Cannot change volume on bluetooth devices

I have been having issues with changing volume on my bluetooth speaker and headphones. It happens every once in a while with no clear cause. Restarting the Mac or the devices does not solve the problem.

I found a temporary solution by changing the output setting from the MacBook Pro Speakers to the bluetooth device playing under the System Preferences - Sound - Output section. It is odd however that the system does not automatically recognize the device outputting the sound thus changing the output setting automatically. I hope this was clear enough to understand since the issue by itself is very confusing. Does anybody have a permanent fix?

Posted on Mar 2, 2022 10:29 AM

Reply
1 reply

Mar 3, 2022 9:57 AM in response to Jovanboris

Greetings Jovanboris, 


It sounds as though your Bluetooth devices are connected, but the device used for sound output isn’t changing automatically in System Preferences > Sound > Output. With your Bluetooth device successfully connecting, begin by restarting your Mac and Bluetooth accessories. The steps for restarting your Mac are listed below, along with the article where those steps can be found. 


Shut down or restart your Mac


1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > Restart


If you continue to have issues after restarting, you’ll want to proceed with any macOS updates that may be available as listed below. 


Update macOS on Mac


1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences.
2. In the System Preferences window, click Software Update.


If your System Preferences doesn't include Software Update, learn how to upgrade to macOS Monterey or upgrade to an older macOS, and use the Updates tab of the App Store app to get app updates.


3. Click Update Now or Upgrade Now:


·       Update Now installs the latest updates for the currently installed version, such as an update from macOS Big Sur 11.5 to macOS Big Sur 11.6. 


·       Upgrade Now installs a major new version with a new name, such as macOS Monterey. Software Update shows only upgrades that are compatible with your Mac.



If you’re running the latest macOS or the issue continues after updating, remove the Bluetooth speaker and headset by going in to System Preferences > Bluetooth, right click over the device name, then click Remove in the menu that appears. Once removed, follow the steps listed below to reconnect your Bluetooth devices. 


Connect a Bluetooth device with your Mac


1. Make sure the device is turned on and discoverable (see the device’s documentation for details).
2. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth.


3. Select the device in the list, then click Connect.


If asked, click Accept (or enter a series of numbers, then press Enter).



Let us know how that goes!


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Cannot change volume on bluetooth devices

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.