macOS Audio Not Working — No Sound Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

When your Mac has no sound, the cause is almost always a software setting rather than broken hardware. Common culprits include the wrong audio output being selected, the volume being muted somewhere in the system, or a stuck audio process. A restart fixes the problem most of the time.

Affected Models

MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
iMac
Mac Mini
Mac Studio

Common Causes

The audio output is set to a device that is not connected, like an unplugged HDMI monitor
The volume is muted in System Settings or an app has its volume all the way down
The Core Audio daemon (the background process that manages sound) has crashed
A recently plugged-in or unplugged headphone or audio device confused macOS
A macOS update changed audio settings or introduced a bug affecting the audio driver

How to Fix It

Check the output device. Go to System Settings > Sound. Under Output, make sure the correct device is selected — usually 'MacBook Speakers' or 'Built-in Output.' If an HDMI display or external device is selected, switch back to your Mac's speakers.

macOS often switches to HDMI audio when you connect a TV or monitor and does not always switch back when you disconnect it.
Check all volume controls. Make sure the main volume slider in System Settings > Sound is not at zero. Also check the volume keys on your keyboard. Some apps have their own volume control too.

It sounds obvious, but a single mute button press on the keyboard can silence everything. Check the volume icon in the menu bar.
Restart the Core Audio process. Open Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor). Search for 'coreaudiod.' Select it and click the X button to force-quit it. macOS restarts it immediately.

Core Audio is the system that handles all sound on your Mac. Restarting it is like turning audio off and on again without rebooting.
Unplug and replug any connected audio devices. If you use headphones, a USB audio interface, or a Bluetooth speaker, disconnect it completely and reconnect.

A device that was plugged in at an odd moment can lock macOS into outputting to that device even after it is removed.
Reset NVRAM. Shut down your Mac. Press power and immediately hold Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.

NVRAM stores audio settings including volume level and output device. Resetting it clears any corrupted audio configuration.

When to Call a Professional

If your Mac has never produced sound since you bought it, or if it stopped after being dropped or having liquid spilled on it, the hardware may be damaged. Visit an Apple Store for a hardware diagnosis. For normal everyday no-sound situations, the fixes below solve the problem almost every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac have no sound after connecting to a TV?

When you connect a Mac to a TV via HDMI or Thunderbolt, macOS automatically switches the audio output to the TV. If you then use the Mac without the TV, the output is still set to the TV. Go to System Settings > Sound > Output and switch back to your Mac's built-in speakers.

The volume slider in Sound settings is greyed out. What does that mean?

A greyed-out volume slider usually means audio is being sent to a device that does not support volume control from macOS, like a USB DAC or some HDMI displays. You control the volume on the external device, not from your Mac. Switching the output to built-in speakers will make the slider active again.

Why does my Bluetooth speaker pair but have no sound?

Pairing and audio routing are two separate steps in macOS. Just because a Bluetooth device is paired does not mean macOS is sending sound to it. Go to System Settings > Sound > Output and manually select your Bluetooth speaker as the output device.