Since this extension is not on the Chrome Web Store, you can install it manually in a few easy steps:
- Download the code: Click the green "Code" button at the top of this repository and select "Download ZIP".
- Open Extensions: In your browser, go to the address bar and type
chrome://extensions/(oredge://extensions/for Edge) and hit Enter. - Enable Developer Mode: Toggle the "Developer mode" switch in the top right corner.
- Load the Extension: Click the "Load unpacked" button in the top left. Select the Zip file you downloaded, .
That's it! Pin the extension to your toolbar and use it
Smart audio ducking for focused learning
DuckyTabs automatically lowers your background music volume when you play learning content (videos, podcasts, courses), then smoothly brings it back up when you pause. No more manual volume juggling!
- 🎵 Smart Detection: Automatically detects when non-music audio starts playing
- 🔄 Smooth Transitions: Gradual volume fading (800ms) feels natural and professional
- ⚙️ Customizable: Set your own ducked and normal volume levels
- 🎯 Simple Setup: Just set one tab as your "music tab" and let it work
- 💡 Visual Feedback: See when ducking is active with live status indicators
- 🧪 Test Mode: Preview the duck effect before committing
- 🌙 Beautiful UI: Modern, gradient-rich interface that's a pleasure to use
Once set up, DuckyTabs works automatically:
- Start your music in the designated music tab
- Open learning content in a different tab (videos, podcasts, courses)
- Press play on your learning content
- Music automatically ducks to your set volume
- See the "🦆 Ducking active" indicator
- Pause your learning content
- Music smoothly returns to normal volume
- Test the Effect: Click "🧪 Test Duck Effect" to preview the volume transition
- Change Music Tab: Set a new tab anytime by clicking "Set Current Tab as Music"
- Clear Music Tab: Click the "✕" button to reset
- Disable Temporarily: Toggle the "Enable Auto-Ducking" switch
- Multiple Learning Tabs: You can have multiple learning tabs open - music stays ducked until ALL are paused
| Setting | Purpose | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Ducked Volume | Background music level during learning | 15-30% |
| Normal Volume | Music level when nothing else is playing | 80-100% |
| Enable Auto-Ducking | Master on/off switch | On |
- Tab Monitoring: Background service worker listens to all tab audio events
- Smart Detection: Tracks which non-music tabs are playing audio
- Volume Control: Injects scripts to control media element volumes
- Smooth Transitions: Uses 40-step gradient over 800ms for natural fading
- ✅ Chrome 88+
- ✅ Edge 88+
- ✅ Brave
- ✅ Any Chromium-based browser with Manifest V3 support
Works with any HTML5 audio/video element:
- ✅ YouTube
- ✅ Spotify Web Player
- ✅ SoundCloud
- ✅ Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy
- ✅ Podcast players
- ✅ Netflix, Prime Video (most streaming services)
- ✅ Local HTML5 media
Possible causes:
- Music tab not set correctly
- Solution: Re-set the music tab
- Extension disabled
- Solution: Check the toggle switch is ON
- No media element found
- Solution: Ensure the page actually has a
<video>or<audio>element
- Solution: Ensure the page actually has a
Possible causes:
- Low system performance
- This is rare but can happen on very old machines
- Multiple extensions conflicting
- Solution: Temporarily disable other media-controlling extensions
Possible causes:
- Music tab was closed
- Solution: Set a new music tab
- Storage was cleared
- Solution: Re-configure your settings
Want to modify the extension? Here's what each file does:
manifest.json- Extension configurationbackground.js- Core ducking logic and tab monitoringpopup.html- User interface structurepopup.js- UI interactions and settingsicon*.png- Extension icons
Contributions are welcome! Feel free to:
- 🐛 Report bugs
- 💡 Suggest features
- 🔧 Submit pull requests
- ⭐ Star the repo if you find it useful!
MIT License - feel free to use and modify!
Created for learners who want smooth, distraction-free audio control.
Enjoy focused learning with DuckyTabs! 🦆📚