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TMO Quick Tip - Leopard: Fine Tune Volume Controls

by , 7:30 AM EDT, May 2nd, 2008

Using keyboard controls to change your Mac's volume works in Mac OS X 10.5 just as it has in previous versions: Tap the volume up button to get louder, and tap the volume down button to get quieter. If the steps between volume levels are too big for you, however, Leopard has a fix once you know the magic key combination.

If you hold down Shift-Option while changing the volume, your Mac will add four smaller steps between each major step. If you need to use the fn key when adjusting the volume, don't forget to hold down that key, too.


Use Shift-Option to fine tune volume adjustments.

This is an easy way to overcome too loud/too quiet problems when changing your Mac's volume without having to touch the volume control on your external speakers.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

if you have tips or tricks to share, or Mac-related questions you want answered.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Graphite Addict Posts: 4 Joined: 12 Aug 2002
Fri May 02, 2008 10:22 am Subject: great tip!

I'm a longtime mac user and never knew about this. Thank you so much!


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Close Name:apex Posts: 63 Joined: 23 Jun 2001
Sat May 03, 2008 12:21 am Subject: More like that...

If you hold down shift while adjusting the volume then you won't hear the "chirp" as the volume is adjusted.
Option+volume button takes you straight to sound prefs.
Option+screen brightness on your laptop will take you to monitor prefs.
Option+keyboard backlighting takes you to keyboard and mouse prefs.


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