diff --git a/Core/Config.cpp b/Core/Config.cpp
index 81304f6b0a..dc3f5cd330 100644
--- a/Core/Config.cpp
+++ b/Core/Config.cpp
@@ -825,6 +825,16 @@ std::string DefaultProAdhocServer() {
 	return "socom.cc";
 }
 
+bool DefaultAudioMixWithOthers() {
+#if PPSSPP_PLATFORM(IOS)
+	// On iOS, it's generally best to mix with others by default, since users expect that and the hardware is generally good enough to handle it.
+	return true;
+#else
+	// On Android, we historically took audio focus.
+	return false;
+#endif
+}
+
 static const ConfigSetting soundSettings[] = {
 	ConfigSetting("Enable", SETTING(g_Config, bEnableSound), true, CfgFlag::PER_GAME),
 	ConfigSetting("ExtraAudioBuffering", SETTING(g_Config, bExtraAudioBuffering), false, CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
@@ -850,7 +860,7 @@ static const ConfigSetting soundSettings[] = {
 
 	ConfigSetting("AudioDevice", SETTING(g_Config, sAudioDevice), "", CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
 	ConfigSetting("AutoAudioDevice", SETTING(g_Config, bAutoSwitchAudioDevice), true, CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
-	ConfigSetting("AudioMixWithOthers", SETTING(g_Config, bAudioMixWithOthers), true, CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
+	ConfigSetting("AudioMixWithOthers", SETTING(g_Config, bAudioMixWithOthers), &DefaultAudioMixWithOthers, CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
 	ConfigSetting("AudioRespectSilentMode", SETTING(g_Config, bAudioRespectSilentMode), false, CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
 	ConfigSetting("UseOldAtrac", SETTING(g_Config, bUseOldAtrac), false, CfgFlag::DEFAULT),
 };
diff --git a/UI/GameSettingsScreen.cpp b/UI/GameSettingsScreen.cpp
index c789a09a55..9fc1a1b4d5 100644
--- a/UI/GameSettingsScreen.cpp
+++ b/UI/GameSettingsScreen.cpp
@@ -661,6 +661,8 @@ void GameSettingsScreen::CreateAudioSettings(UI::ViewGroup *audioSettings) {
 		System_Notify(SystemNotification::AUDIO_MODE_CHANGED);
 	});
 	respectSilentMode->SetEnabledPtr(&g_Config.bEnableSound);
+#endif
+#if PPSSPP_PLATFORM(ANDROID) || PPSSPP_PLATFORM(IOS)
 	CheckBox *mixWithOthers = audioSettings->Add(new CheckBox(&g_Config.bAudioMixWithOthers, a->T("Mix audio with other apps")));
 	mixWithOthers->OnClick.Add([=](EventParams &e) {
 		System_Notify(SystemNotification::AUDIO_MODE_CHANGED);
diff --git a/android/jni/app-android.cpp b/android/jni/app-android.cpp
index 84daae7224..3acef1f261 100644
--- a/android/jni/app-android.cpp
+++ b/android/jni/app-android.cpp
@@ -656,6 +656,8 @@ static std::string QueryConfig(std::string_view query) {
 		}
 		// Otherwise, some devices prefer the Java init so play it safe.
 		return "true";
+	} else if (query == "audioMixWithOthers") {
+		return g_Config.bAudioMixWithOthers ? "1" : "0";
 	} else {
 		return "";
 	}
@@ -1118,6 +1120,9 @@ void System_Notify(SystemNotification notification) {
 	case SystemNotification::TEST_JAVA_EXCEPTION:
 		PushCommand("testException", "This is a test exception");
 		break;
+	case SystemNotification::AUDIO_MODE_CHANGED:
+		PushCommand("audio_mode_changed", "");
+		break;
 	default:
 		break;
 	}
diff --git a/android/src/org/ppsspp/ppsspp/PpssppActivity.java b/android/src/org/ppsspp/ppsspp/PpssppActivity.java
index 55ada7d424..3ad41acc12 100644
--- a/android/src/org/ppsspp/ppsspp/PpssppActivity.java
+++ b/android/src/org/ppsspp/ppsspp/PpssppActivity.java
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ public class PpssppActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SensorEventList
 
 		setVolumeControlStream(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC);
 
-		gainAudioFocus(this.audioManager, this.audioFocusChangeListener);
+		updateAudioFocus(this.audioManager, this.audioFocusChangeListener);
 		NativeApp.audioInit();
 
 		if (javaGL) {
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ public class PpssppActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SensorEventList
 			mCameraHelper.resume();
 		}
 
-		gainAudioFocus(this.audioManager, this.audioFocusChangeListener);
+		updateAudioFocus(this.audioManager, this.audioFocusChangeListener);
 		NativeApp.resume();
 		mSensorManager.registerListener(this, mAccelerometer, SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_GAME);
 
@@ -1147,9 +1147,17 @@ public class PpssppActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SensorEventList
 
 	// keep this static so we can call this even if we don't
 	// instantiate NativeAudioPlayer
-	public static void gainAudioFocus(AudioManager audioManager, AudioFocusChangeListener focusChangeListener) {
-		if (audioManager != null) {
+	public static void updateAudioFocus(AudioManager audioManager, AudioFocusChangeListener focusChangeListener) {
+		if (audioManager == null) {
+			Log.w(TAG, "Couldn't update audio focus, audio manager null");
+			return;
+		}
+		if (NativeApp.queryConfig("audioMixWithOthers").equals("0")) {
+			// Shouldn't mix with others - take over.
 			audioManager.requestAudioFocus(focusChangeListener, AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN);
+		} else {
+			// Mix with others - abandon focus so we don't kick others out.
+			audioManager.abandonAudioFocus(focusChangeListener);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1710,6 +1718,9 @@ public class PpssppActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SensorEventList
 		} else if (command.equals("immersive")) {
 			updateSystemUiVisibility();
 			return true;
+		} else if (command.equals("audio_mode_changed")) {
+			updateAudioFocus(this.audioManager, this.audioFocusChangeListener);
+			return true;
 		} else if (command.equals("recreate")) {
 			recreate();
 			return true;