MacPipAnswer
Will people on my Zoom call hear Clacky's sounds?
No, not by default: Quiet during calls is on when you install Clacky, and it keeps every Clacky sound silent while Zoom, Meet, FaceTime, Teams, Discord or another call app uses your microphone.
The click ripple is different. It is drawn on your screen, so people see it when you share your screen, unless you turn on Hide ripples too.
How Quiet during calls works
Clacky watches whether the microphone is in use. It never listens to the microphone and never records it. When a call app starts using the mic, Clacky goes quiet, and its menu bar menu, the notch and Settings say so. When the call ends and the mic is free, the sounds come back.
Want sounds during one call anyway? Click Play Sounds Anyway in Clacky's menu. It lasts until the microphone is free again.
What counts as a call
On "Only during calls", dictation (macOS Dictation or a voice app like Claude) does not count, so Clacky keeps playing while you dictate. On macOS older than 14.4, Clacky can't tell which app is using the mic, so any mic use counts as a call.
| Setting (General → More options → Automatic) | What makes Clacky quiet |
|---|---|
| What counts: Only during calls (default) | FaceTime, Zoom, Teams, Slack, Discord, Webex, Meet and other browser calls |
| What counts: Whenever any app uses the mic | Any app recording from the mic, dictation included |
| Hide ripples too | The ripple also hides during calls |
How a sound could still reach a call
If you turn Quiet during calls off, or click Play Sounds Anyway, people can hear Clacky in two ways:
- Your microphone picks up Clacky from your Mac's speakers. Zoom and Meet try to filter out sound from your own speakers, but that isn't perfect. Headphones stop this completely.
- You share your screen with your computer's sound included (Zoom calls this Share sound). Then the call gets everything your Mac plays, Clacky's clicks too.
Set it up the way you want
- Open Clacky's Settings, go to General and click More options.
- Under Automatic, check that Quiet during calls is on.
- Pick What counts: Only during calls, or Whenever any app uses the mic.
- Turn on Hide ripples too if you don't want people to see the ripple when you share your screen.
- Want sounds in your ears during calls? Turn Quiet during calls off and turn on Only with headphones in General.
When you want people to see your clicks
For demos, classes and screen shares, the ripple helps: everyone sees exactly where you clicked. That is why ripples stay on during calls unless you choose otherwise. How to show mouse clicks on a Mac covers the options, Clacky's and other apps'.
Questions
Does Clacky listen to my microphone to know I'm on a call?
Does Quiet during calls work for game voice chat?
Will my real keyboard be heard on the call?
Does Quiet during calls work with Google Meet in a browser?
Facts checked on 5 November 2026.
Related
- Sounds where you want themOnly with headphones, on the output you pick, or only in the apps you choose. Ripples still show everywhere.
- Can Clacky play sounds only in my headphones?Yes. Turn on Only with headphones and Clacky plays in AirPods, Bluetooth or wired headphones, and stays quiet on your Mac's speakers.
- Does Clacky listen to my microphone?No. Clacky opens the microphone only when you pick one for a screen recording. Quiet during calls only checks whether another app is using the mic.
- Can Clacky play sounds only in some apps?Yes. Add apps to Quiet in these apps, or flip the list to Only in these apps. Keyboard sounds can also use a different sound, or none, per app.
- How do I show mouse clicks in a screen recording on Mac?Show mouse clicks in a Mac screen recording: Apple’s Show Mouse Clicks option, editors that add click effects later, and a live click ripple with a sound.
Make something on your Mac today.
3 days free, every feature. Then $4.99 once.