What To Do With Mac Sound Not Working – Setapp

Mac computer sound troubleshooting guide: Recovering perfect sound quality

Whether you are using an external device (wired or Bluetooth) or a built-in speaker, there are many reasons why the sound of a Mac computer is not working properly.

Some common problems include: accidental mute, long-term operating system updates, or dust accumulation in the headphone jack. These problems can usually be solved by simple methods such as hard restarts.

Other issues, such as a MacBook volume too low or a Bluetooth connection malfunction, require more operations. Sometimes using third-party applications is the best way to solve such problems.

Here are some simple fixes and tips to help you solve your Mac computer sound problem.

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Why doesn't my Mac sound work?

This is a complex problem, but we will try to solve it. Here are some reasons why MacBook audio doesn't work properly:

• The wrong output device was selected
• The sound has been muted
• External devices connected to Mac interfere with audio output
• macOS needs to be updated
• There is a problem with Bluetooth connection
• Mac requires NVRAM or SMC reset

How to fix MacBook audio failure

Let's do a comprehensive troubleshooting step by step. Don't worry, all the solutions we provide are very simple DIY repair methods and do not require any advanced professional and technical knowledge.

Check sound preferences

The MacBook speakers aren't working can be a simple problem. Are you sure the correct speaker has been selected as the output device? Is the sound muted? Let's check it out:

1. Open System Preferences/System Settings
2. Select Sound
3. Check which device is selected as the output device
4. Make sure Mute is not selected.

Disconnect the speaker or other connection

If you connect an external audio device (such as speakers, headphones, etc.) to your Mac, try disconnecting. Then play the audio to see if the problem is resolved.

Mac volume locked at low level

When Mac users complain about Mac volume not working properly, or find that MacBook volume is too low, the real problem they have is the volume limits imposed by Apple device manufacturers. While these limitations are designed to protect users (and their eardrums), they can frustrate users working in noisy environments or trying to listen to Mac audio from a distance.

In addition to providing virtual surround sound with regular speakers or headphones, applications like Boom 3D can bypass protocols that cause Mac volume locking and raise audio volume to higher levels.

Boom 3D also allows you to adjust the default volume of individual applications with customizable presets, and increase the volume of music based on the type. In other words, if you ever find your MacBook too low, it might be your new best companion!

Restart MacBook

This may sound like a cliché workaround, but it may indeed help with the problem that the MacBook sound is not working properly if your computer does not initialize the audio driver when it boots up. Click the Apple logo > "Restart" in the menu bar and let's wait and see.

Turn off Bluetooth

Anyone who has ever seen Bluetooth symbols crossed out inexplicably by straight or jagged lines can prove that wireless audio technology is not perfect enough. Even pairing devices that have been successfully connected before can be troublesome sometimes, resulting in no sound from Mac or Bluetooth devices.

Try the following:

1. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar or access Bluetooth through the Control Center
2. Disable Bluetooth
3. After a few seconds, enable Bluetooth again
4. Try to reconnect to the wireless device.

Tip: Install AirBuddy to connect to wireless devices faster. This app pops up a nice connection screen every time it opens the AirPods box. Just like on iPhone!

Reset NVRAM and SMC

Note: If you are using an Intel Mac, you should only follow the instructions below. Cannot reset NVRAM or SMC on Apple Silicon Mac.

Not all Mac users know about NVRAM (nonvolatile random access memory) or PRAM (parameter random access memory) (appearing in older PowerPC Macs). Essentially, they control certain settings related to sound and volume, which can be very useful if you find that your Mac sound is not working properly, your Mac volume locking, or other audio issues.

The solution to this problem is to reset PRAM/NVRAM on your Mac. To do this, do the following:

1. Turn off your Mac and disconnect all USB devices except the wired keyboard
2. Restart it and hold down the Command Option PR key immediately after doing this
3. Keep holding these keys until the Mac restarts and hears a second boot prompt, or on a Mac with a T2 security chip, until the Apple logo appears and disappears again.

Certain settings related to time, keyboard preferences, and volume will be reset. Ideally, this will also solve any problem that the Mac volume is not working properly.

Another component that can be reset on an Intel Mac is called SMC (System Management Controller) to fix the problem that MacBook sounds are not working properly:

1. Turn off Mac
2. Press and hold the Shift Control Option power button for about 15 seconds
3. Open your Mac.

Suspected malware causes no sound on Mac

While most issues involving Mac sound not working can be solved quickly and easily, there may be more sinister things happening beneath the surface.

Using applications like CleanMyMac X helps identify malware or junk files that may block MacBook. The failure to work properly is just one of many potential problems that malware can cause. Finding any unwanted presence on your Mac with CleanMyMac X is as easy as navigating to "Malware Delete" and clicking "Scan".

Although there is no dedicated "audio junk" section in CleanMyMac X, the app delves into your MacBook, performs optimization and maintenance scans, and will surely find anything serious enough to cause audio problems like Mac sounds don't work properly.

Update macOS

If the system is not updated, your Mac may let a lot of errors enter the system. This is why it is very important to check for macOS updates regularly so you don't have issues like the MacBook Pro volume not working properly or the MacBook speakers aren't working properly.

Go to the Apple menu > About Native to make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS. Check for any pending updates in the Software Updates tab. If there are any updates available, click "Upgrade now".

Restart the sound controller on your Mac

If everything looks good but your Mac still can't play audio or you're having continuous volume issues, restart the sound controller:

1. Open Activity Monitor
2. Type "coreaudiod" in your search to find the core audio controller
3. Click the controller and then click the "X" button to exit it
4. The controller will restart automatically. Hope it restores your audio!

Mac cannot play sounds on TV

Try to get your TV to play sounds from your computer? Unless your Mac is older than 2010, it should work fine. If you have problems playing your Mac sounds through your TV, do the following:

• Check the sound settings on your Mac . Access Sound in System Settings and make sure your TV speaker is selected as the output device.
• Check the audio MIDI settings . Go to Applications > Utilities and open Audio MIDI Settings. If there is no speaker icon next to the TV device, click the wheel icon and make sure the sound output is selected.

• Change the format value in the audio MIDI settings . If the TV speaker has been selected but you still can't hear the audio, try selecting the TV device from the list and setting the format value to 00Hz.
• Powering both Mac and TV in a loop . Turn off both devices and unplug them. Then press and hold the power button for 5 seconds. Plug in, turn on the device again, and try playing the audio again.

Tip: Installing JustStream makes it easy to stream videos or mirror screens from your Mac to your TV. It's more powerful and easier to customize than AirPlay. Most importantly, you can stream to any smart TV and DLNA device.

Mac sounds are not working properly, which is a common problem, but can be fixed!

The problem of limited or no sound on Mac is a problem that most Apple fans will encounter, but as we have seen above, fixes are usually simple and rarely indicate a major or expensive issue. If all other methods fail, Mac sounds don't work properly can usually be solved by simply resetting the machine.

If the above trick doesn't work, it's worth checking your hardware itself. A stuck key or a damaged speaker can also be the reason why the Mac has no sound, and all the software tweaks in the world can't solve this problem.

Although Apple does a great job with audio, there are some apps on the market that fix audio issues and improve the performance of Mac sound systems, such as Boom 3D, AirBuddy, CleanMyMac X, and JustStream. All of these apps are available for free for 7 days with Setapp, a platform that offers the most useful Mac and iPhone apps (over 240). Now you can make sure your Mac sound doesn't disappoint you.

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