Background Music is a popular free, open-source Mac app that gives you basic per-app volume control. It works by installing a virtual audio device and routing all audio through it. The problem: it breaks. Regularly.
After almost every macOS update — Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe — users report the same issues: the virtual audio device fails to install, audio glitches and crackling appear, some apps aren't detected, or the app simply crashes on launch. If you searched for "Background Music not working," you're not alone.
Why Background Music keeps breaking
Background Music works by installing a virtual audio device driver (a Core Audio HAL plugin). macOS routes all system audio through this virtual device, and Background Music intercepts it to apply per-app volume control.
The problem is that Apple changes how audio drivers work with nearly every major macOS release. Security restrictions tighten, APIs change, and driver loading mechanisms evolve. Since Background Music is a volunteer-maintained open-source project, updates to match Apple's changes aren't always timely.
Common issues after macOS updates:
- Virtual audio device doesn't install — macOS's new security policies block the driver
- Audio crackling or stuttering — the virtual device introduces latency that the current macOS version handles poorly
- Apps not appearing — changes to how macOS reports running processes break app detection
- No audio at all — the virtual device is set as default output but isn't passing audio through
- Crash on launch — incompatibility with the current macOS version
How to fix Background Music
If Background Music is currently broken:
- Check for updates: Visit the GitHub releases page for Background Music and see if a new version has been released for your macOS version.
- Reinstall: Uninstall Background Music completely (including the virtual audio device), restart, and install the latest version.
- Reset audio: If your audio is stuck on the virtual device, go to System Settings → Sound → Output and select your real speakers/headphones. Then run
sudo killall coreaudiodin Terminal. - Check permissions: System Settings → Privacy & Security — make sure Background Music has the necessary permissions.
Alternatives that don't use virtual audio devices
The fundamental issue with Background Music is architectural: virtual audio devices are fragile and break with macOS updates. Modern alternatives use Apple's Core Audio Tap API (introduced in macOS 14), which lets apps intercept per-process audio without installing a system-level driver.
SoundDial
SoundDial uses the modern Audio Tap API — no virtual audio device, no system driver, no kernel extensions. It taps into each app's audio stream directly using Apple's supported API, which means it doesn't break when macOS updates.
What you get over Background Music:
- No virtual audio device — works with Apple's native audio stack, doesn't break on updates
- Volume boost to 200% — Background Music caps at 100%
- Volume profiles — save and switch between configurations (Background Music has none)
- Auto-ducking — automatic volume reduction during calls (Background Music only has auto-pause, not ducking)
- Volume memory — remembers per-app volumes between restarts
- Keyboard shortcuts — toggle the mixer or mute all apps
- Active development — regularly updated for the latest macOS
The trade-off: SoundDial is a one-time paid purchase, while Background Music is free. But an app that actually works is worth more than a free app that breaks every six months. And because SoundDial is on the Mac App Store, it's been reviewed by Apple, sandboxed for security, and installs cleanly — no downloading from GitHub, no compiling from source, no granting system extension permissions.
Get SoundDial on the Mac App Store — €14.99 one-time purchase, no subscription, macOS 14.2+.