August 5, 2023

How to Delete Multi Output Device Mac?

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Dealing with audio devices on your Mac can sometimes feel like a juggling act, especially when you have several peripherals connected. Whether you’re using speakers, headphones, or microphones, Apple’s macOS provides some helpful tools to manage these devices.

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One such tool is the ability to create Multi Output Devices, which is great when you want to route your sound to multiple devices simultaneously.

However, what if you want to reverse the process? In this article, I will walk you through the steps of deleting a Multi Output Device on your Mac. Don’t worry, it’s quite simple!

How to Delete Multi Output Device Mac?

How to Delete Multi Output Device Mac

Why Remove Multi Output Device on Mac?

Before we delve into how to remove a multi-output device, it’s crucial to understand why you might want to do this in the first place.

  • Strengths

Multi-output devices offer a unique way to manage multiple audio streams simultaneously. Whether you’re a DJ, a sound engineer, or an avid audiophile, these devices can enhance your audio experience. They let you send audio to more than one output, say, a speaker and a headphone, at the same time. For users who work with sound editing or similar multimedia jobs, these devices can prove immensely beneficial.

  • Weaknesses

However, they’re not without their drawbacks. For the uninitiated, managing these devices can be somewhat confusing. Moreover, they may sometimes cause software conflicts, especially with third-party apps that aren’t designed to handle multiple audio streams simultaneously. Additionally, having too many active devices could clutter your Sound preferences, making it harder for you to manage your primary output options.

Step-by-Step Guide – How to Delete Multi Output Device Mac?

Deleting a multi-output device is straightforward and involves only a few steps.

Step 1: Open Audio MIDI Setup

Your first step is to open the Audio MIDI Setup application. You can do this by:

  • Clicking on the Spotlight Search icon (the magnifying glass) in the upper right-hand corner of your Mac’s screen.
  • Type in “Audio MIDI Setup” and press Enter.

You should now see a window displaying all the audio devices currently connected to your Mac.

Step 2: Locate Your Multi Output Device

Within the Audio MIDI Setup window, find the list of audio devices on the left-hand side. This list will include internal and external devices, as well as any Multi Output Devices you have created. Look for the Multi Output Device you wish to delete.

Step 3: Delete Your Multi Output Device

Once you’ve located your Multi Output Device, here’s what you need to do:

  • Click on the Multi Output Device to highlight it.
  • In the lower-left corner of the Audio MIDI Setup window, you’ll see a small minus (“-“) button. Click on this.

A prompt will appear asking you to confirm the deletion of the Multi Output Device.

Step 4: Confirm Deletion

Click on the “Delete” button in the confirmation prompt. This will immediately remove the selected Multi Output Device from your list of audio devices.

And that’s it! You have successfully deleted a Multi Output Device from your Mac. Remember that this action will not delete or harm the actual audio devices you used in your Multi Output Device setup, it will simply stop the combined output.

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Conclusion

Deleting a multi-output device on a Mac is a simple process that requires just a few clicks. However, it’s important to remember the purpose of these devices and their usefulness in certain scenarios.

If you’re frequently switching between different output devices or want to use multiple devices simultaneously, multi-output devices can be very convenient. On the other hand, if you don’t need them or they’re causing more trouble than they’re worth, removing them is an easy way to simplify your Mac’s audio setup.

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