A Mac with no sound is usually affected by an incorrect output device, muted volume, an app-specific problem, or a temporary software issue. Start by checking the selected sound output in System Settings, then test another app, reconnect external audio devices, and restart your Mac if necessary.
Quick Answer
- Click Control Center in the menu bar, select Sound, and choose the correct output device.
- Open System Settings > Sound and raise the Output volume. Make sure Mute is turned off.
- Disconnect headphones, USB audio devices, displays, and Bluetooth speakers to test your Mac’s built-in speakers.
- Check whether only one app or website has no audio.
- Quit and reopen the affected app, then restart your Mac.
- If the problem continues, test another output device and install available macOS updates.
Check the Selected Sound Output
Your Mac may be sending audio to headphones, a monitor, an AirPlay device, or a Bluetooth speaker instead of its built-in speakers.
- Click Control Center in the menu bar.
- Click Sound.
- Select the device you want to use, such as MacBook Speakers or Internal Speakers.
- Play audio again.
You can also select the output device in System Settings:
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner and choose System Settings.
- Click Sound in the sidebar.
- Under Output & Input, select the desired device.
- Drag the Output volume slider to the right.
- Make sure Mute is not selected.
The available names vary by Mac and connected hardware. A monitor connected through HDMI or USB-C may appear as an output device even if it has no built-in speakers.
Turn Up the Volume and Check Mute Controls
Use the volume keys on your Mac’s keyboard or the volume control in Control Center. If you use an external keyboard, monitor, headphones, or speaker, check its physical volume controls as well.
Also check the following:
- Make sure the app or website is not muted.
- Look for a mute button in the video or music player.
- If you use a browser, check that the browser tab is not muted.
- Confirm that headphones are fully inserted into the headphone jack.
- Check that a Bluetooth speaker is powered on and not muted.
- If your Mac is connected to a display, adjust the display’s volume if it has speakers.
Some apps have their own volume controls. A Mac can have normal system volume while a particular video player, game, meeting app, or browser tab remains muted.
Find Out Whether the Problem Affects One App or Everything
Play audio from more than one source. For example, try a local music file, a video in a browser, and a system alert.
If only one app has no sound
The issue is probably inside that app or website. Try these steps:
- Close the app and open it again.
- Check the app’s audio or speaker settings.
- Choose your Mac’s current output device in the app, if it provides that option.
- If the app runs in a browser, reload the page.
- Open the same content in another browser or app.
For a website, confirm that the page is not muted. In Safari, Chrome, and other browsers, a muted-tab control may appear when a page is playing audio.
If every app has no sound
Continue with the output, connection, and restart checks below. A system-wide problem is more likely to involve the selected output device, an audio connection, or macOS.
Disconnect External Audio Devices
External devices can redirect sound away from your Mac’s built-in speakers. Temporarily disconnect or disable the following:
- Headphones and wired speakers
- USB audio interfaces
- HDMI and USB-C displays
- Bluetooth headphones and speakers
- AirPlay speakers or receivers
- Docks and hubs connected to audio equipment
After disconnecting a device, open System Settings > Sound and select the built-in speakers.
Disconnect Bluetooth audio
- Open System Settings.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Find the headphones or speaker.
- Click the information button next to it and choose Disconnect, if available.
- Return to System Settings > Sound and choose the built-in speakers.
If Bluetooth audio keeps returning as the output, turn Bluetooth off temporarily, test the Mac’s speakers, and then turn Bluetooth back on.
Check a display connection
A display connected through HDMI or USB-C may become the selected audio output automatically. If the display has no speakers, your Mac may appear silent even though the volume is working normally.
- Open System Settings > Sound.
- Select MacBook Speakers, Internal Speakers, or the built-in output listed for your Mac.
- Test the audio before reconnecting the display.
Restart the App and Your Mac
A temporary app or system process problem can stop audio even when the settings appear correct.
First, save your work and quit the affected app. If an app will not close normally, you may need to force quit it, which can discard unsaved changes:
- Click the Apple menu.
- Choose Force Quit.
- Select the unresponsive app.
- Click Force Quit.
Next, restart the Mac:
- Save your work.
- Click the Apple menu.
- Choose Restart.
- Wait for the Mac to start, then test sound again.
Restarting closes open apps and ends current processes, so save documents before doing it.
Test Headphones or Another Speaker
Testing a second output helps determine whether the problem is with the Mac or the original speakers.
- Connect wired headphones, Bluetooth headphones, or another speaker.
- Open System Settings > Sound.
- Select the connected device.
- Play audio.
- If the second device works, the built-in speakers or original audio device may be the problem.
- If no output works, the issue is more likely related to macOS, an app, or the audio configuration.
- If only Bluetooth devices fail, remove and reconnect the Bluetooth device.
To reconnect a Bluetooth device, open System Settings > Bluetooth, select the device, and follow the on-screen instructions. If the device is paired but does not work, disconnect it, turn it off and on, and connect it again.
