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Stop Automatic Switching of Headphones Between Your Mac and iPhone [2026]

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Apple’s “Automatic Device Switching” is one of those features that sounds like magic on paper but can feel like a nuisance in practice. Whether you’re trying to listen to a podcast on your iPhone while your Mac “hijacks” the audio for a system notification, or your music suddenly blasts through your car speakers, it’s time to take back control.

With the release of iOS and macOS Tahoe, Apple has finally added more granular controls to stop this “audio-hopping.”

1. Stop the “Hijack” on Your iPhone or iPad

If your Beats keep jumping away from your iPhone to another nearby Apple device, you need to change the connection priority.

  • Open Settings: Go to Bluetooth.
  • Select Your Device: Tap the “i” (More Info) button next to your Beats (e.g., Beats Studio Pro).
  • Change Connection Logic: Tap on Connect to This iPhone.
  • Select “When Last Connected to This iPhone”: * The Difference: “Automatically” allows the iPhone to grab the audio whenever it detects activity. “When Last Connected” ensures the headphones only connect if the iPhone was the very last device you used them with.

2. Prevent Your Mac from Stealing the Audio

Your Mac is often the biggest culprit for “stealing” the Bluetooth handshake. To lock it down in macOS Tahoe:

  1. Click the Apple Menu () > System Settings.
  2. Click on Bluetooth in the sidebar.
  3. Click the “i” (More Info) button next to your Beats model.
  4. Look for the dropdown menu labeled Connect to This Mac.
  5. Change the setting from “Automatically” to “When Last Connected to This Mac.”

3. The New “Keep Audio with Headphones” Toggle (iOS 26)

Apple introduced a specific “Safety Valve” for audio switching. This prevents your iPhone from automatically pushing audio to a car or a Bluetooth speaker while you are wearing your headphones.

  • Go to: Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity.
  • Enable: Keep Audio with Headphones.
  • Why this is a lifesaver: This ensures that if you start your car or walk past a HomePod, your audio stays in your ears until you manually decide to switch it.

4. Summary Checklist for Total Control

DeviceSetting LocationAction
iPhone/iPadBluetooth > Beats InfoSet to When Last Connected.
Mac (Tahoe)System Settings > BluetoothSet to When Last Connected.
AirPlay SafetyGeneral > AirPlay & ContinuityToggle Keep Audio with Headphones ON.

A Pro-Tip for Power Users

If you still want to switch between devices but hate the automatic part, use the Control Center.

  • On iPhone, tap the AirPlay icon in the music widget to quickly grab the audio.
  • On Mac, use the Sound icon in the Menu Bar. This keeps the control in your hands, not the AI’s.

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