Control Vox with Media Key Mac: Setup Guide

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, you can control Vox (the macOS audio player) with your Mac’s media keys, but it requires a small configuration change because Vox does not intercept media keys by default. This guide walks you through the exact steps, explains why the keys sometimes don’t work, and offers alternatives if you prefer a different setup.

Why Vox Doesn’t Respond to Media Keys by Default

On macOS, media keys (play/pause, next, previous, and volume) are normally routed to the app that is currently playing audio, as determined by the system. Many popular players like Spotify and Apple Music register themselves as the active audio source automatically. Vox, however, is a lightweight, third-party player that historically does not claim this status unless you enable a specific setting. This is a common source of confusion: you press the play/pause key, and nothing happens, or the system controls a different app.

Apple’s media key handling has changed over different macOS versions, but the core behavior remains: the system sends the key command to the app that has declared itself as the “now playing” app. If Vox hasn’t done that, the keys are ignored or go to another player. The fix is to tell Vox to take over that role.

How to Enable Media Key Support in Vox

Vox includes a built-in preference for this. The exact wording may vary slightly between versions, but the steps are consistent:

Open Vox on your Mac.
Click Vox in the menu bar (top-left) and select Preferences (or press Cmd + ,).
Go to the Playback tab (or sometimes “General” or “Media Keys” depending on the version).
Look for a checkbox labeled “Use media keys”, “Control with media keys”, or “Enable media key support”.
Check the box. You may also see an option like “Show media key notifications” – enable that if you want visual feedback.
Close Preferences. The media keys should now control Vox when it is playing audio.

If you don’t see that option, you might be using an older version of Vox. Update the app from the Mac App Store or the developer’s website to get the latest features and compatibility.

What to Do If Media Keys Still Don’t Work

If you’ve enabled the setting but the keys still don’t control Vox, try these troubleshooting steps in order:

Make sure Vox is actually playing audio. Media keys often only work when the app is actively playing. Press play inside Vox first, then try the key.
Quit other media apps. If Spotify, Apple Music, or a browser tab is playing sound, macOS may route the keys to that app. Quit or pause other players, then try again.
Restart Vox. Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to properly register as the audio source.
Check macOS system settings. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences) > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Media Keys (if present). Ensure that the shortcuts are enabled. Some third-party keyboard remapping tools can interfere.
Try a different media key. On some keyboards, the play/pause key is combined with other functions (like F8). You may need to hold the Fn key or press the key twice.

If none of these work, the issue might be a bug in a specific macOS version. Check Vox’s release notes or support page for known issues.

Using a Third-Party Tool for More Control

If you want more granular control (e.g., different keys for play/pause vs. next/previous, or controlling Vox even when it’s not the frontmost app), you can use a third-party utility. These tools intercept media keys and send them to the app of your choice.

Popular options include BetterTouchTool and Karabiner-Elements. These are general-purpose input customization tools that can map media keys to specific Vox actions via AppleScript or keyboard shortcuts. For example, you could set the play/pause key to send a “play/pause” command to Vox, and the next/previous keys to skip tracks.

Using such a tool adds complexity, but it gives you full control. It’s also useful if you want to control Vox from a non-Apple keyboard that lacks dedicated media keys.

Controlling Vox from the Menu Bar and Touch Bar

Even without media keys, Vox offers other ways to control playback:

Menu Bar Extra: Vox can show a small icon in the menu bar. Click it to see play/pause, next, previous, and volume controls. You can enable this in Vox’s Preferences under General > Show menu bar icon.
Touch Bar (MacBook Pro): If your Mac has a Touch Bar, Vox can display playback controls there. Look for a Vox widget in the Control Strip or customize the Touch Bar in System Settings to add Vox controls.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Vox supports global keyboard shortcuts that you can assign in Preferences. For example, you can set Cmd+Option+Right to skip forward, even if you don’t use media keys.

These alternatives are handy if media keys are occupied by another app or if you prefer a visual interface.

Common Misconceptions About Media Keys on Mac

One common myth is that media keys are “hardwired” to Apple Music or iTunes and cannot be changed. That’s not true. macOS allows any app to become the active audio source, and many third-party players (like Vox, IINA, and Spotify) do this by default. The reason Vox doesn’t is a design choice—it’s a minimal player that assumes you’ll use its own controls unless you opt in.

Another misconception is that you need to disable SIP (System Integrity Protection) or modify system files to make media keys work with Vox. That’s completely unnecessary and risky. The built-in preference is all you need.

Also, note that media keys control the system’s “now playing” app, not necessarily the app that has focus. So if you have Vox playing in the background and you’re typing in a text editor, the keys should still control Vox—as long as it’s the active audio source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my media keys control Apple Music instead of Vox?

Because Apple Music is likely the active audio source. macOS routes media keys to the app that is currently playing audio. If Apple Music is open and playing, or if it’s the last app that played, it may retain that status. Quit Apple Music (or pause it) and ensure Vox is playing, then the keys should switch to Vox.

Can I use media keys to control Vox when it’s in the background?

Yes, as long as Vox is the active audio source. With the media key preference enabled, Vox will respond to media keys even when it’s not the frontmost app. This is the normal behavior for media keys on macOS.

Do I need to install any additional software to make this work?

No, Vox has a built-in setting for this. You only need to enable it in Preferences. Third-party tools are optional and only for advanced customization.

My media keys are not working at all on my Mac. What should I do?

First, check if the keys work with any app. If not, it’s a system-level issue. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts and make sure Media Keys are enabled. Also, check if your keyboard has a function lock (Fn) that might be interfering. If you’re using a non-Apple keyboard, the media keys may not be recognized without a driver.

Does Vox support media keys on older macOS versions like Mojave or Catalina?

Yes, the media key preference has been in Vox for many years. However, the exact location of the setting may differ. In older versions, it was under Preferences > Playback > Media Keys. If you can’t find it, update Vox to the latest version that supports your macOS.

Can I customize which media key does what in Vox?

Not directly. Vox uses the standard media key actions: play/pause, next track, previous track. For custom mapping, you’d need a third-party tool like BetterTouchTool to reassign keys to specific Vox commands.

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