If sound quality is reduced when using Bluetooth headphones with your Mac

Quit any apps that use your Bluetooth headphones' built-in microphone, then try your audio again.

Quit apps that use the microphone

If sound quality is reduced when using Bluetooth headphones with your Mac:

  • Quit any apps that use the microphone of your Bluetooth headphones, such as video conferencing or chat apps.

  • Make sure that System Settings (or System Preferences) isn't open and showing your Sound settings.

Reselect your headphones

If audio quality is still reduced, try selecting your Bluetooth headphones again:

  1. Click Control Center in the menu bar, then click Sound.

  2. Select your device's internal speakers, such as MacBook Pro Speakers.

  3. Reselect your Bluetooth headphones.

Learn how Bluetooth headphones connect

If you listen to music or other audio with Bluetooth headphones and then open an app that uses the Bluetooth headphones' microphone, audio quality and volume are reduced. You might also hear static or popping sounds.

This happens because Bluetooth has two modes:

  • The first mode is for listening to higher-quality audio.

  • The second mode is for both speaking through the microphone and listening to audio. When Bluetooth switches to the second mode, audio quality is reduced until the microphone is no longer in use.

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