How to Play Audio Through Multiple Speakers and Headphones on Mac
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How to Play Audio Through Multiple Speakers and Headphones on Mac
While you can easily switch between audio output devices in macOS, it isn’t obvious how to use multiple speakers at once.
In some situations, you may want to send audio from your Mac to more than one speaker. For example, a few well-placed Bluetooth speakers around the house during a social gathering will make your music inescapable. Or perhaps two people want to use separate sets of headphones to watch a movie.
Whatever your reason for wanting to spread the sound around, Apple makes it possible with one simple tool. Let’s discuss how to play audio through multiple speakers from your Mac.
How to Create a Multi-Output Device on Mac
If you want to send audio to multiple AirPods, headphones, or speakers in macOS, you’ll need to create a multi-output device in the Audio MIDI Setup app. Thankfully, the process is fairly straightforward.
To play audio through multiple devices on Mac, start by connecting all the audio output devices to your Mac. Then launch Audio MIDI Setup app. You can find the app in Applications > Utilities or by doing a Spotlight search.
Now click the plus (+) button in the bottom-left corner and select Create Multi-Output Device.
Tick all of the devices you want to add. If you don't see a device here, make sure that it is successfully connected to your Mac.
Finally click the Sound icon in the menu bar or go to System Preferences > Sound > Output and select Multi-Output Device.
When you enable multi-output mode, you lose the ability to change the volume using the buttons on your Mac or the standard OS controls. However, when you select a device in the Audio MIDI Setup side menu, you’ll see a slider labeled Primary that you can use to adjust volumes individually. Alternatively, you can use the volume controls on the devices themselves, when available.
If you want to rename your multi-output device, you can do so by clicking the current name in the side menu and entering another.
Audio MIDI Setup Is a Useful macOS Tool
Often, some of macOS’s most useful features aren’t presented front and center. If you don’t go digging around in the settings or exploring every in-built app, you may not know exactly what the Mac's operating system is capable of.
The Audio MIDI Setup app is an unsung hero that grants more control over your auditory devices and can also help troubleshoot stubborn sound issues. If at first macOS seems to be missing a critical feature, you should dig a little deeper, because the solution may be just beneath the surface.
Matt Moore (83 Articles Published)
Matt is an Australian freelance writer with a degree in creative and critical writing. Prior to commencing his studies, he worked in tech support and gained valuable insights into technology and its users. His true passion is telling stories, and he hopes to one day write a novel worthy of publication.
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