In short
- Most Android phones can't act as a Bluetooth speaker for a Mac, so you need an app on both devices.
- Free options: Tethertone (open source, no ads, lossless) and AudioRelay (free, with ads on Android). Paid: Airfoil with the free Airfoil Satellite receiver.
- For the lowest latency, connect with a USB cable. Wi-Fi works well on most home networks.
Why Bluetooth doesn't work
Bluetooth audio has a sender and a receiver. A Mac is a sender: it lists headphones and speakers that advertise themselves as audio receivers. Phones are built the same way round: they send music to speakers and earbuds. Most Android phones don't offer to receive audio, so they never show up as an output in your Mac's Sound settings.
So the audio has to travel another way: over your network or a USB cable, carried by an app on each side.
Your options
| Tethertone | AudioRelay | Airfoil + Satellite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free; Android has ads and a paid Premium | Paid Mac app; receiver is free |
| Source code | Open source (MIT) | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | USB or Wi-Fi | USB or Wi-Fi | Network |
| Audio | Uncompressed PCM | Compressed | — |
| Best for | Free, private, lossless | Also phone-as-microphone | Many speakers around the house |
The full comparison covers the differences and when to pick each one, with sources.
Set it up in two minutes
With Tethertone:
- Install both apps from the download page: the Mac app (macOS 14 or later) and the Android app (Android 8.0 or later).
- Start the Mac app. Open Tethertone and press Start. macOS asks once for permission to capture the system audio.
- Pair the phone. Tap Scan pairing QR on the phone and point it at the code on the Mac's Pairing tab.
- Play something. Everything the Mac plays now comes out of the phone. Next time, just press Start; the phone reconnects by itself.
The setup guide covers USB, BlackHole and troubleshooting in detail.
Tips for the best sound
- Use the cable for video. USB avoids Wi-Fi congestion, so you can lower the phone's jitter buffer and keep lips in sync.
- Raise the buffer if it stutters. A bigger buffer adds a little delay but absorbs network hiccups. Watch the phone's underruns counter.
- Keep the phone playing with the screen off. If your phone stops background apps, exempt Tethertone from battery optimisation.
- Mind mobile data. Uncompressed audio is about 690 MB per hour. That's fine on Wi-Fi, but expensive on a metered plan.
FAQ
Can I connect my Mac to my Android phone as a Bluetooth speaker?
Usually not. A Mac sends audio to Bluetooth devices that present themselves as speakers or headphones, and most Android phones don't: they are built to send audio to speakers, not to receive it. You need an app on both devices instead.
What is the lowest-latency way to play Mac audio on an Android phone?
A USB cable. With Tethertone the phone connects through adb reverse over the cable, which avoids Wi-Fi congestion entirely, and you can lower the jitter buffer to around 40–60 ms.
Is there a free way to use an Android phone as a Mac speaker?
Yes. Tethertone is free and open source under the MIT License, with no ads or account. AudioRelay also has free desktop apps and a free Android app with ads and an optional paid upgrade.