In older versions of macOS, the Volume control icon (the small speaker) was permanently pinned to the top right corner of the Menu Bar by default. It allowed for instant, precise adjustments to your output volume and provided a quick drop-down menu to switch between connected audio devices, like your AirPods or an external display’s speakers.
In modern versions of macOS (Big Sur and later), Apple moved the Volume control inside the new Control Center. While the Control Center is useful, it requires an extra click to access your audio settings. If you frequently change your audio output or prefer a visual indicator of your current volume level without opening a menu, you can put the speaker icon back where it belongs.
This guide explains how to add the Volume control icon back to your Mac’s Menu Bar.
How to Pin the Volume Icon to the Menu Bar
You can easily pull the Volume control out of the Control Center and pin it permanently to the Menu Bar via System Settings.
- Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings from the drop-down menu. (Choose System Preferences if you are on macOS Monterey or older).
- In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Control Center.
- Look at the main window on the right and locate the “Sound” section.
- Next to Sound, you will see a drop-down menu that likely says “Don’t Show in Menu Bar” or “Show When Active.” Click this drop-down menu.
- Select Show in Menu Bar.
The speaker icon will instantly appear in the top right corner of your screen.
Using the Menu Bar Volume Icon
Once the icon is in your Menu Bar, it functions exactly as you would expect:
- Adjust Volume: Click the speaker icon once to reveal a vertical slider. Drag the slider up or down to adjust your system volume.
- Change Audio Devices: Below the volume slider, you will see a list labeled “Output.” If you have AirPods, Bluetooth speakers, or headphones connected, you can instantly switch where the sound plays by clicking the desired device in this list.
- Sound Settings Shortcut: At the very bottom of the drop-down menu, there is a quick link to “Sound Settings…” which instantly opens the full audio configuration panel.
How to Remove or Rearrange the Icon
If you decide you no longer want the icon cluttering your Menu Bar, you can simply go back to System Settings > Control Center and change the drop-down back to Don’t Show in Menu Bar.
Pro Tip: If you want to rearrange the order of the icons in your Menu Bar (for example, to put the Volume icon next to the Wi-Fi icon), press and hold the Command (Cmd) key on your keyboard, then click and drag the speaker icon left or right. Release the mouse button when it is in the perfect spot.