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iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset

I am using bluetooth headset to communicate on Skype. Whenever somebody's calling me, I turn my headset on and it will automatically connect to my MacBook. Every time, however, it will also automatically start iTunes and begins to play. I don't want this behavior, since instead of listening to music I would actually want to talk on Skype. How can I change this?

Possible explanation to this could be that headphones may send "Play" button message to the computer once connected, since this is same button that is used to turn them on/off. I am not sure however, if they actually do send this button. But in case they do, how can I disable iTunes startup on Play button? Is there are an official way to do it or should I really go with something like this: http://superuser.com/questions/31925/stop-play-pause-button-opening-itunes-in-sn ow-leopard/39390#39390.

MacBook Pro 6.2, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 6, 2010 2:04 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Dec 4, 2017 2:08 PM

This question was first posted in 2010, it is now less than a month from 2018 and this remains an issue.


In nearly 8 years the only "solutions" are hacky workarounds, that is just sad.


We are talking about a simple ON/OFF switch for auto play here! I guess it takes courage to ignore such a simple fix for so long.


My bluetooth headphones have this great feature where when I take them off, it automatically pauses the media being played and when you put them back on it resumes. On my Windows PC and Android Phone this works exactly as you'd expect, no configuration needed.

BUT, on this awesome MacBook Pro, which I am forced to use for work, every time I decide to take my head phones off and then put them back on iTunes launches and starts playing music.

139 replies

Oct 24, 2016 12:59 PM in response to jespermolgaard

Tried this, and also modified "CDs & DVDs" setting percrystalship

One/both seems to have finally worked for me, but after I changed the settings and logged out (then back in).


Problem :

While using bluetooth headphones on a call, iTunes would autostart and autoplay whatever content I'd last selected manually (movies, podcasts, etc). Was driving me CRAZY, particularly when on a conference call. The autostart would set itself off 5x, meaning I'd have to cancel or stop play multiple times before I could shut down iTunes, meaning I'd lose minutes of whatever conference call I was hosting or contributing on. BAD iTUNES! Why isn't this more readily customizable???

(Running into this lately, as the headphones are a recent purchase. Was using standard earphones prior to purchase.)


Gear :

headphones / Bose SoundSport bluetooth

desktop / iMac (mid-2011) on Sierra 10.12

phone / iPhone 5S

iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset

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