In order to switch from the internal speakers to bluetooth headphones or to external speakers, you typically have to open the System Preferences window, click Sound in the hardware area, click Output and then choose the speakers you wish to use. There is however, a much faster way to change speakers – all from the menu bar using the Option key (or Alt key, depending on your keyboard).

Usually when you click on the Volume menu, you see a slider which allows you to adjust the volume of your currently selected speaker.

However, if you hold down the Option key while you click the Volume menu, you will instead see a list of available input and output devices.  Chose the one you wish to use and voilà!  You have just changed the active speaker device.

Note:  If you don’t see the Volume menu on your menu bar, open the System Preferences window, click Sound in the hardware area and then click the checkbox next to “Show volume in menu bar.”

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