> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hyperwhisper.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mute Audio While Recording

> Automatically silence other audio playing on your computer while you dictate, then restore it when you're done.

If you dictate while music, a video, or a call is playing, the background audio can leak into your microphone and hurt transcription quality. HyperWhisper's **Media control** setting can automatically mute your system output the moment you start recording and restore your previous volume as soon as you stop.

## How it works

When media control is set to **Mute Audio**, HyperWhisper silences your computer's output volume while a recording is in progress, then returns it to its prior level when the recording ends. It changes the system output **volume** only — it does not pause, skip, or otherwise control individual media apps.

There are two options:

* **Off** — HyperWhisper leaves your audio untouched (default).
* **Mute Audio** — System output is muted while you record and restored afterward.

## Turn it on

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Settings">
        Click the menu bar icon → **Settings**, then select the **Sound** tab.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Find “Media control while recording”">
        Locate the **Media control while recording** option.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Choose Mute Audio">
        Set the mode to **Mute Audio**. Your system output will now mute automatically each time you record and restore when you finish.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Settings">
        Right-click the tray icon → **Settings**, then open the **Sound** page.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Find “Media control”">
        Locate the **Media control** setting.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Choose Mute audio">
        Select **Mute audio**. HyperWhisper will mute system output while recording and restore it afterward.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
  Media control mutes your computer's **output volume**, not your microphone. Your dictation is still captured normally — only the audio coming out of your speakers or headphones is silenced during recording.
</Note>