How to stop iTunes from launching when using Keyboard media keys

Question

How to stop iTunes from launching when using Keyboard media keys

Hi,

I love the media keys on my MacBook and Apple wireless keyboard for playing, pausing, changing tracks etc with iTunes, but there are other than can utilize the media keys, like Spotify for instance. However, if I have iTunes closed, when I hit the Play key, iTunes will automatically launch, and will intercept any subsequent presses of just the play/pause button. Is there a way to stop this annoying behavior? I haven't found anything in the Keyboard shortcut system pref.

thanks.

black MacBook (Santa Rosa), 2.2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160GB HD, 4GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 16GB iPod Touch, 2G 1GB iPod Shuffle, 4G 20GB iPod

Posted on Aug 20, 2009 5:51 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 14, 2013 2:56 AM in response to mikelis

I've always used

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

to stop itunes from interfering.

Strangely after the 10.8.4 update, Vox couldn't be controlled anymore by my media keys, but after

launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

and

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

it works again 🙂

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Answer 2

Sep 22, 2017 6:23 AM in response to erik.henriksson

I'm having this problem but with my Apple earplugs. When you press in between the volume up and volume down button, it allows you to play music. My problem is that I can play Spotify, but when I pause, Itunes stars playing! This is really annoying!!!

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Answer 3

pielluk

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2017 9:46 AM in response to Classee

Hello Classee,

I find your post very helpful. But since then my remote control for my Macbook pro has stopped working when pressing the play button or even to change to volume. Do you happen to know how this might have happened? Or maybe you could help me reverse this function:

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

Thanks a lot in advance

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Answer 4

Aug 29, 2009 4:22 AM in response to William Brawley

If you find a solution to this, please let me know. I just started having this behavior after upgrading to Snow Leopard, and it's really frustrating to have iTunes launch whenever I'm using the media keys for Spotify.

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Answer 5

Aug 29, 2009 7:35 AM in response to Charles Conway

second that. Aweful.

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Answer 6

Aug 29, 2009 3:00 PM in response to Ape Simpson

In 10.6 iTunes launchs every time a telephone call is made with a number of SIP and IAX softphones. It also launches when browsing for a movie or music file to launch with VLC. iTunes seems to launch every time an application looks to play some audio. I wonder how that behaviour can be changed?

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Answer 7

jarik

Level 4

1,005 points

Aug 30, 2009 8:19 AM in response to SteveDemy

I haven't installed Snow Leopard yet, but is there a "Reset" button beside the "Use iTunes for Internet Playback" button in iTunes' Advanced Preferences? Have you tried clicking that?

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Answer 8

jarik

Level 4

1,005 points

Aug 30, 2009 9:16 AM in response to jarik

Sorry for repeating that bogus rumour.

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Answer 9

Aug 30, 2009 9:19 AM in response to William Brawley

Same problem here

No solution yet

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Answer 10

Aug 30, 2009 9:35 PM in response to William Brawley

ditto; make this configurable or turn it off.

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Answer 11

Aug 30, 2009 9:36 PM in response to William Brawley

still seems to happen in Snow Leopard, released version.

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Answer 12

Aug 31, 2009 4:04 AM in response to William Brawley

I have this same problem. It is getting very annoying. This is actually the first time i have felt hatred towards my Mac. I use Spotify at work, as this is my work computer, i am not allowed to use the disk space by buying tracks in iTunes. Every once in a while, someone comes up to me talking about workstuff, and pressing the pause button makes the iTunes open.

Please fix this!

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Answer 13

Aug 31, 2009 11:31 AM in response to William Brawley

Found a temporary solution on this site: http://superuser.com/questions/31925/stop-play-pause-button-opening-itunes-in-sn ow-leopard

Basically you start iTunes and open the iTunes Store page. iTunes will then stop responding to the media keys on the keyboard and Apple Remote.

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Answer 14

Sep 1, 2009 9:57 AM in response to William Brawley

I believe there are a few issues stemming from one problem. One of many problems with Apple's growing desire to control your user experience.

The solution is to allow us to manage iTunes keyboard shortcuts. Turn them off, re-map the keyboard, whatever it is we happen to want to do, we should have the ability to do it, especially for a matter so trivial of a feature yet such an annoyance to us. Additionally, it is so obviously contrived to push their software on us it makes me a bit sick to my stomach.

Now we have such a egregious fail on Apple's part, this auto-launch with no turn off switch, it is getting bad enough that people are speaking out. I hope it opens up a discussion about users making our own decision to use itunes or not. Seems as if Apple thinks we need iTunes in order to breathe, which WE DO NOT.

Apple, don't just disappear your most recent error, stand up and correct it by allowing us the ability to shape our user experience, even in the most basic of ways.

And while you're at it, throw in FLAC for us, ok?

My reasons to stick with this OS are dwindling fast.

Message was edited by: biskitwheels

Message was edited by: biskitwheels

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Answer 15

Sep 1, 2009 12:06 PM in response to William Brawley

I'm also having this problem. This is hugely irritating. It was annoying enough before when play/pause would trigger spotify & itunes if they were both open, but that was at least avoidable by simply closing iTunes down.

This should be registered as a bug in my opinion.

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