Can I turn off audio ducking on Mac?

Not system-wide. Only the app that starts voice processing can reduce or disable ducking for itself. As a user you can quit that app, change its audio settings, remove its microphone access, or boost the other apps.

Why does opening a camera app make my music quieter?

Camera and doorbell apps with two-way audio often start Apple's voice processing as soon as a live view opens, which makes macOS lower other sound. Closing the live view or the app restores the volume.

Does muting the call app stop the ducking?

No. Ducking is triggered by voice processing, not by the app's own volume. Muting the call app silences it, but other apps stay lowered until voice processing stops.

Why Does My Mac Lower Other Apps' Volume During Calls? (And How to Fix It)

Updated October 23, 2026 · by the ProMacTools team

What is audio ducking on macOS?

Apps that make calls use Apple's voice-processing audio unit, which provides echo cancellation and noise reduction. While it is running, macOS reduces the volume of other audio on the same output device. The calling app can ask for less ducking, but most apps leave the default, and there is no switch for users in System Settings.

That is why music or a video suddenly gets quieter the moment you join a meeting — or even when you just open an app with an intercom feature, because some apps start voice processing as soon as they launch.

Which apps cause it

Video calls: FaceTime, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet in a browser, Webex, Slack huddles, Discord.
Camera and doorbell apps with two-way talk, including iPhone/iPad apps running on Apple silicon Macs.
Voice recorders and dictation that use voice processing.

How to fix it

Close the call or quit the app when you do not need it — ducking stops immediately.
Check the app's audio settings. Some call apps have options such as "original sound" or turning off automatic audio processing.
Take away microphone access in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone if you never use the app's talk feature. Some apps then skip voice processing.
Boost the other apps. With App Volume Mixer, raise your music or video app above 100% while the call app is open, and mute the call app itself if you only need its picture.

How to tell which app is responsible

Look for the orange microphone indicator in the menu bar and open Control Center: it shows which app is using the microphone. That app is almost always the one triggering the ducking.