Without VolumeKeys
Three familiar keys do nothing.
You reach for the interface or display every time you want to mute or change the volume.
VolumeKeys for macOS
Your Mac volume keys.
Working again.
Use F10, F11 and F12 with your external audio interface or compatible display—no extra window needed.
Use your Mac volume keys
F10, F11 and F12 control your external audio interface or compatible display—no additional VolumeKeys window needed.
VolumeKeys
The problem, solved
External audio shouldn’t disable your Mac volume keys.
Some audio interfaces and displays switch off F10, F11 and F12. VolumeKeys lets those three familiar keys control your chosen output again.
With VolumeKeys
Press the keys. Control the output.
Mute, turn down or turn up from your Mac keyboard—just as you expect.
45-second product tour
External audio.
Native controls.
Watch VolumeKeys bring F10, F11 and F12 back, switch between available outputs and stay quietly in the menu bar.
How it works
Three steps.
Then use your keys.
Install VolumeKeys, choose your interface, and keep using your Mac the way you already do.
Install
Run the installer. VolumeKeys appears in the menu bar. No Terminal and no complicated setup.
Choose your interface
Choose your audio interface or display and the output you want to control. VolumeKeys remembers both.
VolumeKeys
Use the keys
Press F10, F11 or F12 to mute, turn down or turn up. That’s it.
More than volume keys
Simple to use.
Careful with your audio.
VolumeKeys keeps the controls simple and handles the important details in the background.
Outputs
Check your mix on different speakers.
If your interface provides multiple stereo outputs, switch between the available pairs to compare your mix on different speakers—without repatching cables.
Safe volume
Never louder than 100%.
VolumeKeys only turns the digital level down. Your interface knob remains the maximum volume.
Private by design
Your audio stays on your Mac.
Nothing is recorded, uploaded or analyzed. There are no ads and no usage tracking.
Speaker protection
Smooth device changes.
VolumeKeys fades device and output-pair changes through silence. Before a new output pair becomes audible, it also resets and verifies the visible Mac volume at 10%—useful when auxiliary interface outputs bypass the monitor knob.
Studio tools
Useful checks.
One click away.
Mono and both Bass listening modes are always in the VolumeKeys menu.
Mono check.
Hear both channels together to spot phase and balance problems.
Bass Focus + Night.
Focus isolates everything below 150 Hz for precise low-end decisions. Night combines a 60 Hz high-pass with a 6 dB low shelf at 200 Hz—less bass through walls without thinning the whole mix as strongly.
Automatic buffer.
Follows the active hardware/DAW buffer without a second competing setting.
Recording
Keep your DAW connected directly.
Select the physical interface in your DAW for recording. VolumeKeys can control normal Mac audio at the same time.
Built to disappear
Set it once.
Then just use your Mac.
VolumeKeys starts with macOS, stays in the menu bar and remembers your setup. No daily configuration. The three keys simply feel normal again.
“I press the same three keys I already use on my Mac. That is the whole point.”
“A call comes in, I tap mute, and the room is quiet. No reaching for the interface.”
“Mono and Bass checks used to mean opening another tool. Now they are in the menu bar.”
“It starts with my Mac and stays out of the way. The keys simply feel like they were always meant to work.”
Try first. Pay once.
Use every feature free for 7 days.
Your trial starts only after VolumeKeys creates its first working audio connection. Setup time does not count.
No card required. The seven days start with your first working audio connection.
Questions?
Clear answers.
Try the complete app on your own Mac for seven days. Buy it only if it works for you.
Why do my Mac volume keys stop working with an audio interface or display?+
Many audio interfaces and digital display outputs do not give macOS a settable volume control, so F10–F12 stop changing the level. VolumeKeys creates a software-controlled route for compatible Core Audio outputs and brings the keys back.
Does VolumeKeys make the audio louder than 100%?+
No. VolumeKeys only turns the digital level down and never above 100%. Your DAW can stay connected directly to the interface.
Why does macOS ask to record system audio?+
VolumeKeys needs this macOS permission to receive your Mac audio, change its level and send it to your interface. It does not record or upload your audio. Everything stays on your Mac.
Which macOS version do I need?+
VolumeKeys is built for macOS Sonoma 14.2 or later on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Use the free trial to confirm your exact Mac, interface and driver setup.
Will it work with my interface or display?+
VolumeKeys supports compatible Core Audio outputs, including USB and Thunderbolt interfaces as well as HDMI or DisplayPort displays that appear as a standard stereo output. Drivers can still behave differently, so use the full 7-day trial as the final check.
Does VolumeKeys need an internet connection?+
Not for normal audio use. Internet is needed to download, buy and activate VolumeKeys. After activation, a paid license keeps working offline.
Is VolumeKeys a subscription?+
No. VolumeKeys costs €14.99 including VAT as a one-time purchase. Try every feature free for seven days before you buy.