HeadsetMicGuard

HeadsetMicGuard is a lightweight macOS menu bar app that keeps your preferred microphone selected.

It is built for the common AirPods workflow: keep AirPods as the output device, but force macOS input back to the MacBook microphone when Bluetooth reconnects or automatic device switching changes the default input.

Status

Active small-utility release. Current public release: v1.0.

Screenshot / Demo

A menu bar screenshot/GIF is planned for a future documentation update.

Features

• Runs as a menu bar app with no Dock icon.
• Watches macOS audio device changes through CoreAudio notifications.
• Keeps only the default input device pinned; it never changes output devices.
• Lets you choose any available input device as the preferred microphone.
• Falls back to the built-in microphone when the preferred device is unavailable.
• Includes Pause, Force Now, Refresh Devices, Launch at Login, and Quit controls.
• Does not record audio.

Requirements

• macOS 13 Ventura or newer.
• Xcode 26.5 or newer to build from source.

Install

1. Download the latest HeadsetMicGuard-1.0.dmg from GitHub Releases.
2. Open the DMG.
3. Drag HeadsetMicGuard.app to Applications.
4. Launch HeadsetMicGuard once from Applications.
5. Open the menu bar icon, choose your preferred microphone, and optionally enable Launch at Login.

Unsigned development builds may be blocked by Gatekeeper. If macOS blocks the app, right-click HeadsetMicGuard.app, choose Open, and confirm the prompt. You can also approve it in System Settings -> Privacy & Security.

Usage

The menu bar icon reflects the current guard state:

• Guarding: the preferred microphone is already the default input.
• Switching: macOS changed input and HeadsetMicGuard is restoring it.
• Paused: enforcement is disabled until resumed.
• Preferred unavailable: the saved preferred microphone is missing, so the app uses the built-in input as a temporary fallback.
• Needs attention: CoreAudio, signing, or launch-at-login setup returned an error.

Menu actions:

• Preferred Microphone: selects the input device HeadsetMicGuard keeps active.
• Pause Guard / Resume Guard: temporarily disables or enables enforcement.
• Force Now: immediately restores the preferred input.
• Refresh Devices: reloads the current CoreAudio input device list.
• Enable Launch at Login: starts HeadsetMicGuard automatically after login.

Troubleshooting

AirPods are still the speakers

That is expected. HeadsetMicGuard only changes the default input device. It does not touch output or system output, so AirPods can remain selected for sound.

My preferred microphone disappeared

If the saved preferred device is unavailable, HeadsetMicGuard temporarily uses the built-in microphone. It does not overwrite your saved preferred device, so the original choice is used again when it returns.

macOS says the app cannot be opened

Use a notarized release when available. For unsigned builds, right-click the app and choose Open, or approve it in System Settings -> Privacy & Security.

The app does not appear in the Dock

That is intentional. HeadsetMicGuard is an agent-style menu bar app.

Privacy

HeadsetMicGuard does not record, store, upload, or inspect microphone audio. It only reads the available CoreAudio devices and sets the macOS default input device.

Build From Source

git clone https://github.com/ForkHorizon/HeadsetMicGuard.git
cd HeadsetMicGuard
xcodebuild -project HeadsetMicGuard.xcodeproj \
  -scheme HeadsetMicGuard \
  -configuration Debug \
  -destination 'platform=macOS' \
  build CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO

Release app build:

scripts/build-release.sh

DMG build:

scripts/make-dmg.sh

The unsigned DMG is written to build/release/HeadsetMicGuard-1.0.dmg.

License

HeadsetMicGuard is released under the Apache License 2.0. See LICENSE.