iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset

I've got this figured out.

On OSX, the "RCD" (remote control daemon) is responsible for the naughtiness. It has hard-coded list of actions to do when it detects certain "events" - one of them being connecting to a bluetooth headset.

To disable this behaviour (minimal loss of functionality, possibly your apple remote won't work):

1. Open Terminal

2. Enter (these are two separate commands)

launchctl stop com.apple.rcd

launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

This should stop rcd from being launched by OSX. No rcd - no auto-magic multimedia. Your volume keys should continue working, but things like play key (or bluetooth) auto-starting iTunes should stop.

PS: The following is the nuclear option. In Terminal, enter:

sudo chmod 000 /System/Library/CoreServices/rcd.app/Contents/MacOS/rcd

sudo pkill -9 rcd

To stop rcd from even being started by any app. To restore your rcd, use:

sudo chmod 755 /System/Library/CoreServices/rcd.app/Contents/MacOS/rcd

launchctl start com.apple.rcd

Compguy42's suggestion worked well for me.

Here is my re-write of the solution:

----------------------------------

OVERVIEW:

1) Open a Terminal Window

2) Rename iTunes.app to MyiTunes.app

3) Create a DoNothing.app using the AppleScript Editor

4) Copy the DoNothing.app to the Applications folder

5) Connect a bluetooth device to get the "Where is iTunes?" window prompt

and Select DoNothing.app as what to auto-launch instead of iTunes

6) Closing thoughts about updates etc.

-----------------------------------

1) Goto a "Terminal" command prompt

(If you don't know how to do that, use Spotlight, Launchpad or just go to Applications > Utilities folder and open "Terminal")

2) Rename iTunes.app to MyiTunes.app, using the following commands at the Terminal window:

cd /Applications

sudo mv ./iTunes.app MyiTunes.app

[enter password]

3) Now we need to create a DoNothing.app that will be used instead of iTunes when the system tries to auto-launch iTunes:

- Open Spotlight, search for "AppleScript Editor" and open it
- Once opened, you will see a blank editor window. (You don't need to type anything)

- Simply go to File > Save and then change the File Format to "Application"

- Enter the file name as something like "DoNothing"

- Save the "DoNothing.app"

- On my system the Documents folder was the default save location

4) Copy the DoNothing.app from the Documents folder to the Applications folder

5) Connect a bluetooth device, which should bring up a "Where is iTunes?" window dialog prompt that looks like the screenshot below. Click [BROWSE] and select the "DoNothing.app" that you saved in the previous step. This tells your system to use the DoNothing.app instead of iTunes when trying to auto-launch iTunes.

Now whenever you connect a bluetooth device, it will appear as though iTunes is NO LONGER be auto-launched. In reality, the DoNothing.app is executed, which does nothing.

6) Closing Thoughts:

- If I ever want to use iTunes I can open MyiTunes.app manually.

- BTW: I tried renaming MyiTunes.app back to iTunes.app but then it started auto-launching again, so don't try that.

- I am guessing that if I ever want to update iTunes I am going to have to rename MyiTunes.app to iTunes.app, update iTunes, then rename it back again to MyiTunes.app.

I hope this helps and a big THANK YOU to compguy42 for sharing this in the first place.

Try this. From http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/86315/prevent-itunes-from-opening-when- connecting-bluetooth-headset

On OSX, the "RCD" (remote control daemon) is responsible for the naughtiness. It has hard-coded list of actions to do when it detects certain "events" - one of them being connecting to a bluetooth headset.

To disable this behaviour (minimal loss of functionality, possibly your apple remote won't work), use the following two commands:

launchctl stop com.apple.rcd

launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

This should stop rcd from being launched by OSX. No rcd - no auto-magic multimedia. Your volume keys should continue working, but things like play key (or bluetooth) auto-starting iTunes should stop.

PS: The following is the nuclear option. In Terminal, enter:

sudo chmod 000 /System/Library/CoreServices/rcd.app/Contents/MacOS/rcd

sudo pkill -9 rcd

To stop rcd from even being started by any app. To restore your rcd, use:

sudo chmod 755 /System/Library/CoreServices/rcd.app/Contents/MacOS/rcd

launchctl start com.apple.rcd

after SEVERAL attempts at this annoying activity, i can confirm this works with OS X El Capitan 10.11.2 Thank you very much!

You can either:

1. Use an app to disable the iTunes play/pause hotkeys (which also disables this bluetooth auto-start functionality.

The app can be downloaded from this link: http://redth.codes/itunes-media-hotkey-disabler/

2. Make the same changes yourself using terminal:

To disable the functionality:

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

To re-enable it:

launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

The following worked for me on 10.11.5. Just run this command on terminal:

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist

To revert use "load" instead of "unload".

Results:

• Play/Pause on keyboard and/or bluetooth headset do not open iTunes anymore!
• iTunes can be opened manually.
• Media keys still work once music apps are running (Spotify, iTunes, etc).

Source http://superuser.com/a/827710

After hours of trying various workarounds for this, I found a solution which works:

You can either:

1. Use an app to disable the iTunes play/pause hotkeys (which also disables this bluetooth auto-start functionality.

The app can be downloaded from this link: http://redth.codes/itunes-media-hotkey-disabler/

2. Make the same changes yourself using terminal:

To disable the functionality:

To re-enable it:

Hope that helps!

