Microphone mute hotkey on macOS.md

1. Open Automator.app
2. Create new Quick Action
3. Select Run AppleScript
4. Add this:

set inputVolume to input volume of (get volume settings)
if inputVolume = 0 then
	set inputVolume to 100
	display notification "Volume set to 100" with title "✅ Microphone is on"
else
	set inputVolume to 0
	display notification "Volume set to 0" with title "❌ Microphone is off"
end if
set volume input volume inputVolume

5. Save as mute-microphone
6. Go to System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Services -> General
7. Find the mute-microphone service and set the hotkey (e.g. control-cmd-option M)

I've found https://redsweater.com/fastscripts/ to be better/faster than Automator for this task. More info at https://gist.github.com/henrik242/4e64e208a184f540a80a343187e075c1

I needed to include without output muted to keep my speakers from also muting.

ie

if input volume of (get volume settings) = 0 then
	set volume input volume 100
	display notification "✅ unmuted" with title "Microphone"
else
	set volume input volume 0 without output muted
	display notification "❌ muted" with title "Microphone"
end if

Overall, works great. Thanks for the script.

Works great on MacOS Monterey, thank you ;)

It doesn't work for me on Monterey. It just says ❌ muted. But the sliders of Input doesn't go down. Also, the microphone remains just as it was before. When trying to run the code again via the keyboard shortcut, it will does the same thing instead of acting as a toggle.

My Automator app does have the accessibility permission but still facing this issue. I have searched a lot. Can someone please assist me on this?

It doesn't work for me on Monterey. It just says ❌ muted. But the sliders of Input doesn't go down. Also, the microphone remains just as it was before. When trying to run the code again via the keyboard shortcut, it will does the same thing instead of acting as a toggle.

My Automator app does have the accessibility permission but still facing this issue. I have searched a lot. Can someone please assist me on this?

This article will walk you through the nitty gritty steps. Just substitute his code above instead of the link's (though it does the same thing).

https://medium.com/macoclock/how-in-the-bleep-do-i-mute-my-mic-anywhere-on-macos-d2fa1185b13

It doesn't work for me on Monterey. It just says ❌ muted. But the sliders of Input doesn't go down. Also, the microphone remains just as it was before. When trying to run the code again via the keyboard shortcut, it will does the same thing instead of acting as a toggle.
My Automator app does have the accessibility permission but still facing this issue. I have searched a lot. Can someone please assist me on this?

This article will walk you through the nitty gritty steps. Just substitute his code above instead of the link's (though it does the same thing).

https://medium.com/macoclock/how-in-the-bleep-do-i-mute-my-mic-anywhere-on-macos-d2fa1185b13

Doesn't work for bluetooth devices since MacOS 12.2.
This used to be so useful before Monterey.

Thank you so much. It works on Monterey, although sometimes the shortcut keys don't work until I reopen the Automator app.

not working in Monterey, same issue like @mohmdshbbr , @mohmdshbbr do you have way to solved it ?

It works for some devices, but not all. And it seems to work for me with at least one bluetooth device, but not with two USB devices.

For individuals who have an issue of this not working on Monterey,
The simple modification is to compare the inputVolume to be < 10

In Monterey, apparently, the mic volume cannot be set to 0 lol, After someone sets it to 0, the OS makes it as 4 for some unknown reason! Here is the modified version:

set inputVolume to input volume of (get volume settings)

log inputVolume

if inputVolume < 5 then
	set inputVolume to 100
	display notification "Volume set to 100" with title "✅ Microphone is on"
else
	set inputVolume to 0
	display notification "Volume set to 0" with title "❌ Microphone is off"
end if
set volume input volume inputVolume

P.S> THe script runs by itself, but even after enabling Automator in Security & Privacy as Accessibility, the keyboard shortcut does seem to trigger the same. Gotta solve this later

@ninadpchaudhari's solution solves the problem. Works on my Monterey 12.4. Thanks!

@ninadpchaudhari Did you fix the problem with the shortcut?
I'm on BigSur and shortcut does not work.

that works kind of like a charm with stream deck and audio mute BUT not 100%. if i mute via stream deck I cannot unmute via hotkey

Muting works for me, but notifications just don't pop up (they are in the notifcation centre though).

If you use focus modes/do not disturb, you'll have to add "Script Editor" to the allowed app's section under the focus mode settings.

This only works when System Preferences is open. Any help?

What about MacOS 13.0.1 (Ventura)?

Please give the solution for MacOS Ventura

This is what I use for MacOS Ventura:

on getMicrophoneVolume()
	input volume of (get volume settings)
end getMicrophoneVolume
on disableMicrophone()
	set volume input volume 0
	display notification "❌" with title "Microphone is off"
end disableMicrophone
on enableMicrophone()
	set volume input volume 100
	display notification "✅" with title "Microphone is on"
end enableMicrophone

if getMicrophoneVolume() is greater than 0 then
	disableMicrophone()
else
	enableMicrophone()
end if

But I cannot find this mute-microphone in System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Services -> General in macOs Ventura

I had the same issue as you. System Preferences doesn't update the list after you save the script. After saving it, you have to close System Preferences and open it again.

Works for me consistently on 13.2.1, with a bit of lag. Thanks for a great solution!

I also have some lag. @kylechadha

yeah. MacOS sucks 😂 😭

How to always see microphone status indicator (muted/on)? In dock/bar near clock, battery, wifi status. @kylechadha

Perfect!

set inputVolume to input volume of (get volume settings)

if inputVolume = 0 then
	set inputVolume to 100
	display notification "Volume set to 100" with title "✅ Microphone is on"
	delay 2
else
	set inputVolume to 0
	display notification "Volume set to 0" with title "❌ Microphone is off"
	delay 2
end if
set volume input volume inputVolume
delay 5

Also u can save as app this script, and launch him with shortcut

At first, I was frustrated that @henrik242's script didn't work for me. I suspect that many of you may be running into the same issue I had.

The problem for me was that my Shure Digital X2U microphone input had no way of digitally muting it:

My solution was to create a Loopback device using the aptly named app called Loopback with the following simple configuration:

I now have a device that I can select as my input that has an "input volume" slider:

Problem solved! Now @henrik242's unmodified AppleScript works flawlessly on macOS Sonoma 14.3.1.

I got the script itself to run instantly using a keyboard shortcut in FastScripts.

---

Additional notes:

Automator: I too have noticed in the past that using Automator is slow. Don't bother, unless you need something free.

BetterTouchTool: This works in BetterTouchTool as well, but the "display notification..." doesn't work; you'll have to use the built-in one, but that one can't alternate between Muted/Unmuted notifications.

So, ideally just use FastScripts for this.

I also slightly tweaked @henrik242's script as follows, incorporating some of the flourishes of others:

set inputVolume to input volume of (get volume settings)

if inputVolume < 50 then
	set volume input volume 100
	display notification "✅ Unmuted" with title "Microphone 🎤"
else
	set volume input volume 0
	display notification "❌ Muted" with title "Microphone 🎤"
end if

You can link others to this solution here.

Thanks a lot. works great for sonoma!
if you can add or explain how to add an icon in status menu item (i'm not sure about the name, near the clock). It will be perfect. I don't find yet.

mac newbie.

Thanks, it works on sequoia 15.0.1