How to use iOS devices for sound output from MacOS?

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Level 1

4 points

How to use iOS devices for sound output from MacOS?

Hello,

I'm currently struggling to find a good working solution for outputting sound from my Macbook M1 to my iPhone SE. This is needed for music production – to test audio on various speakers, mobile included. And as of 2023 and Apple's wireless agenda, is there a better way to do this, other than connecting through a series of wires and dongles to an audio interface, or compiling audio files and testing them on devices via drop-folders?

Airfoil comes up as one solution. But for installing it on an M1 mac it requires rebooting the system in Recovery Environment and change security settings to “Reduced Security”, so it could install the drivers to System extensions (described in article from the Airfoil support).

Though the company has a pretty decent reputation, this whole activation process feels very hacky, with it being a third-party app. And rings some alarms...

But amongst it's suggested alternatives the product itself makes relatively better impression.

A lot of articles and discussions are pretty dated. And it's weird that Apple doesn't have any transparent statements, solutions, precautions or restrictions on this whole topic. You can use macOS as an audio receiver. You can connect devices via Bluetooth. Further than that, the info gets very fuzzy. Even ChatGPT claims that an iOS device should be visible in Audio Output settings, when connected.

So what is the current state of events, really? On using iOS devices for sound output from MacOS? And how safe is it to activate Airfoil by tweaking the Recovery Env?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 13.2

Posted on Feb 20, 2023 1:32 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 20, 2023 3:36 AM in response to illiilliilli

FWIW, I have never seen a iOS device automatically be available as sound output, without any third party software.

Rogue Amoeba, the makers of Airfoil, have been making Mac software, and in particular Mac audio software, for a very long time, and they are a respected developer. If this is something you are keen to do, at least you are working with a developer who knows what they're doing.

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Answer 2

illiilliilli Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 20, 2023 8:19 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Yeah, their solution for this topic and others respectively, really stand out.

I do hope that I could omit the meddling with the recovery environment part though... Maybe just wait on some upcoming updates from RA and Apple.

Previously, I had installed other software which required additional drivers. And this is actually the first case when such system level workarounds are required. From an average, non-technical, user perspective these steps do not seem very reasonable.

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Answer 3

Feb 20, 2023 8:25 AM in response to illiilliilli

I understand your reluctance.

As it happens, a lot of low level things that used to be possible are made more and more difficult, if not impossible, due to increasing security concerns.

Something as simple as booting your mac using an external system drive would not have raised any eyebrows a few years ago, but is now (understandably) regarded as a potential security risk.

Suppose you want to run a version of Big Sur, or Monterey on your mac that has Ventura installed. It may be quite reasonable and proper (for testing purposes, or to run an old program that is no longer compatible). Still, you will have to delve into recovery and "reduce security" just to allow it.

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How to use iOS devices for sound output from MacOS?

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