How to stop iTunes from launching when using Keyboard media keys

http://twistedmelon.com/mira/

This software will allow you to control remote

just buy it and install it

do not have to use it

I enable plex

installed mire

and itunes no longer launches and I do not launch mira (but you can)

Hi Jacken,

what exactly did you do? MMfix or terminal commands?

Thanks!

Sebastian

Just a heads up, the lifehacker link no longer works. Here is the thread(in french) from the developer:

http://forums.macgeneration.com/mac-os-x/patch-pour-les-touches-play-pause-sous- snow-leopard-300962.html

Apparently he switched ISPs so the original link doesnt work, this is the updated link to the .dmg:

http://nomitsu.com/download.php?file=mmfix

The tool from http://nomitsu.com/download.php?file=mmfix also works on 10.7.4. Finally can use Cog without iTunes popping up all the time!

I get "Error: Bad File" in Mountain Lion. I would really love a fix for this. iTunes is so annoying.

Me too - i hope someone fixes this! This was one of my favorite Lion tweaks.

there is another workaround

go to Activity Monitor

on the top-right search box, write "itunes"

"itunes helper" should show up

click on it, then click on "Quit Process" (top left)

on the following dialog, press "Quit" (for some reason "Force Quit" didn't work for me)

what it does in a nutshell:

the application "itunes helper" is the one receiving the media button signal and then opens iTunes.

kill "itunes helper" and the problem is solved.

Thanks critichu, that worked. Is there anyway to stop iTunes helper from launching at startup?

iTunes Helper is removed from startup at the usual place.

System Preferences>User & Groups>[your user identity]>Login Items

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work in Mountain Lion. iTunes still start even after quitting helper process and helper is not in Login items...

Kill the iTunes Helper like critichu described and remove it from the startup items (see riptide_ above you). I just tried it on Mountain Lion and it works.

I noticed that it just works as long as you don't open iTunes again. If you open iTunes then the helper restarts.

Apparently it doesn't work at all anymore. I went as far as deleting the itunes helper from the package contents but today iTunes still starts when I hit the media key.

Yesterday your solution did definitely work, today not anymore. This is outrageously annoying.

I'm new to Apple, just got my first Mac a month ago, and I too am greatly annoyed by this feature. From reading some of the comments in this thread it appears Apple is more inclined to underhandedly screw up any work-around a user may find in order to further push you into using iTunes exclusively, rather that faced the fact that people want options and customizations. This is rather aggravating and makes me question my decision to switch to Mac. (I hope you are listening, Apple!)

So, what other applications are available to us for ripping, syncing and playing music in a variety of formats (like FLAC ...hello, Apple!) in one NON-Apple program? (I'm assuming here that iTunes can be uninstalled, unless they've prohibited that too.)

Any suggestions?

-John

thought I found a fix with chmod, but it seemed to not hold after a few minutes on ML...

Message was edited by: mickbuddha