Small app.
Thoughtful updates.
BalanceBar 1.1 · Build 8
Available · Free
October 11, 2026
- Optional Separate ears mode with independent left and right volume sliders on supported outputs.
- Ear-volume independence verified with AirPods Pro 3, including zero volume on either side.
- Balance readout now follows slider position from left to right. Centre is 50/50.
- Keep the slider steady during dragging instead of letting background readback interrupt it; remove the hidden centre snapping zone.
Build 7
October 10, 2026
- Optional keyboard volume up, down and mute while sharing audio.
- Adjust shared outputs together while preserving their relative volume levels.
- Enable Volume keys in Share audio and allow Input Monitoring in macOS settings.
- Keyboard volume up/down verified with AirPods Pro 3 and MacBook Pro speakers.
Build 6
October 9, 2026
- Fix shared audio playing through only the first output: use macOS mirrored stereo and verify the shared device exposes two channels.
- More reliable sharing start and stop: wait for macOS to finish changing the output.
- Restore connected mono outputs when sharing stops, and keep recovery instructions visible if an output disconnects.
- Quit waits for sharing to stop safely.
- DMG download: open the disk image and drag BalanceBar into Applications.
- Balance and Share audio tabs directly in the menu-bar panel.
- Shared output across two or more connected stereo devices, with per-device volume where supported.
- Balance clearly disabled during sharing, with the previous output restored when sharing stops.
- A compact panel that fits each tab, with scrolling only for long device lists.
- Native Liquid Glass on macOS 26 or later, with a more solid background for readability and support for reduced transparency and motion.
Two-AirPods playback, independent volumes on two AirPods, and timing still need real-device validation. Bluetooth latency can differ. Older macOS and Intel testing are also pending.
This website download is locally signed and not notarized by Apple. See the installation guide.
Included since 1.0
- Mono audio, on or off from the menu bar.
- Left/right balance for the current supported output.
- One-click Center to restore equal balance.
- Optional launch at login.
- Current output-device name and clear errors when a control is unavailable.
- Built-in help and privacy information.
Requires macOS 13 or later. Built for Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
The app is free, with no ads, subscriptions, accounts, payment prompts or paid feature unlocks.