How to Change Audio Output Per App on Mac (3 Working Methods)

The Problem: macOS Doesn't Let You Route Apps to Different Outputs

Picture this: you're listening to music through your speakers while on a Discord call through your headphones. On Windows, this is trivial. On Mac? Apple expects you to manually switch your system audio output every time you want to change where sound goes.

This becomes especially frustrating when you have multiple audio devices — AirPods, external speakers, a USB headset, and your MacBook's built-in speakers. Why should everything play through the same output when you want different apps going to different places?

Method 1: Use Audio MIDI Setup (Limited Built-in Option)

macOS includes a hidden feature called "Multi-Output Device" that can send audio to multiple outputs simultaneously, but it can't route specific apps to specific outputs.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (found in /Applications/Utilities/)
2. Click the + button and select "Create Multi-Output Device"
3. Check the boxes for the audio devices you want to use
4. Set this multi-output device as your system default in System Settings > Sound

The downside? Every app plays through every selected output. You can't send Spotify to speakers and Discord to headphones — everything goes everywhere.

Method 2: Use Individual App Settings (When Available)

Some apps have built-in audio output selection, but it's inconsistent across macOS apps:

Apps with output selection:

• Spotify: Go to Preferences > Audio Quality > Output Device
• VLC: Audio > Audio Device while playing media
• Discord: Settings > Voice & Video > Output Device
• Zoom: Settings > Audio > Speaker

Apps without output selection:

• Safari (including YouTube, Netflix)
• Chrome and most browsers
• Apple Music
• Most Mac apps

This patchwork approach works for some apps, but you're out of luck with most software that doesn't include its own audio settings.

Method 3: Use a Per-App Audio Controller

The most reliable solution is using software designed specifically for per-app audio routing. SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba is the gold standard here — it can route any app to any output device, but costs $49.

For basic per-app routing without the premium price, Soundish offers the core functionality:

• Route any app to any connected audio device
• Per-app volume control (0-200%)
• Per-app mute controls
• Save audio profiles to quickly switch between configurations
• Works with multi-process apps like Chrome

Soundish requires macOS 14.2+ and uses Apple's Core Audio Tap API, so it needs a one-time driver install on first launch.

Setting Up Per-App Audio Routing with Soundish

1. Install and launch Soundish from the menu bar
2. Grant permissions when prompted (required for audio routing)
3. Open the apps you want to route to different outputs
4. Click on each app in Soundish's interface
5. Select the output device from the dropdown menu
6. Save as a profile if you want to quickly restore this configuration later

For example, you could route:

• Spotify → External speakers
• Discord → USB headset
• Zoom → AirPods
• System sounds → Built-in speakers

Why This Matters for Different Use Cases

Remote workers often need calls through a headset while keeping music or notifications through speakers. Content creators might want game audio through headphones while streaming software sends to speakers. Music producers need different apps routed to different monitors in their audio setup.

Apple's one-output-fits-all approach works for basic use, but falls apart as soon as you have multiple audio devices and want granular control.

What About AirPlay and Bluetooth?

Per-app routing works with any audio output macOS recognizes — USB headsets, Bluetooth headphones, AirPlay speakers, audio interfaces, even HDMI audio through external monitors.

The key limitation is that some apps (especially those using their own audio frameworks) might need to be restarted after changing their output routing.

Getting Started

If you only need occasional output switching, try using apps' built-in settings where available. For consistent per-app routing across all your software, dedicated audio routing tools provide the Windows-style volume mixer experience that macOS lacks natively.

The ability to send different apps to different outputs transforms how you use multiple audio devices with your Mac — no more constantly switching system audio output or dealing with everything playing through the same speakers.