Hey everyone, this is the solution! 🙂 To reiterate, go to Systee preferences >> Users and groups, click the Login items tab, select the itunehelper entry, and click the little minus sign <-> to delete it. Reboot your system and voila! No more iTunes when turning on your bluetooth headset.

I did this in OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion).

Sorry, yes, the line "-mv ./iTunes.app MyiTunes.app" should be "-sudo mv ./iTunes.app MyiTunes.app".

I'm not sure why it's still launching after renaming to iTuneeF.app for you. I'm on Mavericks as well and after renaming the application I got the dialog that I mentioned which asks "Where is iTunes".

Here's a repost which corrects my mistype:

----------------------------------------------------------------

Somewhat simple workaround with no negative side effects that I'm aware of:

Open Terminal and (If you aren't already logged in as an admin) su to your admin user:

-su myadminaccount

-[enter password]

Still in Terminal; Go to your applications directory and rename iTunes.app:

-cd /Applications

-sudo mv ./iTunes.app MyiTunes.app

-[enter password]

Do not connect a bluetooth device just yet. This prevents iTunes from opening but allows you to still put MyiTunes.app on your dock so you can open it yourself. When you connect a bluetooth device, you'll still get a message that asks "Where's iTunes". To get past this, do the following:

Open Spotlight and search for "AppleScript Editor". This shows a blank area for entering your script. Simply go to File>Save, Enter the file name as something like "DoNothing", select the directory you want this file to reside and change the File Format to "Application".

Lastly, connect a bluetooth device which should bring up the dialog mentioned above. Click browse and select the "DoNothing.app" that you saved in the previous step. That's it!

Works for me, good luck.

----------------------------------------------------------------

I have the same problem on my MacBook Pro. I tried all the suggestions here and nothing worked. I called Apple Care and got a great support person who actually checked with the engineers or programmers, along with calling the manufacturer of my bluetooth speaker (Bose). He called me back a few days later and said this can't be fixed on my computer and I can't disable ITunes either. He suggested I go to www.Apple.com/feedback and report the problem.

I did so, with a link to this thread. But those of you who also have been unable to resolve this might want to go there, too.

I was just about to repost this from another site: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/86315/prevent-itunes-from-opening-when- connecting-bluetooth-headset

I can confirm that it works on a MBP running iTunes 12.1.0.50 / Yosemite 10.10.2 and Bose SoundDock Mini.

The loss of the F7 8 and 9 keys is no big deal. The usual shortcuts (Space / Opt. + Arrows) work just fine should I need to navigate in iTunes.

Surprise blasting of random music will not be missed.

I wanted to share this fix for others. To stop the iTunes app from automatically launching when you use your bluetooth headphones, go to SysPref > CDs and DVDs and change "When you insert a music CD" from Open in iTunes to IGNORE.

For some reason this works. I have no idea why. For me, iTunes no longer automatically launches when I connect my bluetooth headphones 🙂

Here's a workaround that I use.

Basically it's substituing a Do Nothing App(DNA.app) for the iTunes App.

So when your Bluetooth Audio device connects, the system starts what it thinks is iTunes but instead starts a Do Nothing app that runs and exits without any actions so you don't notice it.

Sorry I can't provide you with the DNA.app you'll have to find/make your own.

If someone out there finds a good one from a trusted source, please post it in this thread!

1) Get some kind of DNA.app.

I made my own by making a Java application that does nothing and then bundling it as per these instructions:

http://www.bartbusschots.ie/blog/?p=296

So I end up with DNA.app

2) Rename iTunes using this command in a Terminal Windows

sudo mv /Applications/iTunes.app /Applications/iTunesBACK.app

3) Copy over your DNA.app from wherever you have it to /Applications.iTunes.app

sudo cp -R ~/DNA.app /Applications/iTunes.app

4) Fix your dock so that it points to iTunesBACK.app and reassociate any files types

like mp3 to point to iTunesBACK

Good luck!

I don't have any way to test this, but you could try removing ituneshelper from system preferences >> users and groups >> login items, then rebooting. I'm guessing that may be what's listening in the background, since that's used to recognize ios devices being plugged in.

Here's a simple workaround that I'm using, even though it requires me to remember to do it each time I turn on my headphones:

1. Hold down Option key on your keyboard.

2. Turn on your headphones while still holding down the Option key.

3. Keep the Option key held down while the headphones connect and iTunes "starts".

4. Once you see the iTunes icon jump up and down and then stop jumping up and down, let go of the Option key and switch over to iTunes.

5. Instead of starting, iTunes asks you to choose a library. Instead of choosing a library, choose Quit or hit the ESC key on your keyboard.

iTunes doesn't start and your headphones are on.

FYI, I tried killing the iTuneshelper from the login items without success.

Here is the solution I used:

1. I stopped using iTunes and found different providers for everything; Spotify, Netflix, etc.
2. Then, I stoped iTunes from auto-starting by opening a Terminal window and disabling it by running this command: sudo chmod -x /Applications/iTunes.app
3. If you ever need to run iTunes again, open a Terminal window and enable it by running this command: sudo chmod +x /Applications/iTunes.app

This works great. Thanks Apple.