How to Fix the Sound on a Mac Computer

Co-authored by Gonzalo Martinez

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 References

Basic Troubleshooting

|

Checking Speakers and Headphones

|

Resetting the PRAM

|

Updating Your Mac

|

Expert Q&A

|

Tips

If you're experiencing problems hearing sound or selecting a playback device on your Mac, there are quite a few quick fixes you can try before heading to the Genius Bar. Simply plugging in and then removing a pair of headphones is usually enough to get things working again. You can also reset your PRAM, which can fix a variety of sound-related issues. Updating to the latest version of OS X can fix sound issues caused by system bugs.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Basic Troubleshooting

1
Restart the computer. Sometimes a simple reboot will fix the audio issues you are experiencing. This should always be the first thing you try when something goes wrong.
2
Plug headphones in and then remove them. If your volume controls are grayed out or you see a red light from your headphone jack, insert and remove an Apple headphone plug a few times. This has been known to fix the issue and restore sound.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Note: This is a sign of failing hardware, and you will likely need to do this more and more often until it fails completely. You'll need to have your Mac serviced to get this problem fixed for good.
- Some users have reported better success by using Apple brand headphones or earbuds for this procedure.
Advertisement
3
Download any available updates. There may be a system or hardware update available that will fix the issues you're having. Click the Apple menu and select "Software Update" to begin looking for and installing any available updates.
4
Open the Activity Monitor and stop the "coreaudiod" process. This will restart the sound controller for the Mac:^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Open Activity Monitor from the Utilities folder.
- Find the "coreaudiod" process in the list. Click the "Process Name" header to sort the list alphabetically.
- Click the the "Quit Process" button. After confirming, coreaudiod will be closed and will restart automatically.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Checking Speakers and Headphones

1
Ensure you don't have headphones plugged in. If you have headphones plugged in, you won't be able to hear sound from the speakers. Sometimes inserting and removing a headphone plug will get the speakers to switch back on.
2
Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. If you have multiple audio devices connected to your Mac, it may not switch inputs correctly.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 March 2021}
3
Click the "Sounds" option and then select the "Output" tab. This will display a list of devices that can output audio.
4
Select the proper output device. Select the device that you want to use to play sound.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 March 2021}
- If you want to play sound from your Mac's speakers, select "Internal Speakers" or "Digital Out."
- If you're trying to play sound from your connected TV, select the "HDMI" option.
5
Check the volume level of external speakers. Many external speakers will have their own volume controls. If the speakers are turned off or down, you won't be able to hear sound from them even if they're selected.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Resetting the PRAM

1
Turn your Mac off. Resetting the parameter RAM (PRAM) can fix a variety of problems related to volume control and sound output. This will reset a few settings but will not delete any of your data.
2
Power on the Mac and immediately press ⌘ Command+⌥ Option+P+R. Continue to hold these keys until your Mac restarts.
3
Release the keys when you hear the startup sound again. Your computer will continue to boot as normal. You may notice that this boot takes a little longer than normal.
4
Check your sound and other settings. Test to see if you can hear sound again, and if you can adjust the volume. Your clock may have reset during this process, so you may need to change this back.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Updating Your Mac

1
Check to see if you are running the latest version. OS X Mavericks (10.9) has a lot of problems with sound, many of which were fixed in Yosemite (10.10). El Capitan (10.11) has fixed even more of these problems.
2
Open the Mac App Store. Mac updates are free and are available from the Mac App Store.
3
Click the "Updates" tab. If there are any available system upgrades, they'll be listed here.
4
Download the latest version of OS X. Download El Capitan if it is listed in the Updates section. The download will likely take a while to complete.
5
Install the system update. Follow the prompts to install the system update. It's a pretty straightforward process, and you won't lose any of your files or settings.
6
Test your sound again. Once the update has finished and you're back at your desktop, test your sound again to see if it is working.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I fix no sound on my computer?

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
Gonzalo Martinez is the President of CleverTech, a tech repair business in San Jose, California founded in 2014. CleverTech LLC specializes in repairing Apple products. CleverTech pursues environmental responsibility by recycling aluminum, display assemblies, and the micro components on motherboards to reuse for future repairs. On average, they save 2 lbs - 3 lbs more electronic waste daily than the average computer repair store.

Gonzalo Martinez

Computer & Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

Go into your system settings and check if your output or input device got changed. Then, select the device you want the audio to come out from.
Question

Why does my sound only work in the morning?

Community Answer

Do you have parental controls enabled? If so, the sound might be disabled at night. If not, I'd recommend taking it into a tech-shop; they'll know more.
Question

What should I do if there is no sound on my Mac and a red light at the headphone jack?

Community Answer

Put head phones in the jack, then pull them out again a day later or take the battery in then out.