MacBook Speakers Crackling? 10 Best Ways to Fix Them

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: September 5, 2024

Expert verified

Dealing with crackling speakers on your MacBook? I’ve faced the same issue and found a few solutions that actually work. Here’s what helped me fix it.

How to Fix Crackling Speakers on a Macbook

Here are the proven methods to fix crackling speakers on a MackBook:

1. Lower Your Mac’s Volume

High volume can cause your speakers to crackle, so reducing it can solve the issue quickly. Here’s how to lower your Mac’s volume:

1. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar.

2. Here, you’ll see a Sound slider, showing the current volume level.

3. Click and drag the slider to the left to decrease the volume.

5. Play some audio or video on your MacBook to test if the crackling has stopped.

2. Restart Your MacBook

A simple restart can clear temporary glitches and help stop the crackling sounds:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select Restart from the drop-down menu.

Your MacBook will shut down and start back up automatically. Play some audio or video content to see if the crackling has stopped.

3. Try Playing Sounds Via a Different App

A specific app might cause crackling. Test the speakers with another app to see if the issue persists.

Here’s how:

1. Play audio in the app where you noticed the crackling.
2. Then, open another app (like Spotify or YouTube) and play audio.
3. Compare the sound quality between both apps.

If only one app has crackling, check its settings or reinstall it. Also, make sure it’s updated to the latest version.

4. Let Your Mac Cool Down

Overheating can cause crackling sounds in your MacBook speakers. Letting it cool down can help.

Here’s what to do:

1. Close apps that use a lot of CPU, like video editors or 3D software.
2. Shut down your Mac and unplug the charger.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes to let it cool.
4. Place your Mac on a hard, flat surface for better airflow.

Once it’s cool, turn your Mac back on and check if the crackling has stopped.

Here’s my detailed guide on how to prevent your Mac from overheating.

5. Update macOS

Keeping macOS updated can resolve bugs and improve sound performance. Follow these steps to update your macOS:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select Software Update.

3. Install any available updates by clicking the Update Now button.

6. Adjust Your Sound Settings

Adjusting your sound settings can help address crackling or distortion in your MacBook speakers. Here’s how to make some of these adjustments:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. In the System Settings window, click the Sound tab. This will open the Sound settings panel.

3. In the Sound settings panel, look for the Output volume slider under the Output tab.

4. Move the slider to the left to reduce the volume or to the right to increase it. Reducing the volume can minimize crackling or distortion, especially if the speakers are being overdriven.
5. In the same Output tab, look for the Balance slider. Make sure the slider is centered to ensure equal sound output from both the left and right speakers.

6. Also, make sure the correct output device is selected. If you want to use your MacBook built-in speakers, select MacBook Speakers.

After making adjustments to your sound settings, play some audio on your MacBook. Listen carefully to the sound quality to see if the crackling has stopped or improved.

7. Clean Your Speaker

Dust can affect sound quality. Cleaning your MacBook’s speakers can help reduce crackling.

Here’s how to clean your Mac’s speakers:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Use a soft cloth to wipe the speaker grilles.
3. Gently blow compressed air into the grilles to remove dust.
4. Use a soft brush to clear any remaining debris.

Once cleaned, turn your Mac back on and test the sound. Avoid using liquids or harsh cleaners.

Advanced Solutions to Resolve Crackling Sounds on Your Mac

Here are three advanced steps you can try if the simpler fixes don’t resolve the crackling sound issue:

1. Turn Off User Interface Sound Effects

Disabling system sound effects can reduce crackling caused by small sound actions. Here’s how:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.

2. In the System Settings window, click the Sound tab.

3. In the Sound Effects section, toggle off the Play user interface sound effects switch.

4. This will disable sound effects for actions like emptying the Bin or moving files to folders.
5. In the same Sound Effects section, look for the Alert volume slider.

6. Move the slider to the left to reduce the alert volume or all the way to the left to mute alert sounds. Lowering the alert volume can reduce the likelihood of crackling when system alert sounds play.

2. Kill Core Audio to Restore Sound

Core Audio is the audio processing framework in macOS that handles sound input, output, and processing. Sometimes, Core Audio can get stuck or encounter issues, leading to problems like crackling speakers. Killing and restarting the Core Audio process can help resolve these issues.

Here’s how to kill Core Audio to restore sound on Mac:

1. Go to the Applications folder and open Utilities.

2. Locate and open the Terminal application.

3. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

sudo killall coreaudiod

4. Enter your password.
5. When you terminate the coreaudiod process, it should automatically reboot itself, and your sound should begin to function once again.
6. If you’re experiencing no audio whatsoever, or if your speakers are still silent after executing the earlier command, you may need to manually restart Core Audio. You can do this by entering the following command in the Terminal:

sudo launchctl stop com.apple.coreaudiod && sudo launchctl start com.apple.audio.coreaudiod

3. Change the Sample Rate of Your Audio Device

Adjusting your audio device’s sample rate can reduce speaker distortion. Here’s how to change sample rate of your audio device on Mac:

1. Go to the Applications folder on your MacBook and open the Utilities folder.

2. Locate and open the Audio MIDI Setup application.

3. In the Audio MIDI Setup window, click the audio device you want to configure. If you’re using your MacBook built-in speakers, select MacBook Speakers.

4. In the main panel, you will see the Format dropdown menu.

5. Click the dropdown menu to see the available sample rates.
6. Select a different sample rate from the list. Common sample rates include 44100.0 Hz (CD quality) and 48000.0 Hz (DVD quality).

7. Try different sample rates to see which one works best for your audio device.
8. After changing the sample rate, play audio on your MacBook to see if the crackling or distortion has stopped.

Amplify Your Tunes to the Maximum

Regular maintenance and updates for your MacBook can prevent audio issues, ensuring you can enjoy clear and uninterrupted sound. If the problem persists despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance.

Here are some more tips:

• Reset sound settings and check volume if there’s no sound.
• If volume is low, adjust settings, clean the port, or use external speakers.
• If the fan is too loud, fix it instead of adjusting volume settings.

Frequently Asked Questions