Pausing spotify mutes audio on entire computer when using bluetooth earphones

[benbr_]

Plan

Premium

Country

 UK

Device

Macbook Pro 2017 (13")

Operating System

MacOS 10.13.5 (17F77)

Spotify Version

1.0.86.337.ga8d5cef9

When I pause a song on Spotify whilst using bluetooth earphones, audio is muted for every other application on the computer. For example if try to play a youtube video I can't hear anything. The mac volume level indicator is not muted though.

1. Start with spotify closed and play a youtube video - you can hear the audio fine.

2. Start spotify - can still hear youtube audio

3. Start playing a song on Spotify then pause it. Now all audio will be muted (also tried playing something in Audacity).

4. Play the song again on spotify - only whilst the song is playing can other computer audio be heard. 

If I switch the the mac speakers then the problem stops. Only occurs with bluetooth earphones (my ones are Sennheiser CX 6.00BT).

Another way to stop problem is to quit spotify (Spotify -> Quit Spotify), though often I also have to reconnect my bluetooth earphones before audio starts working again.

I've tried reinstally spotify and deleting cache which doesn't help.

Similar to https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Pausing-Spotify-Playback-quot-Mutes-quot-ALL-Audio-... but on mac

Here is some hardware and bluetooth info: https://gist.github.com/BenBanerjeeRichards/45063974d89a9b1d3d1bb64ea6f910b8#file-spotify-info-txt for my computer

[benbr_]

Just found out that this can only be recreated when the bluetooth earphones is using aptX. If the codec is SCO then the issue does not occur

[moogal]

Having the same issue here on a Mac using some Philips bluetooth headphones.

I did find this thread on the Windows version of the forum - https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Pausing-Spotify-Playback-quot-Mutes-quot-ALL-Audio-... but it only seems to have a solution for Windows, not Macs.

Hoping there is a solution out there as it's been driving me nuts for months!

[J7Luke]

Can you re-link that thread?  I am having the same issue, only I am on Windows 10.  Thanks!

[urf90]

i have the same problem on my mac. Is there a fix yet? its happening for almost a year

[AvatharTOS]

Having the same issue on my cleanly installed new work macbook, my old one where i have tried reinstalling spotify and also on my windows computer (but will try the fix suggested in the other thread where you disable the overlay)

Would be great if this could be fixed as this breaks spotify for me in every use case except listening on phone on my way to work.

[urf90]

I dont think there is an option for disabling the overlay on mac desktop version of spotify

[shokx_jason]

Same problem on Mac OS as well and it is pretty annoying. 
Headphones: Tao Tronic NC 

[Jigish]

Same issue. macOS 10.14.1, Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless (aptX codec). Any solution yet?

[benbr_]

None for mac. I don't have the issue with my bluetooth speakers which don't support aptX, so I think it's an issue with bluetooth aptX codec devices.

[CanT123]

Plan

Premium

Country

Turkey

Device

MacBook Pro 15-ınch 2018

Operating System

macOS Movaje

My Question or Issue

Hi;

Spotify mac app keeps muting everything that makes sound after I pause my music. Background sound plays fine when I play music over it, but when I pause Spotify the background sound completely stops. How can i fix this problem?

Thanks 🙂

Thanks

[Loxer]

Hi there!

I know it sounds simple, but it's often overlooked. Could you try restarting your device? If that doesn't help, try a quick clean reinstall of the app. Just follow these steps.

If you're still having trouble, could you let me know the exact version of Spotify and the exact version of the operating system you're running?

I'll see what I can suggest next!

[CanT123]

Hi;

Thansk for answer. Reinstall application was not the solution.

MacBook Pro macOS Mojvave 10.14.6

Spotify 1.1.14.475.g566c8beb

[CanT123]

And this fix not work on macOS;

"There is a fix everyone!

Just go to Edit -> preferences -< Display options and disable "Show desktop overlay when using media keys"

This fixed my issue atleast. "

Because this option not available on mac 😞

[CanT123]

Spotify please fix this problem!

[emilyabrahams]

I'm having the same problem. 😐

[louis1642]

I'm having the same problem

MacOs Big Sur 11.1

Spotify 1.1.53.608.g7ed9c03a

Please find a solution that works on Mac!

[Alex]

Hey there @louis1642,

Thanks for reaching out about this in the Community!

Can you let us know if this is happening when you're playing music directly from the computer's speakers or when using a Bluetooth device as well?

Also, does this happen when you play music via the Web player?

We'll be on the lookout for your reply.

[user-removed]

Hi there.

I am also having this problem on Mac. I am using macOS Mojave 10.14.6. This happens when I am connected to my bluetooth speaker, a Libratone Too using Firmware version 32.

If I am listening to Spotify, and need to pause the audio to, e.g. watch a video on YouTube, joining a Zoom call, and so on, then all of my audio will pause.

At this point, I have two options:

- lower the volume on spotify to 0% and let the music play or,

- restart my audio service with which will keep spotify paused.

[Jeremy]

Hey there @user-removed,

Thank you for your reply in this thread.

Can you let us know if you performed a clean reinstall of the app? This will make sure there's no old cache files causing this.

If you have, it would be great if you can let us know which version of the app you have.

We'll keep an eye out for your reply.

Take care!