Check Audio Settings in Video Calls
Meeting apps can use a different speaker than macOS. If sound is missing only during a call, open the app’s audio settings and check the speaker selection.
Look for settings named Audio, Speaker, Output, or Test Speaker. Choose the same output device selected in System Settings > Sound, then use the app’s speaker test if available.
Also make sure the call is not muted and that the meeting host has not disabled audio playback for the session. If other apps play sound normally, the meeting app’s speaker selection is the most likely cause.
Install Available macOS Updates
An update may correct problems involving audio drivers, Bluetooth, external displays, or specific apps.
- Open the Apple menu.
- Choose System Settings.
- Click General.
- Click Software Update.
- Install an available update if one is offered.
Save your work before updating. The Mac may restart, and the installation can temporarily close apps.
If the problem began immediately after installing a particular audio app, driver, utility, or system extension, check that developer’s support instructions. Remove or disable third-party audio software only if you understand what it changes, and save any related settings first.
Reset the Audio Service with Terminal
If the output device and volume settings are correct but all audio remains silent, restarting macOS’s audio service may help. This does not delete personal files, but it can interrupt active calls, recordings, and audio playback.
- Save work in audio, meeting, and recording apps.
- Quit apps that are currently using sound.
- Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Run this command:
sudo killall coreaudiod
- Enter your administrator password when prompted. The cursor may not move while you type; this is normal.
- Press Return.
The command stops the coreaudiod process, which manages much of macOS audio. macOS should start it again automatically. Test sound after a few seconds.
There is no separate reversal command. The service restarts automatically. If it does not, restart the Mac. Do not use unrelated commands that delete audio preferences unless you have a specific reason and a backup, because preference changes can affect custom device configurations.
Troubleshooting Persistent Sound Problems
The volume icon is dimmed or unavailable
Select an output device in System Settings > Sound. If no device appears, disconnect docks, displays, and USB audio hardware, then restart the Mac. Reconnect one device at a time to identify whether a particular connection causes the problem.
Sound works through headphones but not the built-in speakers
Open System Settings > Sound and explicitly choose the built-in speakers. Check the headphone jack for debris and make sure no accessory is partially inserted.
If the built-in speakers still do not appear or produce sound after a restart, the problem may involve hardware rather than a setting.
Sound works from the Mac but not an external monitor
Select the monitor under System Settings > Sound only if it has speakers. Otherwise, choose the Mac’s built-in speakers or connect separate speakers. Check the cable, adapter, and monitor volume as well.
Bluetooth headphones connect but remain silent
Disconnect and reconnect the headphones, then select them manually under System Settings > Sound. Charge the headphones, move them closer to the Mac, and temporarily disconnect other Bluetooth audio devices.
Audio is delayed, distorted, or crackles
Test without a dock, hub, or external audio interface. Then try another cable or port, close apps that record or process audio, and restart the Mac. If the issue affects only one device, check that device’s firmware and manufacturer settings.
There is no sound after waking from sleep
Select another output device and then select the desired one again. If that does not help, quit the affected app and restart the Mac. Disconnecting and reconnecting a display or Bluetooth device may also restore audio routing.
Nothing works after these steps
Back up important files and contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider if:
- No output device produces sound.
- Built-in speakers do not appear in System Settings > Sound.
- The Mac has suffered liquid or physical damage.
- Audio stopped after a hardware repair or port problem.
- Sound repeatedly disappears after every restart.
Avoid opening the Mac or attempting speaker repairs unless you are qualified to do so. Internal components can be damaged, and opening the computer may affect service options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Mac have no sound even though the volume is up?
The Mac may be sending sound to another output, such as a monitor, Bluetooth speaker, headphones, or AirPlay device. Open System Settings > Sound and choose the intended output manually.
How do I get sound back on my Mac after connecting a monitor?
Open System Settings > Sound and select MacBook Speakers or Internal Speakers. If the monitor has speakers, select it instead and raise the monitor’s volume.
Why does YouTube have no sound on my Mac?
Check the video player’s volume, the browser tab’s mute status, and macOS’s selected output device. Reload the page or test another browser to determine whether the problem is limited to that tab or browser.
Does restarting a Mac fix audio problems?
It can fix temporary problems involving an app, an audio service, Bluetooth, or an external display. Save your work first because restarting closes apps and may interrupt calls or recordings.
How can I tell whether my Mac speakers are broken?
Test the built-in speakers with several apps and compare them with headphones or another speaker. If another output works but the built-in speakers do not appear or remain silent after restarting, hardware service may be necessary.
Final Thoughts
Most Mac sound problems come from a muted app, the wrong output device, or audio being redirected to a connected display or Bluetooth accessory. Check System Settings > Sound, test more than one app, disconnect external devices, and restart the Mac before moving to Terminal or hardware support.