# Plexamp and Macbook media keys **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Labs\ **Tags:** plexamp\ **Created:** [November 30, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877 "2022-11-30T18:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/1 "2022-11-30T18:31:47Z")
I’ve been searching for an answer to this for a while to no avail. Does anyone know if it’s possible to get Plexamp to work with the media keys on a Macbook? ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/2 "2022-11-30T18:44:19Z")
They should automatically work as long as you don’t have an instance of another media player open. You can also assign short keys in the settings. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/8/e/4/8e4cf6397d69781de09320e2a7f635ee6f865dc5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![vtr1000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/76d3ee/32.png) [@vtr1000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/vtr1000)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/3 "2022-11-30T19:56:20Z")
I’ve had this issue when running Linux with the KDE desktop environment (DE). Even though Plexamp uses the [MPRIS](http://specifications.freedesktop.org/mpris-spec/latest/) D-Bus Interface Specification which is supported by the DE, media key controls remain elusive. I have solved the issue by installing [playerctl](https://github.com/altdesktop/playerctl), running its associated daemon at startup & editing DE specific keyboard controls to use playerctl. I have no OSX experience, but I know that D-Bus is available via Homebrew. Perhaps worth looking into if you don’t mind a little compiling & tinkering. ---
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/4 "2022-11-30T21:54:36Z")
> They should automatically work as long as you don’t have an instance of another media player open. Nope, it wants to open Apple Music every time even though it’s closed. > You can also assign short keys in the settings. where exactly is that setting menu? I’m using the desktop app and I don’t see any section that changes the keyboard shortcuts. ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 10:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/5 "2022-11-30T22:56:00Z")
> [@Berkyjay](#): > > where exactly is that setting menu? I’m using the desktop app and I don’t see any section that changes the keyboard shortcuts. Click on the gear icon, 1st icon on the Right - Settings. Then Advanced. ![SCR-20221130-nek-2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/f/e/a/feab42bd9dade8c1b2edae7c54f6be595c73d62c.png) ![SCR-20221130-ngy-2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/9/4/7/94731932c7c412e3e6a9d293bb616f108f1482c5.png) ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/6 "2022-11-30T23:03:19Z")
BTW - double check your keyboard settings to see if this item is check marked. IF YES, uncheck it. This setting overrides the media keys on your MacBook, rendering them as standard F1-F12 keys. ![SCR-20221130-no6](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/f/6/9/f6916585644ae604df99f08cf081971f9c27470c.png) ---
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/7 "2022-11-30T23:10:24Z")
Huh, those settings aren’t there for me: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/d/0/0/d00d9327ce53c6f4ffd79f2b2cca492c3bd2a663.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/5/e/3/5e3556226f5e4279fec407a632f0a2be58d2e84a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/8 "2022-11-30T23:10:43Z")
Good tip, but mine was already unchecked. ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/9 "2022-11-30T23:11:31Z")
I’m on the latest build 4.6.0 MacOS 10.15.7 [Plexamp.com](http://Plexamp.com) is where you can DL the current build. ---
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/10 "2022-11-30T23:20:49Z")
Ah, I originally installed it from the app store. I had to do a manual install with 4.6 from the website. So I found the shortcut settings. But my macbook won’t let me select that Play/Pause button. It keeps popping open Apple Music but doesn’t ever set the button in Plexamp. 🤬 ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/11 "2022-11-30T23:24:55Z")
What MacOS are you on? ---
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/12 "2022-11-30T23:25:58Z")
Monterey 12.5.1 ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/13 "2022-11-30T23:28:00Z")
um, okay so I don’t know if there’s a major difference between our settings but I think this may help. 1. Open **System Preferences** 2. Go to **Security & Privacy.** 3. Click **Accessibility.** 4. Ensure the box next to Plexamp is checked. ![SCR-20221130-o7q-2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/5/9/6/596108bca95ab5a2c222708cb9d65d902f1fccad.png) THEN try using the media keys on the keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Berkyjay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/berkyjay/32/17332_2.png) [@Berkyjay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Berkyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/14 "2022-11-30T23:31:05Z")
Yup, just changing that worked. I didn’t even have to change the settings. Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![D\_eight6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D\_eight6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/D_eight6)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/15 "2022-11-30T23:32:07Z")
cool. welcome. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-and-macbook-media-keys/820877/16 "2023-02-28T23:32:51Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.