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FAQ

Keyslam questions, answered straight

What Keyslam does today, what it doesn't do yet, and the details behind each answer. Every “no” here is a real no, checked against the app.

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Updated

Short answer: Keyslam is a Mac-only menu-bar app (macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon or Intel) that plays real keyboard recordings as you type. It works with any keyboard and with AirPods, needs no account or internet, and costs $3.99 once after a 7-day trial. It doesn't play mouse clicks. ⌃⌥⌘K turns the sounds off or on from any app, and they pause on their own while an app is using the microphone.

What Keyslam does today

TopicAnswerWhat to know
Intel Macs and desktopsYesEvery sound works on macOS 13 Ventura or later; you pick the strength. Keyslam on Intel Macs.
Force sensingMacBooks with the sensorMacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max and later; MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M2 and later. Which MacBooks have it.
AirPods and BluetoothYes, with a delayThe wireless link adds its own lag. Built-in speakers and wired headphones don't add it. Why AirPods lag, and a test.
External keyboardsYesEvery keyboard plays. Force sensing feels the MacBook's case, so external keys play at your usual strength.
Going quiet during callsYes, on by defaultSounds pause while any app is using the microphone and come back when it's free.
Shortcut to switch sounds offYes: ⌃⌥⌘KWorks in any app. Pick ⌃⌥⌘S, ⌃⌥⌘M or ⌃⌥⌘T instead, or switch it off, in the menu.
Louder than the Mac's volumeNoKeyslam's slider is a mix level under the Mac's own volume.
Mouse click soundsNoKeyboard sounds only.
Windows, iPhone, iPadNoMac only. The simulator runs in any browser.
Mac App StoreNoSold directly. None of the 42 Mac App Store keyboard-sound apps we checked offers force sensing. All apps compared.
Internet connectionNot neededThe app makes no network connections; the license is checked offline. Privacy details.
Account or card for the trialNo7 days, everything unlocked. Rather not pay at all? See free keyboard sound apps for Mac.
Your own soundsYesWAV, AIFF or FLAC with a pack.json. Pack format.
Key-up sounds, stereo, open at loginYesEach is a checkbox in the menu.
Password fieldsSilentmacOS hides those keystrokes from all apps. Is Input Monitoring safe on a Mac?
Battery and sleepStays out of the wayAudio and the motion sensor switch off after 3 idle minutes.
All the Macs you ownYesOne personal license, nothing counts activations.
DownloadYesVersion 1.0.1, notarized by Apple. Download it here.

Checked against Keyslam 1.0.0 on November 2, 2026.

The questions people ask most

Does Keyslam go quiet during video calls?

Yes, by default. While any app is using the microphone, as on a video call, Keyslam pauses its sounds and the menu says “Paused while the mic is in use”; they come back when the mic is free. Keyslam doesn't record or open the microphone and asks for no microphone permission; it only checks whether the input is in use. On macOS 13 with AirPods or a USB headset as the microphone it may not notice the call, so press the on/off shortcut instead. Untick Quiet during calls in the menu to keep sounds playing.

Is there a shortcut to switch the sounds off?

Yes. Press ⌃⌥⌘K (Control-Option-Command-K) in any app to turn the sounds off or back on. Next to “Turn sounds on/off with” in the menu you can pick ⌃⌥⌘S, ⌃⌥⌘M or ⌃⌥⌘T instead, or switch the shortcut off. It needs no extra permission, and if another app already uses the combination, the menu says so.

Can Keyslam play louder than my Mac's volume?

No. Keyslam's volume slider starts at about half and goes to about twice that level at the right end, but it sits under the Mac's own volume. If it's still quiet, turn the Mac up.

Does Keyslam play mouse click sounds?

No. Keyslam listens to the keyboard only, so clicks and trackpad taps stay silent. Letters, numbers, Space, Return, Delete, the modifier keys and Caps Lock all play, and most keys add a softer key-up sound when you let go (the two typewriters don't).

Can I use Keyslam on Windows, an iPhone or a Chromebook?

No. Keyslam is a Mac app for macOS 13 Ventura or later. On a Mac it plays while you type in any app, Chrome included. To hear the boards on any other device, use the free keyboard simulator in a browser.

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