OneCentrate/Customize/Music and sounds

CUSTOMIZE USER GUIDE / MUSIC AND SOUNDS

Use music
and sounds

Music and ambient sound shape the environment while a Switch runs, and sound effects indicate starts, endings, and transitions.

Music backgrounds are for Switch. ki.log and Pulse can instead schedule alerts at the times you need.

01

Configure sound for a Switch

Switch Sound settings on Mac for choosing music, ambience, and effects
Choose a music source, ambient sound, and transition effects separately for each Switch.
  • Music: Choose no music, OneCentrate curated music, Apple Music, or a local folder.
  • Ambience: Add a looping environment such as noise, rain, ocean, or forest.
  • Sound effects: Indicate when a Switch starts or ends and when focus transitions to or from a break.

Use music and ambience together or choose only one. Preview them and review the volume before saving. While the Switch runs, you can control music and ambience separately.

See Set music and ambient sound for the complete settings sequence.

02

Check music-source requirements

  • OneCentrate curated music: You may need to download a music pack before first playback. Once downloaded, it can be used offline.
  • Apple Music: Requires media permission, an eligible subscription, and a selected playlist.
  • Local folder: Folder locations and permissions can differ by device. Check them on the device that will run the Switch.

Access to OneCentrate curated music can depend on your current plan. If an item is locked or not ready, review your access plan and its download status.

03

Check sound permissions on each device

Even when effects are enabled on a Switch card, they do not play unless the corresponding sound is allowed under Settings > NOTIFICATIONS / SOUNDS on the current device.

  • Allow Start & End Sounds
  • Allow Focus & Break Transition Sounds
  • Allow 15-Second Pre-Alert Sound

If you use the same Switch on several Apple devices, check each device's permissions, volume, silent mode, and audio output separately.

04

If you cannot hear sound

  1. Check that music, ambience, or effects are enabled in the Switch settings.
  2. Review per-device sound permissions in OneCentrate settings.
  3. Check the music-pack download, Apple Music permission and subscription, or local-folder access.
  4. Check the device volume, silent mode, and audio from other apps, then start again.

If a Switch with music closes immediately after starting or stops repeatedly, compare the same Switch with only music disabled. If it continues, include the app version and music source when contacting support.

See If music or AI is not working for source-specific checks and AI retry steps.