Mac media control keys F7, F8, F9 are not working

Since F7, F8 and F9 work when assigned other shortcuts in Karabiner-Elements, the physical keys are likely working. The goal now is to find out why they no longer control media playback in any app.

First, go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Function Keys. Check whether “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” is enabled. 

If it is, try holding Fn/Globe while pressing F7, F8 or F9. See Apple’s keyboard settings guide.

Next, quit Karabiner-Elements completely and test the keys in Apple Music. 

If they still don't work, start your Mac in Safe Mode and test again. 

If the keys work in Safe Mode but not during normal startup, software that loads at startup may be involved.

If the problem continues, open Karabiner-EventViewer, temporarily disable Karabiner-Elements modifications, and check which events appear when you press F7, F8 and F9. See Karabiner’s troubleshooting guide.

If these checks don't identify the cause, try the keys in a new macOS user account. 

You can also test media keys on an external keyboard, if available. 

These tests may help narrow down whether the problem is specific to your account or the built-in keyboard.

Since F7, F8 and F9 work in a newly created user account but not in your main account, the problem may be related to a setting or background process specific to your main account.

Because you have used Karabiner-Elements, first check whether it or another keyboard remapping utility is still active. 

Quitting an app does not necessarily disable all its background components. 

Review Karabiner's settings and macOS Login Items, following Apple's Login Items & Extensions guide. 

Avoid uninstalling anything until you have identified what is running.

If no remapping utility appears to be involved, the next step is to investigate the com.apple.rcd service. 

In Terminal, run:

launchctl print-disabled gui/$(id -u) | grep -i rcd

Share the exact output before changing any settings. 

This command only checks for matching disabled-service entries; it does not establish the cause of the media-key problem.

Since F7, F8 and F9 work in a newly created user account but not in your main account, the problem may be related to a setting or background process specific to your main account.

Because you have used Karabiner-Elements, first check whether it or another keyboard remapping utility is still active. 

Quitting an app does not necessarily disable all its background components. 

Review Karabiner's settings and macOS Login Items, following Apple's Login Items & Extensions guide. 

Avoid uninstalling anything until you have identified what is running.

If no remapping utility appears to be involved, the next step is to investigate the com.apple.rcd service. 

In Terminal, run:

launchctl print-disabled gui/$(id -u) | grep -i rcd

Share the exact output before changing any settings. 

This command only checks for matching disabled-service entries; it does not establish the cause of the media-key problem.

Hello!

I did this and solved the problem.

It wasn't related to key-remapping...

I ran the code you sent, so I searched on google to how to activate com.apple.rcd and it worked, apparently.

I believe I disactivated it cause I was frustrated when it opened iTunes/Apple Music or something when i pressed the play/pause button. So I remember like, many months ago I copied some code to disactivate it without understanding it could interfere with all the media function keys.

Another question:

Do you know how to prevent it from opening Apple Music? Thanks

[Edited by Moderator]

Edit:

I downloaded noTunes on github. worked.

Personally, I would totally remove the problematic Software " Karabiner-Elements " then Test if things return to normal usage of the keyboard

Thanks for the reply!

I tested everything you said

The only one I couldn't test properly was "temporarily disablind Karabiner", this tutorial is kinda old, but i quitted karabinner, so i think it's kinda the same effect.

Nothing worked, except trying it on another user. I created an user and tested it on free samples part on the Apple Music and the keys worked.

But how can I make it work on my main user?

Thanks

I kinda need it to remap some keys, because my keyboard is not on my native language, anyways…

the apple music autoplay when pressing play/pause (f8) is the standard for the macos, unfortunately, many users complained about this on forums, as I saw.

thanks again