Resolved Enable aptX Bluetooth Codec on Catalina

[jprmercado]

Hi, guys!

I've tried to enable aptX on my 13-inch MacBook Pro (mid-2012) using both the Bluetooth Explorer and Terminal apps, but I can't get aptX to show as the codec being used.

Is anyone else experiencing this and does anyone have a fix?

I've read in some posts outside of this forum that [maybe] aptX was disabled in earlier releases of Catalina and [presumably] re-enabled later. I've also read that maybe aptX was renamed (?) to AAC, so even if I'm already on aptX, the system tells me I'm on AAC.

 

[jprmercado]

OK, so I was able to resolve this myself, and the solution is embarrassingly simple. ?

I'm using the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT, and it has a companion iOS app. I forgot that, using the app, I made the ATH-M50xBT prefer AAC connections.

This model of headphones supports SBC, AAC, and aptX, but the app only lists SBC, AAC, and Auto in the codec settings. I changed the preferred codec from AAC back to Auto on the iOS app, then I reconnected to my MacBook Pro on Catalina. Bluetooth Explorer then confirmed that I was on aptX.