Are you having issues with Mac Keyboard Music Controls Not Working too? Many Mac users have experienced a peculiar issue where the “Play/Pause” button on their keyboard doesn’t seem to control their music apps like Apple Music or Spotify. If you’ve faced this problem, you’re not alone. The issue isn’t limited to just Apple Music; it affects other applications like Apple TV and Quicktime as well. But what’s causing this?
The Culprit: WhatsApp Desktop and YouTube on Google Chrome
It turns out that when WhatsApp Desktop is open on your Mac and you’ve listened to a voice message, the music control keys on the keyboard become unresponsive. They prioritize controlling the playback of the voice message in WhatsApp Desktop over any other app, even if the chat where the voice message belonged is opened no more.
This means that even if you’re jamming to your favourite tunes on Apple Music or Spotify, the moment you play a voice note on WhatsApp Desktop, your keyboard’s music controls will shift their allegiance.
Similarly, if you’re watching a YouTube video in the Google Chrome browser, the Mac’s music control keys will prioritize controlling the video playback over any other music app.
Fixing Mac Keyboard Music Controls
- For WhatsApp Desktop: If you’ve listened to a voice message on WhatsApp Desktop and your keyboard’s music controls become unresponsive:
- Close WhatsApp Desktop.
- Your keyboard should now respond and control your music apps as usual.
- You can reopen WhatsApp Desktop, but avoid playing voice messages if you want to keep control over your music apps.
- For YouTube on Google Chrome: If you’re watching a video and your music controls are tied to it:
- Simply close the tab with the YouTube video.
- Your keyboard’s music controls should now revert back to controlling your primary music app.
Conclusion
It’s essential to be aware of these minor quirks to ensure a seamless music listening experience on your Mac. By following the simple steps mentioned above, you can regain control of your music playback and continue enjoying your favourite tracks without interruption.
Source: Spotify Community
