How to Adjust Multi-Output Device Volume on Mac

Before you start

A multi-output device sends the same Mac audio to more than one output at once, such as built-in speakers and a wired or Bluetooth headphone connection. Creating and adjusting it happens locally in macOS through the Audio MIDI Setup utility included with the operating system. You do not need an Apple account, an internet connection, or a third-party service for the basic setup, but each output device must already be connected or paired and recognized by the Mac.

Check the available output devices before you continue. Open System Settings, select Sound, and look under Output. Connect any wired headphones or speakers and pair any Bluetooth device you want to include. The Mac will show the available devices in Audio MIDI Setup, though the exact list depends on your hardware and macOS version.

Step-by-step instructions

These steps apply to current macOS versions that include Audio MIDI Setup. The location of some labels can differ slightly between versions, but the main controls remain the same.

Create the multi-output device

• Open Audio MIDI Setup from the Utilities folder inside Applications, or use Spotlight to search for it.\nSelect the Output tab if the window is not already showing output devices.\nClick the Add button below the device list and choose Create Multi-Output Device.\nSelect the new Multi-Output Device in the sidebar.\nIn the audio device list on the right, enable the checkbox for each output you want to include.\nIf a device offers a Master or Primary option, choose the device that should act as the clock or master source where available.

After enabling the outputs, switch the Mac to the new multi-output device. In System Settings, go to Sound, select Output, and choose Multi-Output Device. This makes macOS route audio to all outputs selected in Audio MIDI Setup.

Adjust the volume

A multi-output device does not provide one independent master volume slider for the combined setup in the same way as a normal output. The system volume keys or the Sound output slider control the currently selected output at the system level, while Audio MIDI Setup may not expose independent volume controls for every connected device. Use the hardware volume controls on connected speakers or headphones to balance each output separately.

If the output appears too quiet or too loud in one destination, adjust that physical device first. For Bluetooth devices, use their own volume buttons or the volume control in Control Center after selecting the Bluetooth device. Keep the changes reversible by noting the original positions or leaving the Mac output selection unchanged until you finish the check.

Check the output

Play a short sound or test tone while the Multi-Output Device is selected. Confirm that audio is present on each enabled output and that none of the intended devices stays silent. Listen for obvious distortion, delay, or a device playing much louder than the others, then adjust the physical volume controls and repeat the short test.

Be aware that Bluetooth audio can introduce noticeable latency compared with a wired output. If you are monitoring a microphone or watching a video, the delay between wired and wireless outputs may be audible. There is also no guarantee that every app will expose the same volume behavior for a multi-output device, especially apps that control their own audio devices directly.

Common problems and next steps

If a device does not appear in Audio MIDI Setup, reconnect it or check that it is paired and selected as an available output in System Settings. If you hear sound from only one output, return to Audio MIDI Setup and confirm that both checkboxes are enabled in the multi-output device, then confirm that the Multi-Output Device is still selected as the Mac output.

A common issue is that the system volume keys affect only one built-in output rather than all devices in the group. Try setting the system volume to a moderate level and then balancing each external output with its own controls. Some Macs also offer an Aggregate Device option, but that is meant for combining inputs and outputs in audio software rather than simply playing the same signal to several speakers.

For video calls, select the same Multi-Output Device as the speaker in the call app and test with the app's preview or test audio feature if available. If the call only plays through one device, close and reopen the app after changing the Mac output, because some apps capture the audio device list when they start.