AudioPriorityBar

What is AudioPriorityBar?

AudioPriorityBar is a native macOS menu bar app that automatically manages audio device priorities. Instead of manually switching between speakers, headphones, or microphones every time you plug something in, you set your preferred order once—and the app automatically activates the highest-priority connected device. It lives quietly in your menu bar, showing the current mode icon and volume percentage, and handles the switching logic in the background.

Who it's for

• Remote workers and hybrid professionals who frequently switch between headphones for calls and external speakers for music or meetings.
• Content creators and audio engineers who rely on multiple output devices and need a predictable, automatic fallback when a preferred device connects.
• macOS power users who want to eliminate manual audio switching and keep their workflow uninterrupted.

Key features

Priority-based auto-switching

Devices are ranked by priority. When a higher-priority device connects, it automatically becomes active. When it disconnects, the app falls back to the next available device in your list. No more digging into System Preferences.

Separate speaker/headphone modes

Output devices are categorized as either speakers or headphones, each with its own priority list. The menu bar icon changes between 🔊 and 🎧 depending on the active mode, so you always know what category is in control.

Manual override with Custom mode

Enable "Custom" mode (hand icon) to disable auto-switching entirely. In this mode, you can freely select any connected device without the app overriding your choice. It's a one-click toggle back to automatic behavior when you're ready.

Device memory and edit mode

AudioPriorityBar remembers every device you've ever connected, even when disconnected. In Edit mode, you can see "last seen" timestamps, reorder disconnected devices in the priority list, or forget old devices you no longer use. This makes it easy to maintain a clean, predictable setup.

What stands out

"Set your preferred order once—AudioPriorityBar automatically switches to the highest-priority connected device, no manual intervention needed."

This is the core promise that sets AudioPriorityBar apart from basic audio switchers. While other tools let you select a device manually, AudioPriorityBar anticipates your needs based on your defined priorities. The combination of per-category ignore, drag-to-reorder, and device memory means you can fine-tune exactly which devices appear in which mode, and the app remembers your preferences across reconnects. It's a small utility that solves a surprisingly persistent macOS annoyance.

Worth checking out if…

You use multiple audio devices throughout the day and want a set-and-forget solution that respects your priority order. AudioPriorityBar is especially useful if you switch between speakers and headphones regularly, or if you want to avoid the macOS default of always reverting to built-in speakers when a device disconnects. It's free, open-source, and built natively for macOS 13.0 or later.