Support → Airfoil for Mac

Airfoil doesn’t see my remote speaker

Check the Advanced Speaker Options window

It’s possible Airfoil has been instructed to hide the device from its main list, via the Advanced Speaker Options window. Click the Speakers menu in Airfoil, then select Advanced Speaker Options. This window will show a listing of all output devices that Airfoil has detected. If the Hide Speaker checkbox is turned on next to a device, that device will not appear in Airfoil’s main window. Turning this checkbox off will restore the device to Airfoil’s main list.

If your device isn’t showing in Airfoil’s Advanced Speaker Options window, read on.

Verify Airfoil’s “Local Network” permissions

In some rare cases, updates to MacOS can reset Airfoil’s permission to access devices on your local network. Double-check the Local Network permissions in the System Settings app, from the Privacy & Security section in the sidebar.

AirPlay devices

The next thing to test is whether Apple’s “Music” app running on your same Mac can see and stream to the device in question. Open Music, and check the AirPlay menu for the list of devices it can detect.

If the device doesn’t appear in Music’s list of outputs, there may be an issue with a system-level firewall, or a router-based security setting that prevents devices from detecting each other on your network. Apple offers additional troubleshooting steps on their support site, which may get the device working with Music. Once Music can see the device, Airfoil will as well.

If the device does appear in Music’s list of outputs, and Music can transmit successfully to the device, check the device list in Airfoil’s main window again. If Airfoil still doesn’t show the device, double-check your firewall settings for Airfoil. Beyond that, contact us directly, and we can investigate further.

Missing AirPlay 2 Devices

Certain newer devices offer AirPlay 2 connectivity that is not compatible with Airfoil. This issue has most often been seen with smart TVs, as well as non-Apple TV set-top boxes like Roku devices. Unsupported devices are automatically hidden from Airfoil’s device list when they are known to have connectivity issues.

Bluetooth devices

If a Bluetooth device is missing, you should confirm that your Mac can see it in System Settings under the “Output” tab. If it’s not appearing there, there is likely some sort of connection issue. You’ll need to get the device connected to your Mac first. Once the device is visible in the list of output devices in System Settings, Airfoil should see it as well.

If the device appears in the Sound options of System Settings, but Airfoil still doesn’t see it, please contact us directly so we can investigate further.