diff --git a/cmake/compile_definitions/macos.cmake b/cmake/compile_definitions/macos.cmake
index 1d184929ac9..acf336c1013 100644
--- a/cmake/compile_definitions/macos.cmake
+++ b/cmake/compile_definitions/macos.cmake
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ list(APPEND SUNSHINE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES
 
 set(APPLE_PLIST_TEMPLATE "${SUNSHINE_SOURCE_ASSETS_DIR}/macos/build/Info.plist.in")
 set(APPLE_PLIST_FILE "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/Info.plist")
+set(APPLE_ENTITLEMENTS_FILE "${SUNSHINE_SOURCE_ASSETS_DIR}/macos/entitlements.plist")
 configure_file("${APPLE_PLIST_TEMPLATE}" "${APPLE_PLIST_FILE}" @ONLY)
 
 set(PLATFORM_TARGET_FILES
@@ -58,4 +59,5 @@ set(PLATFORM_TARGET_FILES
         "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/platform/macos/publish.cpp"
         "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/third-party/TPCircularBuffer/TPCircularBuffer.c"
         "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/third-party/TPCircularBuffer/TPCircularBuffer.h"
+        ${APPLE_ENTITLEMENTS_FILE}
         ${APPLE_PLIST_FILE})
diff --git a/cmake/packaging/macos.cmake b/cmake/packaging/macos.cmake
index 4b26f528b0d..65d06d94968 100644
--- a/cmake/packaging/macos.cmake
+++ b/cmake/packaging/macos.cmake
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ qt6_deploy_runtime_dependencies(
           # Sign the app last
           execute_process(COMMAND /usr/bin/codesign --verbose=2
               --sign \"${APPLE_CODESIGN_IDENTITY}\" \"\${_app}\"
+              --entitlements \"${APPLE_ENTITLEMENTS_FILE}\"
               --force --timestamp --options=runtime
               RESULT_VARIABLE rc3
           )
diff --git a/src/platform/macos/av_audio.h b/src/platform/macos/av_audio.h
index fda7adcb792..4a656721330 100644
--- a/src/platform/macos/av_audio.h
+++ b/src/platform/macos/av_audio.h
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 #import <CoreAudio/AudioHardwareTapping.h>
 #import <CoreAudio/CoreAudio.h>
 
+// standard includes
+#include <functional>
+
 // lib includes
 #include "third-party/TPCircularBuffer/TPCircularBuffer.h"
 
@@ -27,6 +30,27 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 @class CATapDescription;
 
 namespace platf {
+  using microphone_permission_callback_t = std::function<void(bool)>;  ///< Completion callback for a microphone permission request.
+  using microphone_permission_request_t = std::function<void(microphone_permission_callback_t)>;  ///< Function that starts a microphone permission request.
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Resolve microphone access from an AVFoundation authorization state.
+   *
+   * @param authorization_status Current authorization state for audio capture.
+   * @param request_access Function used to request access when authorization has not been determined.
+   * @return `true` when microphone access is authorized.
+   */
+  bool request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatus authorization_status, const microphone_permission_request_t &request_access);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Ensure Sunshine has permission to capture microphone audio.
+   *
+   * Requests access and waits for the user's response when authorization has not yet been determined.
+   *
+   * @return `true` when microphone access is authorized.
+   */
+  bool request_microphone_permission();
+
   /**
    * @brief Provide captured PCM frames to AudioConverter.
    *
diff --git a/src/platform/macos/av_audio.mm b/src/platform/macos/av_audio.mm
index 1b179aa1ad1..cf45436a7db 100644
--- a/src/platform/macos/av_audio.mm
+++ b/src/platform/macos/av_audio.mm
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@
  */
 #import "av_audio.h"
 
+// standard includes
+#include <atomic>
+
+// local includes
 #include "coreaudio_helpers.h"
 #include "src/logging.h"
 #include "src/utility.h"
@@ -21,6 +25,43 @@
 namespace platf {
   using namespace std::literals;
 
