macOS High Sierra iTunes keyboard shortcuts stop working

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Level 1

8 points

macOS High Sierra iTunes keyboard shortcuts stop working

I upgraded from El Capitan to High Sierra on a Mac Pro (Mid 2010). Since the upgrade I have noticed that iTunes (12.7.0.166) stops responding to the play/pause button (F8) after a while. I can make iTunes respond again by bringing iTunes into focus and then pressing CTRL-Space to start playback and then again to stop it. After doing this, F8 again starts/stops playback. Until some time has elapsed, that is, at which point it stops working and I have to repeat the process. I have iTunes configured to run on all desktops.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Mac Pro, macOS High Sierra (10.13), iTunes 12

Posted on Oct 6, 2017 7:57 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

eattheword Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 27, 2017 3:26 AM in response to eattheword

UPDATE: Yes, it seems that whatever media player was last in focus takes over control of the media keys, but even bringing iTunes back into focus doesn't restore control to iTunes. Here's what I discovered on my system though: I use the Twitter desktop app. If I play an embedded video that someone has placed in a tweet (even by using the mouse to start it) then the Twitter app takes over control of the media keys. Following that, hiding the Twitter app does not release control, and even when I bring iTunes into focus by making it the current window the media keys still do not work with it. What DOES seem to work, however, is quitting the Twitter app. Then, regardless of whether iTunes is in focus or not, it then responds to the media keys.

So, in short, it seems that Twitter hogs the keys after using it to play an embedded video. Quitting the app then immediately reopening it seems to let iTunes take the reins again. 😕

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Answer 2

Oct 27, 2017 11:36 AM in response to eattheword

Terrific find! Exact same thing happens to me, and quitting Twitter lets iTunes use the media controls again.

Thank you!

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Answer 3

Nov 22, 2017 2:48 PM in response to eattheword

Try out this little menu bar utility I wrote to solve this problem: http://stuntsoftware.com/reflex/

I hope it helps!

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Answer 4

Oct 27, 2017 11:47 AM in response to eattheword

It also happens with web embedded video, like Youtube and some other HTML5 videos (I'm not sure if it works with all HTML5 videos), sometimes I get the focus back closing the safari tab

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Answer 5

EliciaDJ

Level 1

4 points

Oct 16, 2017 9:57 PM in response to eattheword

Hi,

I upgraded from Sierra to High Sierra last week. Since then, I've noticed my iTunes (12.7.0.166) also stops responding to my Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 keyboard shortcuts. I was able to make iTunes respond; however today it's not responding at all, no matter what I do. Very frustrating. I'm hoping there will be a fix to this soon.

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Answer 6

Oct 23, 2017 8:33 AM in response to eattheword

What I think is happening (without investigating the technical details) is that the keyboard shortcuts now control any media that's on focus, it can actually control youtube videos now and other videos hence losing focus from iTunes.

What I want to know is how to set it up to control iTunes all the time

Regards

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Answer 7

Oct 17, 2017 6:05 AM in response to EliciaDJ

I wish I had an answer, but I have this issue as well. I have the Apple Magic keyboard with numeric keypad. Very annoying bug for sure.

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Answer 8

Nov 23, 2017 11:06 PM in response to danmessing

Thank you so much, this solved my keyboard keys issue.

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Answer 9

Dec 4, 2017 7:12 AM in response to danmessing

xcellent ..... thanks

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Answer 10

Dec 7, 2017 12:26 PM in response to danmessing

it's so f***ing ridiculous that i have to download something because apple likes to make unnecessary changes to things that work. but thank YOU for creating this.

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