Great question—this is one of those macOS sandbox quirks that looks confusing at first because both keys seem to grant microphone access. Let me break down the key differences based on real-world testing and Apple’s permission model:

• Scope & Historical Purpose

  • com.apple.security.device.microphone is the newer, more granular permission introduced in macOS Catalina. It’s explicitly designed only for accessing microphone hardware. This is Apple’s preferred key for apps that just need to capture voice/audio from a mic.
  • com.apple.security.device.audio-input is the older, broader permission. Originally, it covered all audio input devices—not just microphones, but also line-in ports on external audio interfaces, instrument inputs, or other non-mic audio sources.

• User Prompt Clarity

  • When your app uses com.apple.security.device.microphone, the system shows a straightforward prompt that explicitly says "App Name would like to access your microphone"—this is much more intuitive for end users who might not know what "audio input devices" means.
  • With com.apple.security.device.audio-input, the prompt is more generic: "App Name would like to access audio input devices." This can confuse users who don’t connect external audio gear and wonder why the app is asking for this permission.

• Future Compatibility

  • Apple has been pushing toward more specific permissions across all its platforms to give users better control over their data/hardware. While com.apple.security.device.audio-input still works for microphones today, it’s possible that in future macOS updates, Apple might restrict it to only non-mic audio inputs. Using com.apple.security.device.microphone is the safer, forward-compatible choice if your app only needs mic access.

• Use Case Fit

  • Use com.apple.security.device.audio-input if your app needs to capture audio from any input source (e.g., a music production app that needs line-in from a guitar or mixer).
  • Use com.apple.security.device.microphone if your app only needs to access microphones (e.g., video call apps, voice recorders, voice assistants).

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Hyndrix