How to Find and Open Audio MIDI Setup on Mac
Learn where Audio MIDI Setup is located on macOS and how to open it to configure audio devices for webcam or microphone use.
Quick answer
Audio MIDI Setup is a built-in macOS utility. It is located inside the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. The main way to open it is through the Finder, but you can also reach it using Spotlight, the Go menu, or Launchpad.
How to recognize Audio MIDI Setup
Audio MIDI Setup is an application included with macOS. Its purpose is to let you view and configure audio input and output devices, such as a microphone, headset, or connected audio interface, and to manage MIDI devices. In the Finder, the app is named Audio MIDI Setup.
The app lives in the standard macOS Applications folder, inside a subfolder called Utilities. The full location is Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.
How to open Audio MIDI Setup
Use whichever method is easiest for you. All of these paths open the same macOS utility.
Open with Spotlight
- Press Command + Space to open Spotlight.
- Type Audio MIDI Setup.
- Select Audio MIDI Setup in the results and press Return.
Open from the Finder
- Open a Finder window.
- Choose Go > Utilities from the menu bar, or press Shift + Command + U.
- Double-click Audio MIDI Setup.
Open from Applications
- Open Finder and select Applications in the sidebar.
- Open the Utilities folder.
- Double-click Audio MIDI Setup.
Open with Launchpad
- Open Launchpad from the Dock or with the Launchpad gesture.
- Open the Other folder, which contains the Utilities apps.
- Click Audio MIDI Setup.
How to confirm the app opened correctly
When Audio MIDI Setup opens, the menu bar changes to show Audio MIDI Setup next to the Apple menu. The main window is called Audio Devices. You should see a device list in the left side and device controls in the main area.
What to check if you cannot find it
If the app does not appear in Spotlight, check that the search includes apps. In System Settings, go to Spotlight and make sure Applications is enabled. If the Utilities folder is not visible in Launchpad, open the Other folder. On most recent macOS versions, utilities such as Audio MIDI Setup are grouped there.
Why you might need Audio MIDI Setup
You may need Audio MIDI Setup when a microphone or other audio device is connected but a meeting or recording app does not show the expected input. The utility can help you confirm which audio devices macOS detects and how their input and output channels are arranged. This is different from choosing a microphone inside a specific app: the app's own settings or permission controls may also need to be checked.