How to Get a Custom Sound Alert When Your Mac Goes Idle (2026 Guide)

How to Set Custom Sound Notifications on Mac When You Go Idle

macOS doesn't have a built-in feature to play a sound when you go idle. There's no setting in System Preferences, no native shortcut, and no Automator workflow that handles this cleanly.

If you want a sound to fire when your keyboard and mouse have been quiet for 3 minutes — say, your cat meowing or your boss's voice saying "get back to work" — you need a third-party app.

This guide covers how to set it up using Faahh, the only Mac app specifically built around idle-triggered custom sounds.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Custom Sound Alert in Faahh

Step 1 — Download and install Faahh

Visit fahhh.fun and download the Mac version. Drag it to Applications. Launch it — you'll see the small icon appear in your menu bar.

Step 2 — Open Settings

Click the Faahh icon in your menu bar, then click the gear icon or choose "Open Settings" from the menu.

Step 3 — Set your idle threshold

On the General tab, choose how long you can be idle before Faahh fires. For most people, 3–5 minutes is the right balance.

Step 4 — Upload your custom sound

Click the Sounds tab. Below the built-in grid, there's an "Upload Custom Sound" section. Either drag and drop your MP3, WAV, or M4A file onto the drop zone, or click "Browse".

Step 5 — Test it

Leave your keyboard alone for the duration of your chosen threshold. After the time passes, your custom sound will play!

Ideas for Custom Idle Alert Sounds

• A recording of your own voice saying "hey, get back to work."
• Your manager's voice (pulled from a Zoom recording) saying something motivating.
• A short clip from a show or film your brain associates with alertness.
• Your dog barking (great if you also have a real dog who needs walks).
• A timer or alarm sound that's specifically not the macOS default.