How to Share Audio on MacBook

Can you share audio on a Mac?

Yes, you can share audio from Mac to several devices, although macOS has no one-click Share Audio button like iOS and iPadOS. Instead, you send sound to multiple Bluetooth or wired headphones, AirPods, or external speakers with built-in utilities, hardware, or third-party software.

A note from our experts: 

 

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1. Download MacKeeper, then install and open the app on your Mac.
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How to stream audio from Mac?

You can stream audio from Mac to several devices in three ways: with a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup, a 3.5mm splitter, or a third-party routing app. If you hear nothing at all, first deal with the sound not working on MacBook.

1. Using Audio MIDI Setup

This built-in app is our first choice, since it’s free and works with wireless devices. The drawback is that your volume keys stop working.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. Press Command + Space, type Audio MIDI Setup, and press Return.
2. Click the Add (+) button at the bottom of the sidebar and choose Create Multi-Output Device.
3. Select the Use checkbox next to each pair of headphones or speakers.
4. Choose a Primary Device, then enable Drift Correction for the others.
5. Control-click the new device and choose Use This Device For Sound Output.

2. Use a physical 3.5mm headphone splitter

We’d pick a splitter when two people need to listen temporarily, because it changes no settings. It only works with wired headphones, though.

Connect it in three moves:

1. Plug the splitter into your MacBook’s headphone jack.
2. Connect both pairs of wired headphones to the splitter.
3. Play your audio as usual.

3. Use third-party audio routing software

Apps like Loopback (paid) and PairPods (free) make multiple devices easier to manage, with a separate volume control for each. From what we can tell, PairPods is the simpler one.

To share with PairPods, do this:

1.     Connect your Bluetooth headphones to your Mac.

2.     Install PairPods and click its icon in the menu bar.

3.     Adjust the volume of each device, then turn on Share Audio.

How to send audio on Mac with two headphones?

To share audio on multiple headphones on Mac, first connect Bluetooth headphones to Mac, then select both pairs in a Multi-Output Device. As we’ve noticed, two pairs of the same kind stay in sync more easily than a wireless and a wired one.

How to share sound to multiple AirPods on a MacBook?

To share sound on MacBook with two or more pairs of AirPods or Beats, connect AirPods to Mac for each pair. Unlike iOS, macOS won’t start a shared session by itself, so select every connected pair in a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup.

How to share audio between macOS and Windows?

A Macintosh and a Windows PC need a network streaming app or a cable to share sound. In our experience, the cable has less delay, while the app is more convenient.

1. Stream audio over local network using software

We’d go with a cross-platform tool like AudioRelay.

Set up the stream like this:

1. Install AudioRelay on both computers and connect them to the same network.
2. On your Mac, install a virtual audio device and select it in the Server tab.
3. Set the virtual device as your Mac’s sound output.
4. On the PC, open the Player tab and click your Mac.

2. Connect Mac and Windows via physical audio cables

Our team finds a 3.5mm AUX cable to be the most reliable option for computers that sit side by side.

Wire the two computers together:

1. Plug one end of the cable into your MacBook’s headphone jack.
2. Plug the other end into the PC’s line-in jack.
3. In the Windows sound settings, open the Line In properties and select Listen to this device.

What to do if shared audio is out of sync or not working?

Most issues come down to Audio MIDI Setup, so we’d start there.

Try these fixes:

• One device is silent. Check that its Use checkbox is selected and it’s still connected.
• Sound is delayed or echoes. Enable Drift Correction for every device except the primary one.
• Volume keys don’t respond. Set the level of each device in Audio MIDI Setup.
• Nothing helps. Delete the Multi-Output Device and create it again.

Conclusion

Now you know how to share audio on a MacBook: use Audio MIDI Setup for two pairs of AirPods, a hardware splitter for wired pairs, or cross-platform tools for Mac and Windows. macOS gives you flexible audio routing, even if Apple hides it well.

If your shared sound still cuts out, MacKeeper’s Premium Services put you in touch with a tech expert 24/7. MacKeeper is a macOS utility software. MacKeeper is trusted by millions of users. Download MacKeeper and start a chat today.