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Use Mac Buttons To Control Spotify

I would imagine that the volume buttons on your Mac keyboard will always control your Mac's volume. Since content - I'm sure it's not limited to just music - is played by software, it's possible for those buttons to control the actions of an application (in Sonos' case, changing the track on the currently selected zone).

I don’t live in the US but I listen to music via Spotify’s web app when I’m writing or just browsing the net. I use the free ad-supported tier because I don’t need access to premium mobile features (podcasts FTW) and it’s better than blatant piracy.

How To Use Spotify App

Cool Tip: I use Hola Unblocker Chrome extension to mask my real location in Spotify’s web player. That’s also how I made the Spotify account.

Use Mac Buttons To Control Spotify Download

The reason I don’t use Spotify’s stellar Mac app is because every week or so I get kicked off for “not being in a supported country”. I need to reinstall the app and wait for the game of cat and mouse to begin again. So eventually I just gave up and settled on the web player. I don’t get support for plugins but that’s OK.

One thing I sorely miss on the Mac app is access to Mac’s built in Play/Pause, Next, and Previous keys. When you’re listening to music on Spotify/Pandora/Rdio on the web, the tab is usually in the background. I hate going hunting for it every time I need to pause playback.

Which is why I’m glad to share with you a simple Mac menubar utility that lets you control more than a dozen web based music/media player sites using your Mac’s media keys. All you need to do is use a keyboard shortcut to set the current tab as active and just like that Mac’s media keys will take over the tab’s playback.

How To Install BeardedSpice

Download the zipped file from the website, use Mac’s built in Archive Utility to unzip it, and drag the unzipped app to the Applications folder. The first time you open the app, Mac will give a default warning. Just click Open.

Hello YouTube: BeardedSpice supports video sites like YouTube and Vimeo as well with no issues in performance. Scroll to the last section for the entire list of supported services.

Now you’ll see the BeardedSpice logo in the menubar. As the name suggests, the logo is a beard and a mustache.

How To Use And Configure BeardedSpice

Now that BeardedSpice is up and running, go to any of the supported web based media players. Click the menubar utility and you’ll see the media tab listed.

Click on a web page to activate it. A checkmark beside the selected site will show up.

Configuring Keyboard Shortcuts

To make the activation process for web based players as quick as possible, BeardedSpice supports keyboard shortcuts. The default shortcut to activate BeardedSpice is Cmd+F8. F8 is conveniently also the Play/Pause key.

But for some reason I found this shortcut to be buggy. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. Thankfully, you can change the keyboard shortcut.

Use Mac Buttons To Control Spotify

Click the BeardedSpice menubar utility and go to Preferences. Here click on the space beside Set active tab and type in your preferred shortcut. I have mine set to Cmd+8 as it’s right below the Play/Pause button.

Enable/Disable Supported Services

How To Best Use Spotify

From the same Preferences menu you can decide which web players you don’t want BeardedSpice to interact with.

Here’s the entire list of supported web players:

  • 8Tracks
  • Amazon Music
  • BandCamp
  • BeatsMusic
  • Bop.fm
  • Google Music
  • GrooveShark
  • HypeMachine
  • Last.fm
  • Mixcloud
  • Music Unlimited
  • Pandora
  • Rdio
  • Shuffler.fm
  • Slacker
  • Songza
  • SoundCloud
  • Spotify (Web)
  • Synology
  • XboxMusic
  • YouTube
  • VK (“My Music” from vk.com)
  • Vimeo

Where Do You Plan On Using BeardedSpice?

What services do you plan on using BeardedSpice with? Do you wish that it supported more players like Netflix.com? Let us know in the comments below.


The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

Use Mac Buttons To Control Spotify Playlist

Also See

Use Mac Buttons To Control Spotify App

#music #spotify

Did You Know

Automated Content ID — the name of the YouTube program that scans videos for copyright infringement.

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Use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to control another device

  1. Connect your devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on both devices.
    • If you want to control a Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences on your computer.
    • Select Accessibility. In the sidebar, choose Switch Control.
    • Check the checkbox next to 'Allow platform switching to control your computer.'
  3. If you haven't already, turn on Switch Control on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
  4. Use your switch to navigate the Switch Control menu. Select Device.
  5. Select Use Other Device.
  6. Select the device that you want to control, then select Connect. Now you can use the switch connected to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to control the other device.

Use your Mac to control another device

  1. Connect your devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on both devices.
  3. If you haven't already, turn on Switch Control on your Mac.
  4. Use your switch to navigate the Switch Control Home panel. Choose Devices.
  5. Select the device that you want to control, then select Connect. Now you can use the switch connected to your Mac to control the other device.

Stop controlling another device

To stop controlling another device, press and hold your switch for ten seconds. Your switch will control the original device again.

You can also follow these steps:

Stop controlling a Mac

  1. Use your switch to navigate the Switch Control Home panel. Choose Devices.
  2. Select Disconnect. Your switch will control the original device again.

Stop controlling an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Use your switch to navigate the Switch Control menu. Select Device.
  2. Select Stop Using Device. Your switch will control the original device again.
How do i use spotify

Turn off Switch Control

If you'd like to turn off Switch Control entirely, follow these steps for your device:

Spotify Button Meanings

Turn off Switch Control on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Use your switch to navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control, and turn the setting off.

Use Mac Buttons To Control Spotify Playlists

You can also triple-click the Home button or the Side button on certain models at any time to exit Switch Control.

Can You Control Spotify

Turn off Switch Control on a Mac

Use your switch to navigate to System Preferences > Accessibility > Switch Control, and deselect Enable Switch Control.