Are you frustrated that Apple Music on Windows stubbornly refuses to switch audio outputs automatically? You’re not alone. Many users are experiencing this annoying issue where the app continues to play audio through the initially selected output device, even after you’ve changed your default system audio output in Windows. It feels like Apple Music is in a “don’t care” state, ignoring your system settings and forcing you to jump through hoops just to listen on your preferred speakers or headphones.
This problem echoes a concept familiar in hardware programming: the “don’t care state”. In digital logic design, a “don’t care” condition arises when the output of a circuit is unaffected by a particular input combination. While not directly related to audio routing, the user experience with Apple Music on Windows can feel similarly indifferent. It’s as if the app is programmed in a way that “doesn’t care” about dynamic audio output changes, leading to a frustrating and inflexible listening experience.
Users have taken to online forums to voice their complaints and seek solutions. The core issue is that unlike many other Windows applications that intelligently route audio to the default system output, Apple Music seems to latch onto the output device active when the application starts. Switching your default playback device in Windows settings afterward often has no effect on Apple Music until you restart the application.
Let’s delve into some of the workarounds users have discovered to wrestle control of your audio output back from Apple Music’s seemingly “don’t care” behavior.
Workaround 1: The Task Manager “End Task” Trick
One user, OhhsooCole, discovered a somewhat unconventional but effective fix involving the Task Manager. This method targets a process associated with Apple Music called “AMPLibraryAgent”.
Here’s how to try this workaround:
- Open Task Manager: Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escor search for “Task Manager” in the Windows search bar. - Locate AMPLibraryAgent: Look for “AMPLibraryAgent” in the “Processes” tab. It should have the Apple Music logo next to it.
- End Task: Right-click on “AMPLibraryAgent” and select “End task”.
After ending this task, attempt to change your audio output in Windows settings. Then, reopen Apple Music. Some users have reported that this forces Apple Music to recognize the new audio output.
Task Manager highlighting AMPLibraryAgent process
Alt Text: Screenshot of Windows Task Manager showing the AMPLibraryAgent process highlighted for ending the task as a workaround for Apple Music audio output issues.
Important Note: While some users like ForestCalamity have confirmed this method works, others, such as StainlessSteelRat and Paddle1, report that ending the AMPLibraryAgent task causes Apple Music to crash with a “something went wrong” error. Your mileage may vary with this approach, and it might not be a reliable long-term solution.
Workaround 2: The Restart and Reopen Method
The most consistently reported workaround, albeit an inconvenient one, is simply restarting the Apple Music application after changing your audio output.
As user warpedinfinity describes, this involves:
- Close Apple Music: Completely close the Apple Music application.
- Switch Audio Output: Change your default audio output device in Windows settings to your desired speakers or headphones.
- Reopen Apple Music: Relaunch the Apple Music application.
This method forces Apple Music to re-initialize and recognize the currently active audio output. However, as warpedinfinity points out, this approach is far from ideal. You lose your music queue and have to relocate your song, disrupting your listening flow.
Workaround 3: Airplay/Chromecast Toggle (For Some)
Da5ftgiant suggests another quick workaround that might work for some users, especially those with AirPlay or Chromecast devices in their setup. This involves toggling the output within the Apple Music app itself:
- Click the AirPlay Icon: In the Apple Music app, locate and click the AirPlay icon (usually found near the playback controls).
- Switch to Chromecast (or AirPlay): If available, switch the output to a Chromecast or AirPlay device temporarily.
- Switch Back to “This PC”: Immediately switch the output back to “This PC” (your local computer’s audio output).
This quick switching action sometimes tricks Apple Music into updating its audio output routing without requiring a full restart.
Workaround 4: Lossless/High Quality Toggle
Another user, Da5ftgiant, mentions a less intuitive workaround involving audio quality settings:
- Go to Apple Music Settings: Open the Apple Music app settings.
- Toggle Audio Quality: Navigate to the audio quality settings (often found under “Playback” or “Audio Quality”). Switch between “Lossless” and “High Quality” (or vice versa).
It’s unclear exactly why this works, but some users have reported that toggling these settings forces Apple Music to refresh its audio output configuration.
Why Does Apple Music Behave This Way?
The frustration expressed by users like StainlessSteelRat, who call it “Apple’s usual don’t care programming for Windows users,” highlights a common sentiment. It’s speculated that Apple, prioritizing its own ecosystem, might not dedicate as much development effort to ensuring seamless integration and user experience for Apple Music on Windows compared to macOS or iOS.
From a software development perspective, it’s possible that the Windows version of Apple Music was designed with a less robust audio output management system. Perhaps it initializes its audio output device only once at startup and lacks the background processes to dynamically monitor and react to system-wide audio output changes. This could be considered a form of “don’t care” in the sense that the application is not programmed to be dynamically responsive to user-initiated output changes.
Feedback and Hope for a Real Fix
Users like Hwro are rightly asking, “What is the right way to provide this feedback to Apple in a way they take note of it?” StainlessSteelRat provides a direct link to the Apple Music feedback page: Feedback – Apple Music – Apple.
If you’re experiencing this audio output issue, submitting feedback through this official channel is crucial. The more users report this problem, the higher the likelihood that Apple will prioritize a proper fix in future updates.
In the meantime, these workarounds, while imperfect, offer temporary relief from Apple Music’s “don’t care” audio output behavior on Windows. Hopefully, future updates will address this issue and provide a more seamless and user-friendly experience for Windows users who want to enjoy Apple Music without constant audio output headaches.
