Question 1

How do I install WasThat?

Accepted Answer

Choose Download for Mac on the WasThat page for Version 1.1. Open the DMG, drag WasThat into Applications, then open it from Applications. Requires macOS 14.2 or later.

Question 2

How do I start detection?

Accepted Answer

Open WasThat. Choose Start detection if it is off. If approval is needed, choose Open Login Items and allow WasThat in macOS, then return and choose Check again. No Terminal command is needed.

Question 3

Where do I look after hearing a sound?

Accepted Answer

Click WasThat in the menu bar for Latest activity. Open history to review the last hour, 24 hours or seven days. Apps using audio now lists ongoing streams separately. App names and notification senders appear when macOS provides enough information.

Question 4

What can I open from a result?

Accepted Answer

Choose Open app when an identified app is available. Notification settings opens the general Notifications page in macOS. Select the app there. Recognized system alerts can open relevant settings, such as Login Items for a background-item alert. These actions cannot reopen the exact notification, message or browser tab.

Question 5

Why is a sound missing or its sender unknown?

Accepted Answer

macOS does not expose every sound or notification sender. An app can keep an audio stream open between sounds, so later sounds in that stream may not create new entries. Notification history can be incomplete. WasThat shows uncertainty rather than choosing an unconfirmed sender. Activity alone does not prove audibility.

Question 6

How do I stop detection?

Accepted Answer

Choose Stop detection and wait for Detection is off. Closing or quitting WasThat keeps enabled background detection running. Saved history remains available when detection is off.

Question 7

What stays on my Mac, and how long?

Accepted Answer

Selected app, audio and notification activity details stay in a local database. No audio recordings or notification message text are stored. Cleanup removes records older than seven days at detection startup and every ten minutes while running. Cleanup can be delayed while detection is off or storage is unavailable. The privacy page explains how to remove local data.

Question 8

Can WasThat mute an app or replay a sound?

Accepted Answer

WasThat does not mute or replay sounds. It helps you review activity and identify possible sources. It cannot identify an individual browser tab.

Question 9

How can I report an issue or get the source?

Accepted Answer

Email apps@iacompa.com with your macOS version, steps and result. Remove personal information from logs or screenshots. The app page links GitHub, the Version 1.1 source archive and GPL v3. The GPL permits modification and redistribution under its terms.

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