Sound not working on your MacBook? Here’s how to fix it

MacBooks, especially since the transition to Apple Silicon M series processors, are some of the most reliable laptops available today. They’re slim, fast, and look great. macOS, the operating system of choice for MacBooks, is also a great OS with excellent stability and performance.  

However, the OS does have the occasional quirks, and when things go wrong, the diagnosis and treatment isn’t always straightforward. This can also be a problem for new Mac users who’re coming from Windows or other desktop platforms. 

Today, we’re going to take a look at audio issues on a MacBook, and what we can do to fix said issues. 

Fixes to sound not working on a MacBook

Here are a few quick fixes you can try in case the sound suddenly stops working on your MacBook. 

1. Turn it off and on again

2. Check that the audio isn’t muted 

3.  Select the right audio source 

4. Third-party apps 

1. Did you try turning it off and on again?

This instruction, immortalised by the hit TV show ‘The IT Crowd,’ holds true to this day. Whatever issues you’re facing, simply turning your computer on and off again. i.e., restarting it, will usually resolve most issues. 

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To do this on a MacBook, you can just head to the Apple icon on the top left corner of the menu bar and hit restart. If the device is unresponsive, pressing and holding the power button till the screen turns off, and then tapping it again after a few seconds will do the trick. 

2. Check that the audio isn’t muted

Click on the volume icon in the menu bar to check that your audio isn’t muted. If you’re trying to get output from your Mac’s internal speakers, the icon will indicate volume levels. If you’re using AirPods or some sort of external speaker, you will need to click on the icon to check. You can also open System Settings > Sounds to check that the speakers aren’t muted. 

3. Select the right audio source

Sometimes either macOS or some other application selects the wrong default audio device. You can reset this, or choose one that you’d prefer, but clicking on the volume icon in the menu bar and selecting an appropriate source. You can get a more comprehensive list and status by heading to System Settings > Sounds, and checking the list of output devices. 

If the device you want isn’t listed, ensure that the device is properly connected and powered on. If you’re using a USB speaker or DAC or similar audio output device, you might need to install a compatible driver. 

4. Third-party apps

Third-party apps can sometimes interfere with the audio output of a MacBook. If you’ve tried all the above steps and are still having issues, try disabling all third-party apps and rebooting the system. To do this, head to System Settings > Login Items, and disable all apps in the list. If your audio starts working, one or more of the apps is at fault. Enable the apps one at a time and test till the audio fails. 

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If all else fails, we’d suggest contacting Apple Support online and explaining the issue, as well as the steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue. Apple Support usually takes about 24 hours to reply, but is generally quite helpful. If your device is under warranty, you could also take it in to be serviced at any of Apple’s authorised service centres.