Mac Volume Hotkeys Per App: Control Individual App Volume Like a Pro

macOS's volume keys change the volume of everything at once. For hotkeys that act on one app you need an app: Soundish has global hotkeys for the app you're using (volume up, down and mute), and an option that makes your keyboard's own volume keys change the app in front.

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.

The volume shortcuts macOS already has

These all act on the Mac's overall volume:

• F10, F11 and F12 (or the volume keys on your keyboard): mute, volume down and volume up
• Option-Shift with a volume key: changes the volume in quarter steps
• Option with a volume key: opens the Sound settings

Press F11 and everything gets quieter: your music, Discord, Chrome tabs and system sounds alike.

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. It has global hotkeys for the app you're using (volume up, down and mute), hotkeys to cycle the output device and apply a profile, and it controls each app's volume independently, from 0% to 200%.

Set them in Soundish's Settings, under Hotkeys: none is set until you record one, and they need no permission. Focused App Volume Up and Down move the app in front by 10% at a time. There's also an option, Volume Keys Control Focused App, that makes your keyboard's volume keys change the app in front instead of the whole Mac; that one needs Device Control and Data Access (Accessibility before macOS 27).

You can quickly access any app's volume through the menu bar, and it includes a volume slider for each output device 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:

1. Open Shortcuts app
2. Create a new shortcut
3. Add "Run Shell Script" action
4. Use osascript commands to control specific apps
5. 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:

1. Set up your preferred volume control app (like Soundish)
2. Create Keyboard Maestro macros that click specific menu items
3. Assign custom hotkeys to these macros
4. 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:

1. Start with a dedicated volume control app like Soundish for reliable per-app audio management
2. Use the menu bar interface for quick access (faster than you'd expect)
3. 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. For a volume for every app, see how to control audio per app on Mac, and to silence one app, how to mute one app on Mac. 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.