Weird Safari(?) bug with microphone

[skottichan]

So, recently (last couple months) I keep running into a thing where Safari will activate my microphone. Randomly the mic icon will appear in the menu bar. At first I thought it was some YouTube shenanigans, but it's activating on anything from social media, to art sites. It goes away when I close Safari, but will come back over time, so yeah. Any ideas?


Also, I did a scrub and reinstall to base Sequoia (no beta) and it seems to have persisted.

 

[mcarvin]

So, recently (last couple months) I keep running into a thing where Safari will activate my microphone. Randomly the mic icon will appear in the menu bar. At first I thought it was some YouTube shenanigans, but it's activating on anything from social media, to art sites. It goes away when I close Safari, but will come back over time, so yeah. Any ideas?


Also, I did a scrub and reinstall to base Sequoia (no beta) and it seems to have persisted.

Chiming in to bump this up with some extra details I'm experiencing.

• Only happens in Safari 18.x
• Playing a YouTube video in Chromium 131 triggers a request for microphone access. I was trying to play a video hosted by reddit in chromium, but it wasn't working.
• I never granted microphone access in Safari for YouTube.com
• Happens regardless of extensions enabled or disabled.
• After rebooting, playing videos may not immediately activate the microphone - but eventually, the activation does happen.
• Seems new in Sequoia. I don't remember this in Sonoma or previous.
• Display is Apple Thunderbolt Display hooked to an Mac mini M2 Pro
• Does NOT happen if I route system audio to my HomePod mini.

 

[skottichan]

Chiming in to bump this up with some extra details I'm experiencing.

• Only happens in Safari 18.x
• Playing a YouTube video in Chromium 131 triggers a request for microphone access. I was trying to play a video hosted by reddit in chromium, but it wasn't working.
• I never granted microphone access in Safari for YouTube.com
• Happens regardless of extensions enabled or disabled.
• After rebooting, playing videos may not immediately activate the microphone - but eventually, the activation does happen.
• Seems new in Sequoia. I don't remember this in Sonoma or previous.
• Display is Apple Thunderbolt Display hooked to an Mac mini M2 Pro
• Does NOT happen if I route system audio to my HomePod mini.

Pretty much the same here, with the same system (but with an added Huion Kamvas 22, still happens without that installed).

Also, my Mini tries to capture my AirPods if I'm using them in the house with my phone or iPad. I will hear a static stutter, and check my Mini and lo and behold, mic's icon is there.

 

[SG-]

I don't get this at all on Safari or Orion myself. what websites are you using that trigger this? maybe it's not safari doing it but something else on your system?

 

[CuteBaby]

• Seems new in Sequoia. I don't remember this in Sonoma or previous.

I'm on Safari 18.0.1 on Sonoma 14.7 and have been experiencing the same issue.

 

[skottichan]

I don't get this at all on Safari or Orion myself. what websites are you using that trigger this? maybe it's not safari doing it but something else on your system?

I've noticed it with YouTube consistently, it's happened a couple times with Twitter/X as well.

 

[mcarvin]

I don't get this at all on Safari or Orion myself. what websites are you using that trigger this? maybe it's not safari doing it but something else on your system?

In terms of other apps or services installed, I don't know. I turned off all Safari extensions and made sure no sites had access to the mic. Nothing in my Login Items seems like it would apply - Microsoft Office, Lungo, Adguard, Setapp, node for Homebridge.

The websites aren't crazy. Youtube, Reddit, Twitter, or any other site which plays video like Criterion Channel, Prime Video, etc.

Orion doesn't trigger the mic icon but they are supposed to be implementing a microphone indicator for the next release. Neither of my Chromium browsers even request mic access.

 

[mcarvin]

@skottichan Just bumped up to 15.1 and was still getting the issue. Came across using `tccutil` to manage Privacy & Security entitlements. I did 2 things:

1. `tccutil reset Microphone`. You'll have to re-allow different apps to access the microphone.
2. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording. Safari is in that list, or it should be. Turn it off and authenticate if asked.

I'm back on Youtube, Reddit and Twitter now with no mic indicator in the menu bar.

 

[skottichan]

@skottichan Just bumped up to 15.1 and was still getting the issue. Came across using `tccutil` to manage Privacy & Security entitlements. I did 2 things:

1. `tccutil reset Microphone`. You'll have to re-allow different apps to access the microphone.
2. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording. Safari is in that list, or it should be. Turn it off and authenticate if asked.

I'm back on Youtube, Reddit and Twitter now with no mic indicator in the menu bar.

Followed the directions and so far so good.

 

[mcarvin]

Followed the directions and so far so good.

It goes away for me after a restart, but eventually comes back.