Music app on MacOS does not play CDs

“Music app on MacOS does not play CDs“

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To the OP and all participants…

Report this to Apple:

This seems to be catching on. So, if you've come across thins, yourself, report it to Apple. The fix would come, once it has been reported many times, in similar spectrums.

Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue.  Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of your occurrence, if you don't report it to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - Apple Music - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: on when this issue began, and how you’ve troubleshot this, thus far. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary

Me too. This after 20 years (!!) of having outboard players work fine. It will still import files so the LG Blu-Ray player compatibility is fine. This is clearly a MAC software issue. Deeply annoying as Apple Music gets worse and worse and worse every year. Whoever is the executive in chart of Apple Music: fire that person. And "Privacy & Security" doesn't even have a "Music and Remote Volumes" option. Monterey is almost as bad as Catalina.

2019 MacBook Pro, upgraded to Sequoia 15.2 External drive is Asus Zen Drive.

Same problem exactly: "Play" button and doubleclicking, both of which should play CD, have no effect.

Same OS, different drive. Problem obviously with OS.

This just started happening for me too, with an Apple external optical drive. Finder plays the files OK, just not the Music app. Maybe since updating the OS to Sonoma 14.7.2 (23H311), which was just a security update (not a jump from one OS version to another)

OK so this is weird... I was trying to play a CD on my Mac via the Music app with AirPods connected. Wouldn't play. Disconnected my AirPods and switched to wired desktop speakers, it played!

Makes absolutely no sense but if you're having the same issue, give it a try.

External CD player won't play CDs. I got this to work from Support. It's a problem of Permissions. System > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders > Music > (button to allow) Removable Volumes.

I'm on a 2023 Macbook Pro with Sequoia 15.3.1. The appearance of the Music app probably looks different to you because I'm using the MacOS Dark Theme. After selecting the CD drive in the Music app, you can see the ellipsis button on the far right.

If you are having issues with trying to play a music CD in the Music app, apparently, the Music app will not play a CD if you're using bluetooth headphones. You will either need to use the builtin speakers or use the AUX output.

Update:

Connecting my headphones via the 3.5mm cable also works. This feels like it might be a bug but might also be related to streaming the CD audio via bluetooth and the bitrates involved. Although, both my 2023 Macbook Pro and Beats Studio Pro's have Bluetooth version 5.3.

It would be nice if there was a popup notification in the Music app if this is indeed the expected behavior.

I've reported the issue as well. This is unacceptable to have this issue in 2025. I had to download another app from the store to play CDs until Apple fixes Music's CD playback. If anyone is interested Elmedia Video Player will play the whole CD, unlike QT, via bluetooth or through speakers just fine.

It's the button with three dots ...

I have an iMac also running Sequoia.

Screenshot attached

Reported! Thanks for providing the link to the feedback form.

There is an ellipsis button on the right of the Music player that gives you an option to play the CD. Not particularly obvious , but works.

Thanks Andy1a, switching the sound from my bluetooth Beats Studio Pro's to the builtin Macbook speakers worked for me as well. This is definitely a bug and needs to be reported.

Can you post a screenshot of what you are talking about? My Music player does not seem to show an ellipsis button anywhere.