Submission Date

2025-04-15

Status

Open

Area

MediaPlayer Framework

Operating System Version

macOS 15.4 RC Seed (24E246)

Type

Incorrect/Unexpected Behavior

Description

Many users prefer alternate user interfaces for system-wide features such as controlling media playback and viewing now playing information. Currently this is offered on macOS as part of Control Center, which displays the now playing information as well as controls for back/forward and play/pause.

For a long time, many third-party apps have been offering similar functionality by using private API from the MediaRemote framework. Having to resort to private API for such features is not ideal, but this has been working mostly fine until macOS 15.4 changed MediaRemote so that only entitled Apple processes may now access now playing information, rendering most third-party apps that offer this feature unusable.

It would be great if public API could be offered so that third-party apps can allow users to access now playing information and controls in the way they prefer, which is often different from the built-in system controls. If privacy is a concern, this public API could be protected by a TCC prompt, just like it already works for accessing a user’s music library.

Keywords

mediaremote, now playing

Prerequisites

• The title follows the format FB<number>: <title>
• I will keep this issue updated with Apple's responses