FlowSound fades and pauses Apple Music or Spotify when other apps play audio, then restores it when things become quiet again. Netease Cloud Music is available as an experimental adapter.
Independently distributed, without Apple notarization. First launch requires manual approval in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
Built for macOS 15+. Official Apple Music and Spotify support. Experimental Netease Cloud Music. Local-first, no analytics.
Featured on
Audio focus for your music app
No overlap. No sudden silence.
Without FlowSoundmanual
Apple Music / Spotify / Netease
Video / other audio
Two soundtracks compete until you pause one by hand.
With FlowSoundautomatic
Apple Music / Spotify / Netease
Video / other audio
fade outpauseresume
Music steps aside, then returns from the same paused position.
Avoid overlapping audio. Avoid sudden silence. Stay in flow.
New in 0.18.0
A clearer place for every setting.
Native controls, considered spacing, and a simpler way to decide which apps can interrupt your music.
Actual native interface with sample rules. Shown on macOS 26. Click to view full size.
Two lists. Clear choices.
Manage watched and ignored apps side by side, with app icons and aligned controls. Changes take effect only when you save.
Get the timing right.
Adjust fades and quiet time with familiar sliders, or enter an exact value in the dedicated Sound pane.
Know what’s happening.
See monitoring and permission status in Diagnostics. Recovery handles audio-device changes and sleep/wake, while playback controls respect observable manual changes.
The menu bar app listens for app audio activity, fades your selected music app out, pauses it, then restores the previous volume.
Trust
Simple, local, auditable.
Simple
Lives in the menu bar. Turn it on or off anytime.
Private
No recording, no uploads, no analytics, no server.
Open source
Built in Swift with Core Audio and local music app automation.
Permissions
Why macOS asks for access.
FlowSound needs a few local permissions to do one job. It does not use a network service.
Audio Capture
Used to detect whether other apps are producing audio.
Automation
Used to control the selected music app. Experimental adapters may also need Accessibility for menu commands.
Login Item
Optional, only if you enable Launch at Login.
FAQ
Small answers before you download.
Does FlowSound record audio?
No. FlowSound only computes local audio activity levels.
Does it upload anything?
No. FlowSound has no analytics, no server, and no upload feature.
Does it work with Spotify?
Yes. FlowSound supports Apple Music and Spotify through local AppleScript.
Can it support other music apps?
Apple Music and Spotify are official. Netease Cloud Music is experimental and uses menu commands plus Core Audio output feedback, so it may break if the app menu changes.
Does it support Chinese?
Yes. FlowSound supports English and Simplified Chinese, with automatic language selection and a manual preference.
Which version should I download?
0.18.0 is the current release for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Download the ZIP, move FlowSound to Applications, and follow the installation guide for first-launch approval.
Does it work on macOS 26 and 27?
FlowSound targets macOS 15 and later. A user reported that 0.17.0 runs on macOS 26; 0.18.0 has been built and its native interface reviewed on macOS 26. Building with the macOS 27 SDK does not establish macOS 27 runtime compatibility, which still needs testing.
Why does macOS warn me when opening it?
FlowSound is independently distributed with an ad-hoc signature and no Apple notarization. After verifying the download and trying to open it, use System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway, then confirm Open. The installation guide includes the full steps.
