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Sound issues, odd noises from the internal audio devices like 'crackling' when watching videos ... connection problems with an external audio device or sound loss are some common sound loss issues on Mac that you may encounter. Sometimes, misconfigured applications and settings can also lead to situations where the sound is lost or the volume cannot be changed. Below is a list of troubleshooting solutions that you can apply.
Fixing Sound Loss Issue on Macbook Pro 2021, Unable to Hear Music
Fixing Sound Not Working Issue on Macbook
1. Turn On/Off Volume
The first trick you should always apply first is to adjust the volume, restart your Mac, and then adjust the volume again. To do that, use the F11 key to turn off the sound. Then, click on the Apple icon and select Restart.
After your computer has restarted, press the F12 key to turn on the sound. Now, play any music in iTunes or Music app on macOS Catalina. If you hear sound coming from the speaker, that means the issue has been resolved.
2. Release Audio Port and Unplug USB from Mac
Even after trying the first method, if the sound still isn't working on your Macbook, then try disconnecting everything plugged into the computer. Besides releasing the audio port, unplug Thunderbolt, HDMI, and USB devices as they may reroute the sound channel and prevent it from functioning properly.
3. Clean the Headphone Jack on Mac
Inspect the headphone jack closely to ensure it's completely clean and free of things like dust or lint. Even if your eyes don't spot such culprits, you should still blow hard to remove any accumulated fibers over time. Once the headphone jack is cleaned, plug in your headphones and play some music.
4. Ensure Sound Isn't Muted in Specific Apps on Mac
In case the sound on your Mac works fine in the default music app but has issues in other apps like Chrome or Safari, you need to ensure that the sound isn't muted. Check the sound controls within those apps. If the sound is muted by default, turn it on.
5. Restart Sound Controller on Mac
Some users who have encountered sound issues on Mac have reported that restarting the sound controller helped them resolve this issue. So, try applying that method once and who knows it might actually be effective.
Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor and search for coreaudiod. Then, click on the X icon on the top left to manually terminate the process.
In case you can't find coreaudiod in Activity Monitor or feel comfortable using Terminal, you can use a quick command to restart the sound driver easily. Simply open the Terminal app and enter the command sudo killall coreaudiod. Then, press return and input your administrator password.
6. Check System Preferences for Sound on macOS
If the sound on macOS still isn't back to normal, ensure that the sound settings are configured correctly.
Step 1: Open the System Preferences app and select the Sound icon.
Step 2: Then, click on the Ouput > Internal Speakers tab. Next, uncheck the box Mute next to the Output Volume option if present.
Step 3: Finally, drag the Output Volume slider to the right.
7. Reset PRAM
When some basic tricks seem ineffective in solving sound-related issues on Mac, reset PRAM and rest assured, this will not disappoint you in many cases.
To reset PRAM, restart your Mac. Then immediately press Command, Option (or Alt), P, and R simultaneously. You need to press these keys until the computer boots up and chimes.
8. Reset Mac's System Management Controller (SMC)
Similar to PRAM, the SMC (System Management Controller) is also quite reliable in fixing continuous issues on Mac. So, it would be ideal to give the SMC a fresh start. Please note that the process varies based on the type of Mac.
For Macbooks with non-removable battery:
- Turn off your computer and unplug the power adapter. Then, press and hold the Shift, Ctrl, Option (Alt), and power button simultaneously.
- Hold these keys for about 10 seconds. Next, release your hands and press the power button once again.
- Finally, press the power button to start the computer.
For older Macbooks with removable battery:
- Turn off your Macbook and remove the battery. Take the battery out of the computer. Then, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds. Next, reinsert the battery and plug in the charger. Finally, start the Macbook.
For desktop Macs
- Turn off the computer and unplug the power cord. Wait for 15 seconds and plug in the power cord. Next, wait for 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.
9. Update Your Mac
Believe it or not, software updates are always effective in fixing some common issues like self-assigned IP addresses and iPhones not showing up in Finder. So, the answer to the sound not working issue might lie within the latest macOS update, if the problem is caused by a bug. Click on Apple > System Preferences > Software Update and update your macOS to the latest version.
Fixing sound issues on Mac isn't always straightforward. macOS lacks a comprehensive toolkit for diagnosing and troubleshooting issues. Therefore, you have to speculate to find the root cause of the problem. Hopefully, some of the methods mentioned above can help you fix sound loss issues on your Macbook effectively. In case you encounter similar issues on Windows 10, refer to How to Fix Sound Loss in Windows 10 here.
