The Problem with Mac Volume Control
Mac users coming from Windows often miss having dedicated volume hotkeys for individual applications. On macOS, the volume keys only control system-wide audio, which means turning down a loud Chrome tab also affects your music, video calls, and notification sounds.
While macOS has excellent global volume controls, it lacks the granular per-application hotkey support that many productivity-focused users need. Here's how to get proper per-app volume hotkeys on your Mac.
Why macOS Doesn't Have Built-in Per-App Volume Hotkeys
Apple designed macOS audio around the concept of unified system control. The reasoning was that users should manage audio at the source (within each app) rather than through system-level mixers. This philosophy works well for casual use, but breaks down when you're juggling multiple audio sources throughout the day.
Unlike Windows, which has included a volume mixer with per-app hotkey support since Vista, macOS requires third-party solutions to achieve this functionality.
Method 1: Using Third-Party Apps with Hotkey Support
Apps That Don't Offer Hotkeys
Surprisingly, many popular Mac audio control apps don't include hotkey functionality:
- Audio Hijack - Powerful for recording but no volume hotkeys
- BackgroundMusic - Free but lacks hotkey configuration
- eqMac - Focuses on EQ rather than hotkey control
Apps with Limited Hotkey Support
SoundSource ($49) offers some keyboard shortcut functionality, but it's primarily designed around its interface rather than quick hotkey access. While comprehensive, it's expensive if you only need basic per-app volume control.
Dedicated Per-App Volume Control
Soundish provides per-app volume control with a clean menu bar interface. While it doesn't currently include custom hotkeys for individual apps (this is a planned feature), it offers the core functionality of controlling each app's volume independently - from 0% to 200% with volume overdrive.
You can quickly access any app's volume through the menu bar, and it includes master volume control alongside per-app settings. At a fraction of SoundSource's price, it's ideal for users who need reliable per-app audio control without the complexity.
Method 2: Using macOS Shortcuts App
You can create custom shortcuts using macOS's built-in Shortcuts app, though this requires some technical setup:
- Open Shortcuts app
- Create a new shortcut
- Add "Run Shell Script" action
- Use osascript commands to control specific apps
- Assign keyboard shortcuts in System Preferences
This method works but requires maintenance as app names and processes change.
Method 3: Combining Apps with Keyboard Maestro
For advanced users, Keyboard Maestro ($36) can create custom hotkeys that interact with volume control apps:
- Set up your preferred volume control app (like Soundish)
- Create Keyboard Maestro macros that click specific menu items
- Assign custom hotkeys to these macros
- Get instant per-app volume control via keyboard
This approach gives you complete customization but requires learning Keyboard Maestro's interface.
What About Native App Controls?
Some apps include their own volume hotkeys:
- Spotify: Cmd + Up/Down for volume
- VLC: Cmd + Up/Down for volume
- Chrome: No native volume hotkeys
- Discord: Push-to-talk hotkeys but no volume control
The inconsistency across apps is exactly why system-level solutions work better.
Best Approach for Most Users
For most Mac users wanting per-app volume control, the most practical approach is:
- Start with a dedicated volume control app like Soundish for reliable per-app audio management
- Use the menu bar interface for quick access (faster than you'd expect)
- Supplement with Keyboard Maestro if you need custom hotkeys for specific workflows
This combination gives you immediate per-app control without the complexity of setting up custom shortcuts for every application.
The Future of Mac Audio Control
Apple continues to improve macOS audio capabilities with each release. However, per-app volume hotkeys remain a niche feature that likely requires third-party solutions for the foreseeable future.
The good news is that current solutions work reliably and integrate well with macOS's audio system. Whether you choose a simple menu bar app or a complex automation setup, you can finally get the per-app audio control that should have been built into macOS years ago.
Originally published at appish.app
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