TL;DR
To fix the no sound in MacBook issue:
- Ensure the volume is up and the mute is off.
- Disconnect external USB or Bluetooth devices.
- Restart to refresh drivers.
- Reset sound settings in System Settings.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Sometimes, your MacBook’s sound just stops working out of nowhere. After testing a few fixes, I figured out what works best and wanted to share these solutions with you.
How to Fix “No Sound in MacBook” Error
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Keep reading to find some quick and easy methods to fix the no sound on Mac issue:
1. Check Volume and Mute Settings
The first thing to do when there’s no sound on your MacBook is to check the volume and mute settings:
- Look for the volume keys on the top row of your keyboard (F11 to lower volume, F12 to increase it).
- Press F12 to make sure the volume is turned up.
- Check if your MacBook is muted. You can see the mute icon (a speaker with a line through it) in the menu bar or press the mute key (F10) to unmute.
2. Unplug Peripheral Devices
If your Mac is using an external device instead of the built-in speakers, follow these steps:
- Open System Settings and check the selected output device.
- If a USB or Bluetooth device is selected, unplug or disconnect all external devices, including headphones and speakers.
- Try playing audio again to see if the sound is now coming from the built-in speakers.
3. Restart Your MacBook
Restart your MacBook to refresh drivers and settings, which can fix sound issues. Here’s how to restart your Mac to fix the no sound in MacBook issue:
- Click the Apple icon and select Restart from the dropdown menu.
- Wait for your MacBook to restart.
- Once your MacBook restarts, check if the sound is working.
4. Reset the Sound Settings
Reset your Mac’s sound settings to resolve configuration or driver-related audio problems. Here’s how to reset the sound settings on Mac:
- Click the Apple icon and select System Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Click Sound in System Settings.
- In the Output tab, choose an audio device from the list to check if the sound is working.
- To change the volume, move the Output volume slider by dragging it.
- If the Mute checkbox is checked, uncheck it to see if that restores the sound.
5. Update Your macOS
Keep macOS updated to avoid sound issues caused by outdated software or system conflicts. Here’s how to check and update your macOS on Mac:
- Click the Apple icon and select System Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Click General and select Software Update.
- If any updates are available, click Update Now.
- Wait for the update to download and install.
- Restart your Mac to check if the sound is working.
6. Restart the Sound Controller
Restart the coreaudiod process using Activity Monitor to fix audio glitches on your Mac. To restart the sound controller on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Open Finder on your Mac.
- Click Applications in the left sidebar and open the Utilities folder.
- Double-click the Activity Monitor app to launch it.
- In the Activity Monitor, search for coreaudiod in the search bar.
- Select coreaudiod from the list of processes and click the X button in the top toolbar.
- A prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to quit this process. Click Force Quit.
Now, exit the Activity Monitor and play a sound to restart the Audio Controller.
7. Reset NVRAM to Set Sound
NVRAM stores settings like sound volume, and resetting it can fix sound issues. Just restart your Mac while holding Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + P + R until you hear the startup sound.
For detailed steps, check my full guide on resetting NVRAM.
8. Reset the SMC
The SMC controls hardware functions like audio. Resetting it can resolve sound problems. Shut down your Mac, hold Shift ⇧ + Control ^ + Option ⌥ with the power button for 10 seconds, then restart.
For a step-by-step guide, see my full article on resetting the SMC.
Remember, if your MacBook is still under warranty, or if you have AppleCare+ for Mac, certain repairs might be covered, so check your coverage status before proceeding with paid repair options.
Fix Your Mac No Sound Issue Like a Pro
Now that you know how to troubleshoot the no sound issue on your Mac, check out the following tips to improve your audio experience on Mac:
- If your MacBook speakers are crackling, restart your Mac, adjust sound settings, and run Apple Diagnostics to find the root cause.
- Sometimes, the no sound issue is a false alarm because your Mac volume is low.
- Record audio on your Mac and play it to see if your mic and speakers are working fine.
