STFU

For the stray video, song, or mystery tab you can hear but cannot find.

• Browser tab making noise: close only that tab.
• Mac app making noise: quit that app, with confirmation.
• Multiple sound sources: close them one at a time or use STFU Everything.

Install

Requires macOS 14 or later.

Download the latest STFU-*.dmg from GitHub Releases, open it, and run Install STFU.pkg.

The installer adds:

• /Applications/STFU.app
• /usr/local/bin/stfu

Current release builds are unsigned unless the release notes say otherwise. If macOS blocks the installer, Control-click Install STFU.pkg, choose Open, and confirm you want to run it.

Supported Sources

STFU closes individual noisy tabs for:

• Safari
• Google Chrome, Chrome Canary, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Chromium, and Arc

Other audio producers are shown as apps and can be quit from STFU.

Permissions

Open STFU.app. If a browser row says it needs Accessibility, click Open Settings, then enable STFU in:

System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility

macOS requires that permission so STFU can inspect browser tab strips and close only the noisy tab.

If STFU does not appear in the list, click Open Settings from the STFU row again. If STFU already appears enabled but Chrome still asks, toggle STFU off and on once. That can happen after replacing a local unsigned build.

macOS may also ask whether STFU can control Safari, Chrome, or another browser. Allow it; that Automation permission lets STFU identify Safari tabs while scanning and focus or close browser tabs. If you denied Automation, re-enable STFU in:

System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation

Open STFU in that Automation list, enable the affected browser under it, then reopen STFU and click Refresh.

You can check the local setup from Terminal:

stfu --doctor
stfu --request-accessibility

Use

In the app:

• Go to Tab / Go to App: jump to the noisy source.
• Close Tab: close only the noisy browser tab.
• Quit App: asks before quitting the noisy app. Unsaved work in that app could be lost.
• STFU Everything: asks before closing all noisy tabs and quitting noisy apps.
• Open Settings: open the relevant Accessibility or Automation permission page.
• Refresh: rescan current audio sources.

In the menu bar:

• Open STFU.app.
• Use the STFU menu bar item to see current sound sources.
• Use row icons to jump to a source, close a noisy tab, open permission settings, or confirm quitting a noisy app.
• Use Open STFU when you want the full window.

From Terminal:

stfu --list
stfu --dry-run
stfu
stfu --all
stfu --doctor
stfu --request-accessibility

Development

Build and release documentation lives in DEVELOPMENT.md.