounddial://volume?app=Spotify&value=40 and another at sounddial://toggle-mute?app=Slack. A few keystrokes and the change is done.

Desk setup vs. headphones

A "Desk" shortcut: Set Output Device to your speakers, Set App Output Device to keep your call app on your headphones, then Apply Volume Profile. A "Mobile" shortcut switches everything back.

Calls take care of themselves

You don't need to automate calls. The setting Lower other apps during calls is on by default: when Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, Slack, Discord or one of the listed browsers starts using audio input, other playing apps drop to 30% of their volume (you can set 5% to 80%) and come back when the call ends. The calling app itself is never lowered.

Common questions

Can Shortcuts change one app's volume without SoundDial?

Not in general. macOS has no per-app volume, so Shortcuts on its own can only change the system volume.

Does Set Output Device change one app or the whole Mac?

Set Output Device changes the Mac's output. For one app, use Set App Output Device, which does the same as ⋯ → Play Through in the popover.

Do profiles remember which device each app plays on?

No. Profiles store volume, mute, EQ and balance, not routing. Add Set App Output Device or a sounddial://route link to your automation if routing matters.

Can I control individual browser tabs this way?

No. SoundDial works per app, not per browser tab, so all Chrome tabs share Chrome's volume.

Does any of this need an internet connection?

No. Shortcuts actions and URL commands run on your Mac. SoundDial has no network entitlement and no account.

SoundDial, a per-app volume mixer for Mac needs macOS 14.2 or later and costs €14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, no subscription.

Get SoundDial on the Mac App Store.