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I am trying to connect two Bluetooth headphones to a MacbookPro. The main purpose is to stream audio in two devices simultaneously. Is there a MacOS feature that would allow me to do this?

Also, I am not considering a Bluetooth splitter, for sound quality purposes.

Edit: Upon further researching, I found this link on Bose forum (https://community.bose.com/t5/Headphones-Archive/Share-Audio-from-MacOS-Macbook-Pro-with-two-or-more-Bluetooth/td-p/46007). Looks like, creating multi-output device may be a solution? (at this moment I am not able to test this, since I do not have more than one Bluetooth headphones). Has anyone tried it this way? Does it work?

2 Answers 2

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Yes, you can do it: https://community.bose.com/t5/Headphones-Archive/Share-Audio-from-MacOS-Macbook-Pro-with-two-or-more-Bluetooth/td-p/46007

Here are the steps I took:

  1. Connect both headphones via bluetooth. Both should say connected on the Bluetooth setting page.

  2. In Finder menu hit Go -> Utilities -> Audio Midi Setup

  3. You should see both your headphones listed on the left here.

  4. Hit the "+" button at the bottom left and select "Create Multi-Output Device" (You may rename the device if you wish)

  5. Select your bose headphones from the list on the right to add to the Multi-Output Device.

  6. Right-click on the Multi-Output Device you just created and use device for sound output and play alerts and sound through this device.

  7. You may also select which device as your master device to sync across all your connected headphones.

  8. I also selected Drift Correction for slave devices - I'm not 100% sure what this does but I think it makes sure that your devices stay in sync to the audio/video playing on your computer.

  9. Watch away. Note that you won't be able to adjust ouput volume from Macbook any more, instead volume is adjusted individually at each headphone, which is pretty neat.

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    I have tried user3063895's solution and indeed it works! Thank you SO MIUCH, @user3063895! My wife (and I) will be VERY HAPPY when we fly to Hawaii in a few days and we both can use our BT headphones to watch a movie together! Aug 16, 2018 at 23:05
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    I ❤️this answer. You made my romantic evening when the baby sleeps!
    – andilabs
    Sep 23, 2018 at 20:27
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    Thanks! Worked like a charm. Here are the same steps with images: macrumors.com/how-to/output-mac-audio-two-pairs-headphones Jan 1, 2019 at 15:57
  • This is just brilliant. Sep 20, 2019 at 15:46
  • I tried to enable drift for either master, slave or both, but none will keep the devices in sync for me, how can I adjust the delay manually? Jun 20, 2022 at 22:01
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While you can pair as many bluetooth devices to a single Mac as you'd like, you can only use one of that type of device at a time.

For example, you can be connected to a BT mouse, keyboard, and headphones and use all of these at the same time.

What you can't do is connect and use 2 BT headphones or 2 BT mice at the same time. For your question, the answer would be no, you can't do what you're trying to do.

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    This is not true, see answer by user3063895. Jul 3, 2018 at 5:07
  • @AndreyPortnoy This was true when it was originally asked and written. As iOS grows it naturally changes, thing previously not possible are now common. Newer versions of the OS have now made this Answer inaccurate.
    – fsb
    Jul 22, 2020 at 13:04

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