Enable system audio capture on macOS

Updated 8 July 2026

To transcribe what your prospect says, SalesGhost captures your Mac's system audio — the sound coming out of Zoom, Meet, Teams, or any other app. macOS gates this behind its own permission, separate from the microphone. It takes about 30 seconds to enable.

Requirements

  • macOS 14.2 (Sonoma) or later
  • The SalesGhost desktop app installed

Enable it

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
  2. Scroll to Screen & System Audio Recording
  3. Select the System Audio Recording Only tab
  4. Toggle SalesGhost on
  5. If macOS asks you to quit and reopen SalesGhost, do that

During onboarding, SalesGhost opens this exact settings pane for you with the Open System Settings button — you just flip the toggle.

Why "System Audio Recording Only"? SalesGhost never records your screen. It uses Apple's audio-only capture, so the permission you grant is for sound alone — the narrower of the two options in that settings pane.

Check it worked

Start a session from the SalesGhost home screen while playing any audio (a YouTube video works). If the status pill reads Listening… and a transcript appears for the video's speech, system audio is flowing.

If the toggle is missing or greyed out

  • Can't find the section? On macOS 14.2–14.3 the pane may be labelled Screen Recording. Update macOS if you can — 14.4+ has the audio-only option.
  • SalesGhost isn't in the list? Start a call session once first — macOS only lists apps after they've requested capture.
  • Toggle won't stick? Quit SalesGhost fully (Cmd+Q), re-toggle the permission, and reopen. On managed Macs, your IT team may need to approve the permission via MDM — point them at our IT notes.

What about headphones?

Headphones are fine — capture happens at the system level before audio reaches your ears, so SalesGhost hears the prospect even when you're wearing AirPods. Speakers are also fine: your microphone and system audio are transcribed as separate streams, so SalesGhost won't confuse the prospect's voice coming out of your speakers with your own.