[GH-ISSUE #878] [Bug]: Multi-Output Device does not work as intended #421

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opened 2026-03-03 18:57:44 +03:00 by kerem · 0 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-03 18:57:44 +03:00

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Originally created by @LinSDK on GitHub (Mar 19, 2023).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/PlayCover/PlayCover/issues/878

Describe the bug

When using a Multi-Output Device, the sound will only output to the device that is on top of the list in the Audio MIDI Setup panel.

When you untick (un-"Use") the device that is currently playing the sound from a PlayCover app in the Audio MIDI Setup panel, the sound continues playing. If you switch to other playback devices in the system settings while this is happening, the sound from the PlayCover app will continue to play in whatever output device it was originally playing on, regardless of what is currently selected as the output device in the system settings. To reverse this, either restart PlayCover or tick "Use" on the output device in the Audio MIDI Setup panel and switch to the Multi-Output Device again.

The Multi-Output Device works as intended on other applications outside of PlayCover.

Workarounds:

Use Static Z's Sound Control to route the audio from a PlayCover app to the Multi-Output Device. (as suggested by @quentinfasquel)
Route multiple outputs using Rouge Amoeba's Loopback.

Steps to reproduce

A. Multi-Output Device does not output to multiple devices

Open Audio MIDI Setup
On the bottom left, press "+". Add a Multi-Output Device.
Plug headphones (or any other audio device) into the headphone jack to enable the External Headphones output device.
Tick the checkbox under "Use" on both External Headphones and MacBook Speakers (or whatever your device's speakers are). Alternatively, just add 2 different output devices connected to your computer into the Multi-Output Device.
On the left panel, right click the Multi-Output Device you created and click "Use This Device For Sound Output".
Open PlayCover and load an app.

The sound will now play on the first device that is in the list within the Audio MIDI Setup Multi-Output Device settings. Changing the Primary Device within the panel will make no difference.

B. Playcover output device gets "stuck" when changing output devices

Create a Multi-Output Device as instructed in A.
Open PlayCover and load an app.
Untick "Use" on the top-most output device within the Audio MIDI Setup Multi-Output Device settings panel.
Change to a different output device within Control Center or System Settings.

The sound from PlayCover will now be "stuck" in the device that was previously enabled in the Multi-Output Device.

Expected behaviour

A. Sound will play on all the devices within the Multi-Output Device.
B. Sound will play on the currently selected output device.

Crash log

No crash

What version of PlayCover are you using?

Nightly/beta

What version of macOS are you using?

Ventura (macOS 13)

Issue Language

Yes my issue is written in English

Originally created by @LinSDK on GitHub (Mar 19, 2023). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/PlayCover/PlayCover/issues/878 ### Describe the bug When using a _Multi-Output Device_, the sound will only output to the device that is on top of the list in the Audio MIDI Setup panel. When you untick (un-"Use") the device that is currently playing the sound from a PlayCover app in the Audio MIDI Setup panel, the sound continues playing. If you switch to other playback devices in the system settings while this is happening, the sound from the PlayCover app will continue to play in whatever output device it was originally playing on, regardless of what is currently selected as the output device in the system settings. _To reverse this, either restart PlayCover or tick "Use" on the output device in the Audio MIDI Setup panel and switch to the Multi-Output Device again._ The Multi-Output Device works as intended on other applications outside of PlayCover. ### **Workarounds:** - Use Static Z's Sound Control to route the audio from a PlayCover app to the Multi-Output Device. (as [suggested by @quentinfasquel](https://github.com/PlayCover/PlayCover/issues/675#issuecomment-1440801858)) - Route multiple outputs using Rouge Amoeba's Loopback. ### Steps to reproduce ### **A. Multi-Output Device does not output to multiple devices** 1. Open _Audio MIDI Setup_ 2. On the bottom left, press "+". Add a _Multi-Output Device_. 3. Plug headphones (or any other audio device) into the headphone jack to enable the _External Headphones_ output device. 4. Tick the checkbox under "Use" on both _External Headphones_ and _MacBook Speakers (or whatever your device's speakers are)_. **_Alternatively, just add 2 different output devices connected to your computer into the Multi-Output Device._** 5. On the left panel, right click the Multi-Output Device you created and click "Use This Device For Sound Output". 6. Open PlayCover and load an app. The sound will now play on the _first device_ that is in the list within the Audio MIDI Setup Multi-Output Device settings. Changing the Primary Device within the panel will make no difference. ### **B. Playcover output device gets "stuck" when changing output devices** 1. Create a Multi-Output Device as instructed in A. 2. Open PlayCover and load an app. 3. Untick "Use" on the top-most output device within the Audio MIDI Setup Multi-Output Device settings panel. 4. Change to a different output device within Control Center or System Settings. The sound from PlayCover will now be "stuck" in the device that was previously enabled in the Multi-Output Device. ### Expected behaviour **A.** Sound will play on all the devices within the Multi-Output Device. **B.** Sound will play on the currently selected output device. ### Crash log ```shell No crash ``` ### What version of PlayCover are you using? Nightly/beta ### What version of macOS are you using? Ventura (macOS 13) ### Issue Language - [X] Yes my issue is written in English