Per-app volume control on Mac
Per-app volume control on Mac is what macOS leaves out, and SoundDial adds it: each running app gets its own slider in the menu bar.
The volume keys on a Mac change one thing: the output device. Music, a video call, a game and every notification share that one level. If the call is too quiet and the music too loud, you can only fix one of them by making the other worse.
How per-app volume works in SoundDial
- One slider per app, from silent up to 200%
- A mute button per app that leaves the other apps playing
- The Mac's own volume and output device at the top of the same panel
- Profiles that save every app's level, and auto-ducking that lowers other apps during calls
Click the SoundDial icon in the menu bar. You see the apps you have open, each with its own slider. Drag Spotify down, leave Zoom where it is, and the system volume does not move. Close the panel and keep working.
With the default setting "Remember last", SoundDial also keeps the level you set for each app. Mute is not remembered, and an app you open later may need a touch of its slider before the saved level applies.
Typical setups
- Music low and the video call at full volume while you work
- A browser video louder than the game in the background
- A chat app quiet enough that its sounds stop making you jump
SoundDial works per app, not per browser tab: all tabs of one browser share that browser's slider.
Requirements and price
SoundDial needs macOS 14.2 or later. It is sold on the Mac App Store as a €14.99 one-time purchase with no subscription, so installs and updates go through the App Store you already use.
FAQ
Does macOS have per-app volume control built in?
No. macOS has one output volume for all apps. Some apps have their own volume setting inside the app, but there is no system panel that lists every app with a slider. That gap is what SoundDial fills.
Will changing one app's volume change my system volume?
No. Each app has its own slider in SoundDial, separate from the system volume that your volume keys control.
Can I control single browser tabs?
No. SoundDial controls apps, so every tab in Chrome or Safari shares the browser's slider.
SoundDial: a volume slider and mute button for every app.
€14.99 one-time purchase · macOS 14.2+ · no subscription