Fix bad AirPods and Sony audio on Mac.

MicLock keeps macOS on your preferred microphone, stopping AirPods, AirPods Pro, Sony WH-1000XM4, WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM6, and other Bluetooth headsets from taking over input and ruining output quality.

Download MicLock View on GitHub

brew tap WantbeFree/tap
brew install --cask miclock

MicLock menu bar icon with open tray menu on macOS desktop

🎧 Stop headset mode

Keep Bluetooth headphones output-only by locking input to a better Mac, USB, webcam, or XLR microphone.

🧭 Primary + fallbacks

Save one primary input plus three fallback microphones. MicLock resolves the best available device automatically.

🛠️ Recover audio

Refresh CoreAudio devices and revive audio without quitting the app when docks or USB microphones disappear after sleep.

Common searches MicLock solves

Why do AirPods sound bad on Mac when microphone is active?
How to stop Mac from switching input to AirPods microphone?
Sony WH-1000XM5 bad sound quality on Mac during calls.
WH-1000XM4 sounds muffled on macOS when mic is selected.
Keep MacBook microphone while using Bluetooth headphones.
Elgato Wave XLR disappears after sleep through dock or USB hub.

Compatibility

MicLock is device-agnostic and works with CoreAudio input devices on Apple Silicon Macs.

Apple AirPods 1-4, AirPods Pro 1-3, AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM4, WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM6, WF-1000XM4, WF-1000XM5.
Elgato Wave XLR, Focusrite Scarlett, Shure MV7, Rode, Blue, webcams, displays, Thunderbolt docks, USB hubs.

FAQ

Does MicLock improve Bluetooth microphone quality?

No. It avoids the low-quality Bluetooth path by keeping another microphone selected.

Does it record audio?

No. MicLock does not record audio, call network APIs, or collect analytics.

Why not just disable the headset microphone?

macOS and meeting apps can still change default input. MicLock watches CoreAudio changes and reapplies your preferred input order.