Sound Not Working on macOS? Fixes That Work

If your Mac’s sound has stopped working, the fix is usually a quick settings change or a simple reset—not a trip to the repair shop. This guide walks you through the most common causes and the exact steps to restore audio on current versions of macOS.

First, Check the Obvious

Before diving into deeper troubleshooting, rule out the simplest explanations. Many “no sound” issues are actually just a misdirected output device or a muted volume.

Volume level: Click the Control Center icon (two toggles) in the menu bar, then drag the Sound slider. Also check the physical volume keys on your keyboard (F11/F12 or the Touch Bar).
Mute state: Press the mute key (F10) and look for the speaker icon with a slash. If it’s on, press it again.
Output device: Open System Settings > Sound (or System Preferences > Sound on older macOS) and confirm the correct device is selected under “Output.” If you have Bluetooth headphones or an external monitor connected, macOS may be sending audio there instead of your Mac’s speakers.
App-specific volume: Some apps (like Safari or Music) have their own mute or volume controls. Check the app’s menu bar or settings.

If all of the above looks correct, move on to the next steps.

Restart Core Audio (The Most Common Fix)

macOS uses a background process called coreaudiod to manage all audio. When it gets stuck or crashes, you lose sound entirely. Restarting it takes seconds and often resolves the problem without a full reboot.

Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities).
Type the following command and press Enter:
sudo killall coreaudiod
Enter your administrator password when prompted (you won’t see characters as you type).
Wait about 10 seconds. The audio process will restart automatically.

This command forces macOS to relaunch the audio service. If the issue was a temporary glitch, sound should return immediately. If it doesn’t, try a normal restart of your Mac next.

Check Output Device and Sample Rate Settings

Sometimes the audio hardware is fine, but macOS is sending sound to a device that isn’t there, or at a format the device can’t handle.

In System Settings > Sound > Output, look for a list of devices. If your Mac’s speakers are listed but not selected, click them. If you see a device that’s grayed out or says “Not Connected,” it may be stealing the output—select your speakers explicitly.
For USB or HDMI audio devices, open Audio MIDI Setup (in Applications > Utilities). Select your output device, then check the “Format” dropdown. Try switching from 48.0 kHz to 44.1 kHz (or vice versa). Some devices only work at specific sample rates, and a mismatch can produce silence or static.

This is particularly relevant if you’ve recently plugged in a new monitor, dock, or audio interface.

Reset NVRAM / PRAM (Intel Macs Only)

On Intel-based Macs, nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) stores settings for audio output, display resolution, and startup disk. If those settings get corrupted, sound can stop working. Resetting it is safe and doesn’t affect your files.

Shut down your Mac.
Turn it on, then immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R.
Keep holding for about 20 seconds (or until you hear the startup chime a second time on older models), then release.

On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, etc.), NVRAM resets aren’t needed—the system handles this automatically. If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, skip this step and try the next one.

Safe Mode and Third-Party Interference

If you’ve installed audio-enhancing apps, virtual sound drivers (like Soundflower or Loopback), or system-level utilities, they can conflict with macOS’s native audio. To test if that’s the cause, boot into Safe Mode.

On Apple Silicon: Shut down, then press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears. Select your startup disk, hold Shift, and click “Continue in Safe Mode.”
On Intel: Restart and immediately hold the Shift key until the login window appears.

In Safe Mode, macOS loads only essential extensions. If sound works there, a third-party driver is the culprit. Uninstall recently installed audio software, or check its settings for a “virtual output” that might be hijacking your audio.

Update macOS and Check for Hardware Issues

Software bugs in macOS itself can cause audio problems, especially after a major update. Apple regularly releases patches that fix audio glitches.

Go to System Settings > General > Software Update (or System Preferences > Software Update on older versions) and install any pending updates.
If you’re already on the latest version, check if the issue started after a specific update. You can look up known issues on Apple’s support pages, but a general update often resolves them.

If none of the software fixes work, the problem may be physical. Test with headphones plugged into the 3.5mm jack (if your Mac has one) or via Bluetooth. If you get sound through those but not the built-in speakers, the speaker hardware may be faulty. In that case, contact Apple Support or an authorized service provider—do not attempt to open the Mac yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Mac muted but the volume is up?

This usually means the output device is set to something like “Digital Output” or a Bluetooth device that isn’t connected. Go to System Settings > Sound > Output and select your Mac’s speakers. Also check the menu bar for a speaker icon with a small arrow—click it to see if the correct device is selected.

Sound works in some apps but not others?

This points to an app-specific issue. Check the app’s own sound settings, and make sure the app isn’t muted in the volume mixer (open Sound settings and look for “App Sound” or “Output” per app). Restart the app, and if it still fails, try reinstalling it.

Will resetting NVRAM erase my files?

No. Resetting NVRAM only clears certain hardware settings like volume, display resolution, and startup disk selection. Your documents, photos, and applications are untouched. It’s a safe troubleshooting step for Intel Macs.

Why is there no sound after a macOS update?

Updates can reset audio drivers or change default output settings. First, check System Settings > Sound > Output and reselect your speakers. If that doesn’t help, restart coreaudiod as described above. If the issue persists, check for a subsequent update that may contain a fix.

My Mac’s speakers are crackling or distorted—what’s that?

Crackling is often a sample rate mismatch or a driver issue. Try changing the format in Audio MIDI Setup. If it happens only at high volumes, it could be a hardware limitation. If it persists across all apps and volumes, the speaker may be damaged and need professional repair.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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