How to enable aptX on Mac OSX (Big Sur) and Apple M1!!!
One hidden feature I really think Apple should allow users to enable is the aptX support for the Bluetooth audio. Apparently, they support such on the Intel and Apple M1 Macbook but somehow were always hidden or ‘disabled’. I mean why… and why?
It’s pretty annoying to people who pay hundreds of dollars for audio equipment and always getting bad sound … And maybe disabling that will make Apple earbuds and headphones sound better. In fact, if you enable the aptX (if you follow this secret hidden menu) you will get a significant boost to your audio quality with many of the aptX-enabled Bluetooth speakers and headphones in the market. I mean you can really hear the difference even with my untrained ears.
How do you enable aptX step-by-step?
- You download this Bluetooth Explorer tool from the Apple Developer website. Please make sure you get the 11.4 version.
2. Open the “Additional_Tools_for_Xcode_11.4.dmg”, and you will mount the image. Then from Additional Tools -> Hardware -> Bluetooth Explorer
3. From the menu, you now open the “Audio Options”.
4. Check “Force use of aptX”.
5. Restart your Bluetooth (on/off) and reconnect your aptX-enabled device.
You can get to this graph in Bluetooth Utility’s menu. Tools->Instantaneous Bluetooth Throughput.
If all worked well, you will notice the throughput of the Bluetooth will almost double and you will get close to CD quality finally. If you have a good speaker you can easily hear the background instruments popping up once again.
