By default, the relaxing background scene sounds in the Calm app will play anytime you have the app open. If you are noticing that the sounds continue playing even after you exit the app or finish a meditation, your "Play Outside App" timer is likely enabled!
Here are three simple ways to manage or stop the background sounds from playing.
Method 1: Turn Off the Background Timer
If you want the sounds to play while you are browsing the app, but want them to stop the moment you close it, you can adjust your duration settings:
Open the Calm app and navigate to your Home screen.
Tap the Mountain icon in the top left corner to open the Scenes menu.
Look for the setting that says "Play sounds outside the app" (Duration Selector).
Tap the duration currently listed on the right and update it to "0 min".
The sounds will now stop immediately when you close the app or lock your phone.
Method 2: Switch to a Silent Scene
If you prefer to never have any background sounds playing at all—even while you are actively browsing the app—you can switch to one of our silent backgrounds:
Tap the Mountain icon in the top left corner to open the Scenes menu.
Scroll through the options and select either Silent Earth or Silent Clouds.
Tap your selection to set it as your background.
Method 3: Lower the Background Volume
If you do not want the sounds to stop completely but simply find them a bit too loud, you can lower the volume instead of muting it:
Tap the Mountain icon to open the Scenes menu.
Locate the Scene Volume slider at the bottom of the screen.
Drag the slider to the left to lower the background noise to a comfortable level.
Further Reading Want to learn more about how to customize your app's background? Check out our complete guide here: Calm Scenes Guide: Change Background, Volume & Playback Timer