Apple Music App won't output to Bluetooth Device when using Shared Library

Question

rmatt2000 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apple Music App won't output to Bluetooth Device when using Shared Library

I have several user accounts on my Mac. I share my Music library to all of these accounts using the System Preferences > Sharing > Media Sharing setting. Typically, I set my sound output to a bluetooth receiver connected to a stereo.

Music and system sound effects play properly through the bluetooth device when I am logged into my main account (which is an admin account). However, when I access the shared music library as another non-admin user, the Music app won't play if the sound output is set to bluetooth. Music will play, however, if I change the sound output to the iMac internal speakers.

This problem first occurred after I upgraded from 12.2 to 12.3.

iMac 27″, macOS 12.3

Posted on Mar 22, 2022 4:05 PM

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Answer 1

Todd0213

Community Specialist

Mar 23, 2022 10:55 AM in response to rmatt2000

Hello rmatt2000,

It sounds as though you're having issues with Bluetooth speakers not playing audio from the Music app when in a different user account on your Mac, but no issues when changing to the internal speakers within System Preferences. Apple Support Communities is a great place for help!

You've walked through great steps to isolate the issue to the non-admin user account. To confirm, does the issue occurs in a different admin user account? If you're unsure or don't have another admin user account set up, you can create a test admin user account by following the steps listed below. You can also find those steps in the following article.

"On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups . If the lock at the bottom left is locked , click it to unlock the preference pane.
Click the Add button below the list of users.
Click the New Account pop-up menu, then choose a type of user.
Enter a full name for the new user. An account name is generated automatically. To use a different account name, enter it now—you can’t change it later.
Enter a password for the user, then enter it again to verify. Enter a password hint to help the user remember their password.
Click Create User."

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

If the same issue occurs in the test admin user account, you'll want to remove the Bluetooth accessory from your Bluetooth device list, and pair the accessory back to your Mac. To remove the accessory, you'll need to go in to System Preferences > Bluetooth, then Control-click on the accessory name, followed by Remove. Once removed, follow the steps in the article below to pair the accessory back with your Mac. In addition to those steps, you may have to consult the accessories owner's manual for additional steps.

Connect a Bluetooth device with your Mac

Let us know how that goes!

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Answer 2

Rob_H1

Community Specialist

Mar 23, 2022 12:42 PM in response to rmatt2000

Thank you for the reply rmatt2000!

Since the issue also occurs in safe mode, please reach out to Apple directly to investigate by using the link below:

Get Support

Cheers!

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Answer 3

Jeff_888

Community Specialist

Mar 23, 2022 11:45 AM in response to rmatt2000

Hi rmatt2000,

We appreciate those details. Does the issue persist if you boot in safe mode? This can help us determine if third-party software might be causing an issue. Here's how to boot in safe mode if needed:

How to use safe mode on your Mac

Take care.

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Answer 4

rmatt2000 Author

Level 1

28 points

Mar 23, 2022 11:37 AM in response to Todd0213

> To confirm, does the issue occurs in a different admin user account?

I created a new admin account. The problem also occurs with the new admin account - that is, the Music app will not play music from a shared library through my bluetooth device.

> you'll want to remove the Bluetooth accessory from your Bluetooth device list, and pair the accessory back to your Mac

I removed the bluetooth device and re-paired the device with my Mac. Unfortunately, this did not fix the problem.

In addition, I rebooted the system, but that didn't fix the problem either.

However, I noticed an additional symptom which may help narrow down the problem. When the sound output is set to my bluetooth device (either through System Settings > Sound > Output, or using the Airplay pop-up menu in the Music app) and I try to play a track from a shared library, the Music app play button doesn't seem to actually cause music to start playing. Clicking the play button changes the button icon from "play" to "pause", but the music progress bar doesn't move - it remains stuck at 0:00, as if no music is playing.

Playing a track from the user's library does work correctly over bluetooth. The problem seems to only occur with a shared library and bluetooth output.

FYI, the bluetooth device is an Esinkin BT adapter, model W29.

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Answer 5

rswurth

Level 1

12 points

Apr 12, 2022 9:24 AM in response to rmatt2000

I have this issue as well - Shared Library will not play through a bluetooth device, but will play through speakers or audio jack connections.

Apple Music will play non-shared library items like Radio.

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Answer 6

yolocats

Level 1

0 points

Apr 11, 2022 10:41 AM in response to rmatt2000

i have this precise issue with klipsch bluetooth speakers. i can toggle back and forth where the shared media will files play without incident if sound through imac internal speakers, but will not play if sound is bluetooth speakers.

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