diff --git a/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp b/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp
index 5c0abbc2a9..74d779b0a9 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp
@@ -768,6 +768,7 @@ void Config::ReadUIValues() {
         ReadBasicSetting(UISettings::values.callout_flags);
         ReadBasicSetting(UISettings::values.show_console);
         ReadBasicSetting(UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background);
+        ReadBasicSetting(UISettings::values.mute_when_in_background);
         ReadBasicSetting(UISettings::values.hide_mouse);
     }
 
@@ -1239,6 +1240,7 @@ void Config::SaveUIValues() {
         WriteBasicSetting(UISettings::values.callout_flags);
         WriteBasicSetting(UISettings::values.show_console);
         WriteBasicSetting(UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background);
+        WriteBasicSetting(UISettings::values.mute_when_in_background);
         WriteBasicSetting(UISettings::values.hide_mouse);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.cpp b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.cpp
index bdcb640c9d..a402523bf0 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ void ConfigureGeneral::SetConfiguration() {
         ui->toggle_check_exit->setChecked(UISettings::values.confirm_before_closing.GetValue());
         ui->toggle_background_pause->setChecked(
             UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background.GetValue());
+        ui->toggle_background_mute->setChecked(
+            UISettings::values.mute_when_in_background.GetValue());
         ui->toggle_hide_mouse->setChecked(UISettings::values.hide_mouse.GetValue());
 
         ui->toggle_update_check->setChecked(
@@ -174,6 +176,7 @@ void ConfigureGeneral::ApplyConfiguration() {
     if (Settings::IsConfiguringGlobal()) {
         UISettings::values.confirm_before_closing = ui->toggle_check_exit->isChecked();
         UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background = ui->toggle_background_pause->isChecked();
+        UISettings::values.mute_when_in_background = ui->toggle_background_mute->isChecked();
         UISettings::values.hide_mouse = ui->toggle_hide_mouse->isChecked();
 
         UISettings::values.check_for_update_on_start = ui->toggle_update_check->isChecked();
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.ui b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.ui
index 316edadb12..deb6c42828 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.ui
+++ b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_general.ui
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@
           </property>
          </widget>
         </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QCheckBox" name="toggle_background_mute">
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>Mute audio when in background</string>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
         <item>
          <widget class="QCheckBox" name="toggle_hide_mouse">
           <property name="text">
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/main.cpp b/src/citra_qt/main.cpp
index 302ebc1f7d..b129a0e5f0 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/main.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/main.cpp
@@ -778,21 +778,33 @@ void GMainWindow::RestoreUIState() {
 }
 
 void GMainWindow::OnAppFocusStateChanged(Qt::ApplicationState state) {
-    if (!UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background) {
-        return;
-    }
     if (state != Qt::ApplicationHidden && state != Qt::ApplicationInactive &&
         state != Qt::ApplicationActive) {
         LOG_DEBUG(Frontend, "ApplicationState unusual flag: {} ", state);
     }
-    if (ui->action_Pause->isEnabled() &&
-        (state & (Qt::ApplicationHidden | Qt::ApplicationInactive))) {
-        auto_paused = true;
-        OnPauseGame();
-    } else if (emulation_running && !emu_thread->IsRunning() && auto_paused &&
-               state == Qt::ApplicationActive) {
-        auto_paused = false;
-        OnStartGame();
+    if (!emulation_running) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background) {
+        if (emu_thread->IsRunning() &&
+            (state & (Qt::ApplicationHidden | Qt::ApplicationInactive))) {
+            auto_paused = true;
+            OnPauseGame();
+        } else if (!emu_thread->IsRunning() && auto_paused && state == Qt::ApplicationActive) {
+            auto_paused = false;
+            OnStartGame();
+        }
+    }
+    if (UISettings::values.mute_when_in_background) {
+        if (!Settings::values.audio_muted &&
+            (state & (Qt::ApplicationHidden | Qt::ApplicationInactive))) {
+            Settings::values.audio_muted = true;
+            auto_muted = true;
+        } else if (auto_muted && state == Qt::ApplicationActive) {
+            Settings::values.audio_muted = false;
+            auto_muted = false;
+        }
+        UpdateVolumeUI();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/main.h b/src/citra_qt/main.h
index a89561ad2d..934b56d34a 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/main.h
+++ b/src/citra_qt/main.h
@@ -325,6 +325,7 @@ private:
     QString game_path;
 
     bool auto_paused = false;
+    bool auto_muted = false;
     QTimer mouse_hide_timer;
 
     // Movie
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/uisettings.h b/src/citra_qt/uisettings.h
index a0e7559c04..8e671f49f2 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/uisettings.h
+++ b/src/citra_qt/uisettings.h
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ struct Values {
     Settings::Setting<bool> save_state_warning{true, "saveStateWarning"};
     Settings::Setting<bool> first_start{true, "firstStart"};
     Settings::Setting<bool> pause_when_in_background{false, "pauseWhenInBackground"};
+    Settings::Setting<bool> mute_when_in_background{false, "muteWhenInBackground"};
     Settings::Setting<bool> hide_mouse{false, "hideInactiveMouse"};
 
     bool updater_found;