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rryk Author

Level 1

10 points

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

Top-ranking reply

crapple9999

Level 1

4 points

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.

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139 replies

Jan 21, 2011 5:27 AM in response to rryk

i get the same effect whenever i use my Creative WP-300 BT headset. it's just very irritating.

May 25, 2011 11:10 AM in response to MacNewBiePColdie

Does anyone know how to keep iTunes from launching when you turn on your bluetooth headset? It looks like this question remains unanswered and I am really interested in a solution as the default behavior of launching itunes just because I enabled a bluetooth device is extremely irritatiing.

Jul 6, 2011 4:32 PM in response to rryk

yep, same with "Avalon BT". Sometimes i wish to simply delete itunes...

I use it as headphones, not as headset. But i want to listen to youtube or soundcloud and NOT to itunes!

Jul 31, 2011 4:40 PM in response to rryk

Same issue with my Jabra Halo and LG HBM-520

Aug 11, 2011 5:28 AM in response to rryk

Same issue with Rocketfish RF-MAB2

Aug 22, 2011 3:47 AM in response to rryk

Having same issue here too on MBP 2011 with Lion. I would like to fix this. It is so much annoying.

Aug 23, 2011 3:12 AM in response to rryk

I also have the same issue with my Rocketfish RF-MAB2 headphones. Is anyone there at Apple going to address this? I have looked in the preferences and can't find anywhere to change this behavior, which is really annoying.

EmBe79

Level 1

0 points

Aug 31, 2011 4:04 AM in response to rryk

Same for me, with Artic P311 Headset. Please fix it...

Sep 19, 2011 5:08 PM in response to rryk

Same with Sennheiser PX210BT. Very annoying.

Sep 29, 2011 1:43 PM in response to rryk

Same with Sennheiser PX360BT. I hate this "feature"!

seth80

Level 1

0 points

Oct 25, 2011 1:51 AM in response to rryk

Same problem here with Sennheiser MM 450. Did not happen in Snow Leopard, I believe.

Very annoying.

shgreen

Level 1

20 points

Nov 27, 2011 8:08 PM in response to rryk

Same with Jabra Halo. Combined with continuous bluetooth audio agent crashes.

Dec 4, 2011 10:59 AM in response to shgreen

Same with Sennheiser. Did not happen with Snow Leopard.

Dec 16, 2011 6:17 PM in response to rryk

Just another example of Apple trying to take over the way your computer behaves... basically it is designed this way, so until they fix it, ENJOY!

I have the same problem, in Snow Leopard.

Dec 28, 2011 3:56 PM in response to coreytodds

Mine does the same thing. I am thinking about trying to uninstall iTunes. I HATE programs that start up by themselves unless you specifically have them setup to auto start.

iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset