No sound on Mac

Quick check: one app or the whole Mac?

Turn the volume down a little, then open our speaker test in Safari or Chrome and press Both.

• You hear the chime: your speakers work. The silent app has its own volume or mute. Go to fix 1.
• You hear nothing: the sound is going somewhere else, or it’s muted for the whole Mac. Go to fixes 2 and 3.
• Only one side plays: press Left and Right to see which side is missing, and check the balance in fix 3.

1. Check the volume inside the app

Many apps have their own volume that works on top of the Mac volume. Look for a volume slider in the Music or TV app, the player controls on a website such as YouTube, or a speaker icon in a Safari tab, which mutes that tab.

Try a different song or video too. If other sound plays fine, the problem is the file or the site, not your Mac.

2. Unplug headphones and other audio devices

Your Mac may be sending sound to a device you’re not listening to. To use the built-in speakers, unplug:

• headphones or speakers in the headphone jack
• USB or Thunderbolt audio devices
• external displays connected by USB or HDMI, which can have their own speakers

Turn off or disconnect Bluetooth headphones, such as AirPods, that may still be connected.

3. Pick the right output and check the volume

1. Open the System Settings app.
2. Click Sound in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
3. Click Output.
4. Select [your Mac model] Speakers in the list.
5. Make sure the Output volume slider isn’t all the way to the left and Mute isn’t selected.

If only one side is quiet, check that the Balance slider is in the middle. Then play the speaker test again.

4. External speakers on the audio port

1. Make sure the speakers are plugged into the audio output port on your Mac or display, and into power if they need it.
2. Check the speakers’ own power switch and volume knob.
3. In System Settings > Sound > Output, select the external speakers.

5. USB speakers

1. In System Settings > Sound > Output, select the USB speakers.
2. If they’re not in the list, hold Option and choose Apple menu > System Information.
3. Under Hardware in the sidebar, click USB and look for your speakers.
4. If they’re not there, unplug them and plug them back in, or try another port.

6. Display speakers or a digital receiver

Display speakers: unplug headphones and external speakers, check that the display cable is in the right port, then pick the display in Sound > Output.

Digital receiver: pick Digital Output in Sound > Output, connect with an optical cable and set the receiver to digital input. The Mac volume keys don’t change the volume here, so use the receiver’s own volume.

7. Still no sound

Restart your Mac and run the speaker test again. If the built-in speakers still play nothing with every device unplugged and the right output selected, they may need repair. Contact Apple Support to set up service.