Sound Not Working on Mac? Here’s the Fix

Is your sound not working on Mac, and you have no idea what the reason is? Don’t worry! In this article, we will explain how you can fix the Macbook speakers not working problem that leads to macOS not being able to generate sounds.

One fine morning, you decided to spend some time watching your favorite movie on your Mac. Then suddenly, you discover that your Mac’s sound is not working, and you have no idea why. It seems frustrating, right? Even the most well-thought-out ideas can get canceled if your computer goes silent.

Although Macs are frequently praised for their modern features and sleek designs, they also have a strong and dependable sound system. Multiple input and output options make it simple to connect different devices, and the built-in amplifier provides high-quality audio to both internal and external speakers.

Your Macbook audio not working issue could have a number of possible causes, and it can be challenging to identify the exact cause. In certain situations, there might be an issue with the conflict between the sound system and some other applications installed on your Macbook. In some cases, it could be a hardware problem.

Whatever the cause, it is imperative to look into the matter and get the audio working again. Let’s take a look at a few quick fixes on how to fix sound not working on a Mac.

How to Fix Macbook Audio Not Working Problem

If you are having an issue where your sound is not working on your Mac’s built-in speakers. There are a couple of things you can do to resolve the issue. Here’s how you can fix the Mac speakers’ not working issue.

1. Check The Volume

If your Macbook audio is not working, the first thing you should check is that the volume is not set to mute or at its lowest setting. To unmute your Mac, simply press the volume-up key on the keyboard. To increase output volume on a Mac with a Touch Bar, move the speaker icon to the right. Although they may seem overly simple, following these simple steps can help you troubleshoot potential sound problems much more quickly.

2. Adjust The Internal Sound Settings

The internal sound settings may be the most obvious reason why the sound is not working on your Mac. That is why you need to check to see if your Mac’s built-in speakers are functional.

In fact, this holds true for all varieties of speakers, so follow these instructions to fix the Macbook speakers not working problem:

1. Navigate to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Sound > Output.
2. You should consider internal speakers to be sound output devices. Adjust the output volume on the device you are currently using, and then switch to internal speakers. Check to see if the Mute box is checked. If so, uncheck the box.
   

3. Verify if The Sound is Functional In Other Applications.

If your MacBook’s audio is not working, verify that it changes when you try using other applications. If the issue appears to be limited to a single application, experiment with its settings. For instance, speaker issues are common with video conferencing apps like Zoom and Skype. Verify the device’s audio and video settings, and confirm that the speaker is turned on completely to the right of the slide bar. Now check to see if the Mac speakers not working issue is resolved. If not, you can proceed to the next solution.

Also Know: Sound Card Driver Download and Update for Windows 11,10, 8, 7

4. Update Your macOS

Updating the operating system on your Mac is crucial, primarily for security reasons. However, having an outdated OS version can also lead to a variety of issues, such as Macbook audio not working issue. The following steps can help you determine if you are using the most recent version of your operating system:

1. Select System Preferences from the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of the screen. Then select the Software Update option.
2. If there is an update or upgrade available, you will see the corresponding button.
   

You can get rid of most of the problems you are facing on your MacBook. It also includes the Macbook speakers not working problem. However, if this doesn’t work out for you, proceed to the next method.

5. Reset NVRAM to fix the Sound Not Working On Mac Issue

NVRAM (Non-volatile random access memory) is where your Mac stores crucial default settings like time zones and languages. Additionally, it manages volume. NVRAM is responsible for your computer’s sound remaining muted after you have shut it down and restarted it. As a result, resetting NVRAM frequently resolves Mac sound not working issues.

Here’s how to reset the NVRAM:

1. Unplug any USB devices and the charging cable, then turn off your Mac.
2. By pressing the power button, you can restart it. While the Mac makes its startup sound and the gray screen appears, hold Command + Option + P + R.
3. Reset all local settings, such as language and time zone preferences. Through this process, you should be able to fix the Mac speakers not working issue.

A T2 security chip, which adds extra security and enables touch IDs on computers, is included in all MacBooks that were produced after 2018. If you have one of these, make sure the Apple logo appears twice when you reset the NVRAM.

Also Know: How to Restore Sound Driver on Windows 10, 8, 7

6. Use Activity Monitor To Troubleshoot The Sound Not Working On Mac Issue.

If you are certain that the Mac speakers not working problem is not caused by a faulty cable, incorrect browser settings, or a misplaced output device, you should restart the sound controller. If you are wondering how to do it, using the Activity Monitor makes it remarkably easy.

Follow the instructions below to access the program:

1. Navigate to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. You will see a list of processes, each with its percentage CPU next to it.
2. Enter “coreaudiod,” the daemon name for your Core Audio process, in the search bar in the window’s upper-right corner.
3. To close the controller, click the heading and then the cross in the upper-left corner. As soon as you click on it, it automatically restarts.

7. Verify Your Audio MIDI Setup Sound Settings.

There are more audio options on your Mac than just the speakers, headphone jack, and microphone. MacOS handles MIDI audio from instruments like musical keyboards and drum machines. Additionally, it deals with a variety of audio-related issues, including Bluetooth, USB, and virtual desktop audio. With the help of the Audio MIDI Setup tool, you can examine each of these devices. Here’s how you can do that.

1. Launch Audio MIDI Setup from Applications > Utilities.
   
2. It is now possible to see which gadgets are being used for system sounds, input, and output. Look for the small icons that appear next to them.
   
3. Locate the audio device you wish to use for sound output, right-click on it, and then choose Use This Device For Sound Output.
   
4. If there is still a Mac sound not working issue, click Output and try with the channel volume sliders.
5. Verify that no channels are muted. Untick any items if they are checked.
   
6. If that does not work, go to the Format dropdown menu and experiment with the various options.
7. By selecting the Configure Speakers button, you can also test your audio device.
   
8. Click the speaker icon in the Test section to hear a hissing tone (the test tone). If you can hear it, your speaker is functioning. Your sound not working on Mac issue is probably due to something else.

Also Know: How to Reinstall and Update Audio Sound Drivers on Windows 11,10, 8, 7

8. Use Terminal to Fix The MacBook’s Audio Not Working Issue

If you have ever used Terminal, you will be familiar with the wide range of functions it can perform. It works incredibly well for troubleshooting technical issues and has a fix for the Macbook speakers not working issue. To resolve sound problems with Terminal, adhere to these easy steps:

1. Navigate to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Enter the command “sudo killall coreaudiod” after typing it.
3. This will restart the Core Audio daemon.

The most recent versions of Google Chrome may conflict with the controller if you use that browser. To fix that, you first need to disable Chrome. To reset Core Audio as a Chrome user in Terminal, follow these instructions:

1. Start off by closing Chrome. Press Enter after entering “sudo killall Google Chrome.”
2. If this command does not work, try “pgrep -x Google Chrome.”
3. The terminal will now display a number. Enter “kill -9 _,” replacing the underscore with the number. Press the Enter key. This will knock out Chrome
4. You can now reset Core Audio by running sudo “killall coreaudiod” again. When you restart Google Chrome, it will function normally.

Sound Not Working On Mac: Fixed

There are a number of reasons why you are facing the sound not working on Mac issue. If you follow the instructions above and take it one step at a time, you should be able to resolve the issue. If none of the above solutions work, there may be a hardware issue with your Mac. In this case, it’s important to seek professional help to diagnose and fix the Macbook speakers not working issue.