+  bool request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatus authorization_status, const microphone_permission_request_t &request_access) {
+    if (authorization_status == AVAuthorizationStatusNotDetermined) {
+      BOOST_LOG(info) << "Requesting microphone permission for the configured audio sink."sv;
+    }
+
+    auto permission_granted = std::atomic<bool> {authorization_status == AVAuthorizationStatusAuthorized};
+    if (authorization_status == AVAuthorizationStatusNotDetermined) {
+      auto permission_resolved = dispatch_semaphore_create(0);
+      request_access([&](bool granted) {
+        permission_granted = granted;
+        dispatch_semaphore_signal(permission_resolved);
+      });
+
+      dispatch_semaphore_wait(permission_resolved, DISPATCH_TIME_FOREVER);
+      dispatch_release(permission_resolved);
+    }
+
+    if (!permission_granted.load()) {
+      if (authorization_status == AVAuthorizationStatusRestricted) {
+        BOOST_LOG(error) << "Microphone access is restricted by macOS."sv;
+      } else {
+        BOOST_LOG(error) << "Microphone access was denied. Enable Sunshine in System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone."sv;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return permission_granted.load();
+  }
+
+  bool request_microphone_permission() {
+    return request_microphone_permission([AVCaptureDevice authorizationStatusForMediaType:AVMediaTypeAudio], [](microphone_permission_callback_t callback) {
+      [AVCaptureDevice requestAccessForMediaType:AVMediaTypeAudio
+                               completionHandler:^(BOOL granted) {
+                                 callback(granted == YES);
+                               }];
+    });
+  }
+
   /**
    * @brief Real-time AudioConverter input callback for format conversion.
    * Provides audio data to AudioConverter during format conversion process using pure C++ for optimal performance.
diff --git a/src/platform/macos/microphone.mm b/src/platform/macos/microphone.mm
index db877712db8..72776e73d14 100644
--- a/src/platform/macos/microphone.mm
+++ b/src/platform/macos/microphone.mm
@@ -114,6 +114,10 @@ int set_sink(const std::string &sink) override {
         const char *audio_sink = config::audio.sink.c_str();
         BOOST_LOG(info) << "Using configured audio sink "sv << audio_sink << " for capture."sv;
 
+        if (!request_microphone_permission()) {
+          return nullptr;
+        }
+
         if ((audio_capture_device = [AVAudio findMicrophone:[NSString stringWithUTF8String:audio_sink]]) == nullptr) {
           BOOST_LOG(error) << "opening microphone '"sv << audio_sink << "' failed. Please set a valid input source in the Sunshine config."sv;
           BOOST_LOG(error) << "Available inputs:"sv;
diff --git a/src_assets/macos/entitlements.plist b/src_assets/macos/entitlements.plist
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f35f2d4289c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_assets/macos/entitlements.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+<dict>
+  <key>com.apple.security.device.audio-input</key>
+  <true/>
+</dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/tests/unit/platform/macos/test_av_audio.mm b/tests/unit/platform/macos/test_av_audio.mm
index 8c6ee7ac621..7317f607923 100644
--- a/tests/unit/platform/macos/test_av_audio.mm
+++ b/tests/unit/platform/macos/test_av_audio.mm
@@ -63,6 +63,55 @@
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Test that existing microphone permission is accepted without another request.
+ */
+TEST_F(AVAudioTest, AuthorizedMicrophonePermissionDoesNotRequestAccess) {
+  bool request_called = false;
+
+  EXPECT_TRUE(platf::request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatusAuthorized, [&](platf::microphone_permission_callback_t callback) {
+    request_called = true;
+    callback(false);
+  }));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(request_called);
+}
+
+/**
+ * @brief Test that denied, restricted, and unknown microphone states are rejected without another request.
+ */
+TEST_F(AVAudioTest, UnavailableMicrophonePermissionDoesNotRequestAccess) {
+  bool request_called = false;
+  const auto request_access = [&](platf::microphone_permission_callback_t callback) {
+    request_called = true;
+    callback(true);
+  };
+
+  EXPECT_FALSE(platf::request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatusDenied, request_access));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(platf::request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatusRestricted, request_access));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(platf::request_microphone_permission(static_cast<AVAuthorizationStatus>(-1), request_access));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(request_called);
+}
+
+/**
+ * @brief Test that an undetermined microphone permission returns the user's decision.
+ */
+TEST_F(AVAudioTest, UndeterminedMicrophonePermissionRequestsAccess) {
+  bool request_called = false;
+
+  EXPECT_TRUE(platf::request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatusNotDetermined, [&](platf::microphone_permission_callback_t callback) {
+    request_called = true;
+    callback(true);
+  }));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(request_called);
+
+  request_called = false;
+  EXPECT_FALSE(platf::request_microphone_permission(AVAuthorizationStatusNotDetermined, [&](platf::microphone_permission_callback_t callback) {
+    request_called = true;
+    callback(false);
+  }));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(request_called);
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Test that setupMicrophone handles nil device input properly.
  * Verifies the method returns an error code when passed a nil device.