How do I stop Apple Music from launching whenever I connect a Bluetooth headset to my MacBook?

Not installing a 3rd party app to fix Apple bug, thanks anyway.

You might try https://github.com/tombonez/noTunes.

tt2

This thread has been quite enlightening and really highlights some of my issues of "Apple knows best". Their software makes no sense to a clear thinking individual who actually wants a say in how they use the computer they pay for. I did have the same issue plugging in USB audio, I would be listening to one app, and apparently it wasn't Apple Music. Apple in their lack of wisdom said, no, you need to listen to our app. Beyond the fact Apple Music is a 2 star at best app that is nothing more than a non-intuitive cloud sales tool, there is a workaround that is sure fire that I found, it just took me almost 6 years to find it. I'm going back to Windows, at least their Operating System gives me control over what I'm doing and don't have to deal with this "Apple knows best and you can't change it" nonsense. The same thing happens on my iPhone, take a call and Apple Music stupidly comes up. Yes, I would love to just blast music into my call when I answer it. Wow, glad people at Apple make a lot of money for an overpriced product and then provides this much innovation in annoyance.

My Sennheiser Momementum headphones can connect to two devices at the same time - my phone and work computer in my case. They have a feature by which they auto-pause when you take them off, and resume when you put them back on. Every time I put them back on when listening to music from my phone, Apple Music would launch on the computer and attempt to "onboard" me. Apple music cannot be removed, and this behaviour cannot be turned off.

The Notunes application mentioned elsewhere in this thread solved this for me.

Apple music is not in my log-in items, but launches each time I connect BT headphones (for a meeting)

The same thing again in 2024... and it is not the "ecosystem", it is simply lack of respect and apathy. It has literally ruined public presentations for me. Not only have I lost a business opportunity, but it has embarrassed me and generated states of anxiety that still attack me with anger years later.

I simply wanted to surprise an important client with the combination of slide projection and a pair of brand new homepods that I bought for the occasion. You can imagine... Siri's stupid loud voice, announcing to me that she couldn't find a playlist... then she started bombarding the room with even stupider music from AppleMusic... my pulse still accelerates when I remember it.

With Apple Music open, in the menu bar, to the right of  click the word "Music" > Settings >general >> uncheck "show music and iTunes"

Issue resolved

JAGO

Thanks! This solved my problem. The play/pause button on my bluetooth headphones would sometimes trigger Apple Music to open on my MacBook when I was trying to control music on my iPhone. Adding the application 'noTunes' to my login list prevents Apple Music from opening when I hit play/pause on my headphones. Having 'noTunes' added to my 'open at login' items keeps me from having to open the application manually every time I restart my computer.

You can use Feedback - Apple Music - Apple to share your thoughts with Apple in this regard. While I would encourage everyone affected to send feedback personally I would use the third party tool rather than waiting for a change that may never come.

tt2

Having the same issue, Sonoma 14.1.1, but with a Bluetooth Soundbar - when it wakes seems to send a command to open Apple Music (not in my auto login list either as that was not relevant).

This was a useless suggestion that has nothing to do with the problem.

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

This doesn't work on macOS 14.1.2. Apple Music isn't in the list.

I was so hoping this would work as it launches several times throughout the day - but it didn't and when I click the icons, close Apple Music then open, and look again they are not red, like it resets. I can't believe Apple is not supporting a fix for this yet.