Sordina
The short answer: use the volume slider in Spotify's player bar, at the bottom right of the window. It only changes Spotify. If you'd rather not keep opening Spotify for it, a per-app volume app gives Spotify its own slider in the menu bar.
Spotify's own volume
- The volume slider is in the player bar at the bottom of the Spotify window. It changes Spotify only, not the rest of your Mac.
- Press M in Spotify to mute or unmute it.
Settings that change how loud it sounds
Open your profile picture › Settings › Audio quality:
- Normalize volume evens out songs, so one track isn't much louder than the next.
- Volume level sets how loud normalised music plays: Loud, Normal or Quiet. Normal is the default.
If Spotify always seems too loud, try Quiet. If it seems too quiet even at full volume, check it isn't on Quiet. Spotify in a web browser doesn't normalise at all.
With Sordina
Sordina puts a slider for every app that's playing in your Mac's menu bar, so you can set Spotify against everything else in one place. That part is free.
- Click the Sordina icon in the menu bar.
- Drag Spotify's slider, or click its mute button.
- Everything else stays where it was. Spotify keeps its level until you change it.
During calls
Spotify can't turn itself down when you join a call. Sordina Pro's Calls does: while any app uses the microphone, Spotify and the rest drop to the level you choose, then come back after. See how to turn down music automatically during calls.
Common questions
Why does Spotify go quiet when I press the volume keys?
The volume keys change your Mac's volume, which is the ceiling for every app. Spotify's own slider and a per-app slider work underneath that.
Why did Spotify suddenly go silent?
Pressing M while Spotify is in front mutes it. Press M again, or check the slider in the player bar.