How to Connect Multiple Bluetooth Speakers on Mac

By default, macOS only sends audio to one output device at a time. If you want to play music through multiple Bluetooth speakers simultaneously, you need to create a multi-output device. There are two ways to do this: the easy way with a free app, and the manual way using a built-in macOS utility.

Method 1: Group Bluetooth Audio (Easiest)

Group Bluetooth Audio is a free Mac app that handles everything for you. No Audio MIDI Setup, no Terminal commands, no confusion.

1. Download Group Bluetooth Audio from the Mac App Store.
2. Pair your Bluetooth speakers in System Settings > Bluetooth, as you normally would.
3. Open the app and you will see all of your connected audio devices listed.
4. Select the speakers you want to group together.
5. Hit play — audio now plays through all selected speakers simultaneously.

Each speaker gets its own volume slider, so you can turn the living room speaker up and the bedroom speaker down without walking over to each device. Your device groups persist between launches, so the next time you open the app your setup is ready to go.

Method 2: Audio MIDI Setup (Built-in, Manual)

macOS includes a utility called Audio MIDI Setup that can create multi-output devices. It works, but the process is manual and has some significant limitations.

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (search for it in Spotlight, or find it in /Applications/Utilities/).
2. Click the + button in the bottom-left corner.
3. Select Create Multi-Output Device.
4. In the device list, check the boxes next to each Bluetooth speaker you want to include.
5. Enable Drift Correction for all secondary devices (every device except the first one) to keep audio in sync.
6. Open System Settings > Sound and set your new Multi-Output Device as the output.

This works, but there are downsides:

• No volume control. macOS disables the system volume slider for multi-output devices. You are stuck at full volume unless you adjust each physical speaker individually.
• Resets when devices disconnect. If a speaker turns off or goes out of range, you have to rebuild the multi-output device.
• Confusing interface. Audio MIDI Setup is a developer tool, not something designed for everyday use.

Why Group Bluetooth Audio Is Better

Both methods create a multi-output device under the hood using CoreAudio. The difference is what happens on top of that.

• Volume control per device. Audio MIDI Setup removes your volume slider entirely. Group Bluetooth Audio gives you individual volume sliders for each speaker, plus a master volume that controls them all.
• Persistent device groups. Your configuration is saved automatically. Open the app tomorrow and everything is exactly how you left it.
• Menu bar controls. Adjust volume and toggle devices from the menu bar without opening the full app.
• Keyboard shortcuts. Volume up, volume down, and mute work with your grouped devices just like they do with a single speaker.
• Automatic reconnection. When a speaker comes back online, it rejoins the group automatically.

System Requirements

• macOS 13 (Ventura) or later
• One or more Bluetooth speakers or headphones paired with your Mac
• Works with any Bluetooth audio device — speakers, headphones, earbuds, soundbars

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect more than 2 Bluetooth speakers?

Yes. Group Bluetooth Audio supports 5 or more simultaneous devices. The practical limit depends on your Mac's Bluetooth hardware, but most Macs can handle at least 4–5 Bluetooth audio devices at once.

Why can't I change the volume on my multi-output device?

macOS disables the system volume slider for aggregate and multi-output devices. This is a limitation of how CoreAudio handles grouped outputs — it cannot send different volume levels through the built-in volume control. Group Bluetooth Audio solves this by managing each device's volume independently through CoreAudio APIs.

Do the speakers stay in sync?

Yes. Both methods use drift correction to keep audio synchronized across devices. You may notice a tiny delay (a few milliseconds) between speakers, but for music, podcasts, and movies it is not perceptible.

Does this work with wired speakers too?

Yes. You can mix Bluetooth and wired audio outputs in the same group. For example, you could group your Mac's built-in speakers with two Bluetooth speakers and a USB DAC.