Open System Settings > Accessibility > Audio and turn on Background Sounds. Choose a sound, download it if needed, adjust its volume, and choose whether playback stops when your Mac is not in use.
Open the sound selector, download a sound if macOS requests it, and select it.
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Set volume and behavior
Adjust Background Sounds volume and choose whether playback stops while the Mac is not in use.
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Check that the change worked
The selected sound plays through the intended output, mixes or stops as configured, and remains at a comfortable independent level.
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Troubleshoot Background Sounds on Mac
If the output changes, media masks the sound, the control is unavailable, or a managed accessibility setting prevents changes, stop broad resets and return to the last known state. Capture the exact error, versions, device or account scope, and failed step before using the linked official support channel.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
If no sound plays, confirm the selected audio output and raise Background Sounds volume independently from media volume.
If a sound is unavailable, connect to the internet and allow its download to finish.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: macOS.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.
