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Open Sound Connect
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Open Sound Connect

Connected, but
not in the app

Your Mac plays through the headphones, but Open Sound Connect doesn't show them. Here's why that happens and how to fix it.

Applies toMDR-1000XWH-1000XM2WH-1000XM3WH-1000XM4WH-1000XM5WH-1000XM6WH-1000XX

Short answer

Your Mac's audio and Open Sound Connect's controls use two separate Bluetooth connections, so one can work without the other. In order:

  1. Turn on Open Sound Connect under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth.
  2. Make sure the headphones are one of the seven supported models and show as connected in System Settings → Bluetooth.
  3. Choose Connect in the app (⌘K), or Try Again if it says it couldn't reach them.

Why audio can work while the app sees nothing

When you pair Sony headphones, macOS connects them as an audio device: music, video and calls go to them. Open Sound Connect then opens a second, separate channel to the headphones' own control service, the one Sony's phone app uses to read and change settings. That channel needs two things the audio doesn't:

  • Bluetooth access for the app. macOS asks once. If you chose Don't Allow, audio keeps working, but the app can't talk to the headphones.
  • Headphones that publish Sony's control service. The MDR-1000X, WH-1000XM2, WH-1000XM3, WH-1000XM4, WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM6 and WH-1000XX all do.

How Sony headphone control works on a Mac explains the two connections in more detail.

What the app's message means

When the headphones aren't ready, the app's window says why. Each message points to a different fix:

The app says What to do
Allow Bluetooth Choose Allow in the macOS prompt.
Bluetooth Access Is Off Choose Open Privacy Settings and turn on Open Sound Connect. See Allow Bluetooth access.
Bluetooth Is Off Choose Open Bluetooth Settings and turn Bluetooth on.
No Sony Headphones Paired Pair them in System Settings → Bluetooth first: how to connect Sony headphones to a Mac.
Your headphones' name and Isn't Connected They're paired but connected elsewhere, or off. Turn them on or connect them to this Mac; the app connects by itself.
Couldn't Reach and your headphones' name Keep them on and close to the Mac, then choose Try Again.

Fix it step by step

  1. Check the permission. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth and make sure Open Sound Connect is switched on. Then quit and reopen the app.
  2. Check the audio connection. In System Settings → Bluetooth, your headphones should say Connected. If they're connected to your phone or another computer instead, connect them to the Mac from that list or from the Bluetooth menu in Control Center.
  3. Connect the controls. Choose Connect in the app or press ⌘K. The app also connects by itself whenever your headphones connect to the Mac.
  4. Try again close by. If the app says it couldn't reach them, keep the headphones switched on and next to the Mac and choose Try Again.
  5. Run one copy of the app. Two copies of Open Sound Connect (for example an old one left in Downloads) compete for the same control channel. Quit both and open the one in Applications.
  6. Reconnect the headphones. Disconnect them in System Settings → Bluetooth, connect them again, and wait a few seconds for the app.
  7. Pair them again. If nothing else works, choose Forget This Device for the headphones in System Settings → Bluetooth, put them in pairing mode and pair them again. The pairing guide has the steps for each model.

More than one pair of Sony headphones

If several Sony headphones are paired with your Mac, the app lists them and lets you pick the one to control. It remembers the last pair you used and reconnects to it next time.

Still not showing up

Open the Activity page (⌘7). It lists what your headphones reported, every message the app sent and received, and any error, such as a timeout. Choose Export… to save it, and include it when you report an issue on GitHub.

If your headphones aren't one of the seven 1000X models, they may still play audio on the Mac, but Open Sound Connect doesn't support controlling them.

Common
questions

Do I need to pair the headphones inside Open Sound Connect?

No. Pair them once in System Settings → Bluetooth. Open Sound Connect uses that pairing and opens its control connection on top of it.

Does Disconnect Controls disconnect my audio?

No. Disconnect Controls (⇧⌘K) closes only Open Sound Connect's control channel. The headphones stay connected to the Mac and keep playing.

Why does the app say my headphones aren't connected when they're on?

They're probably connected to another device, such as your phone. Connect them to the Mac in System Settings → Bluetooth and the app picks them up by itself.

Where to next