Fixing No Audio Output Problems On Your Mac

Introduction

Having no audio from your Mac can be incredibly frustrating. As someone who relies on my MacBook for work and entertainment, I know how disruptive it can be when there’s no sound coming from the speakers or headphones. The good news is that in most cases, audio issues on a Mac have relatively straightforward solutions. In this article, I’ll walk through the most common reasons you may experience no audio output on your Mac and the steps you can take to resolve them.

Check Your Volume Settings

The first thing to check whenever your Mac has no audio output is the volume settings. Here are a few things to verify:

• Check the volume in the menu bar – make sure it’s turned up and not muted. Click the volume icon and drag the slider to increase the volume. Also check that the mute box is not checked.

• Open System Preferences > Sound and check if the output volume slider is turned up and not muted. Make sure the correct output device is selected.

• Use keyboard shortcuts to increase volume – Hold down Option and Shift and press the Up arrow key to rapidly increase system volume.

• Check third-party app volumes – Audio from apps like Spotify, iTunes, browser audio, etc. may be controlled separately. Make sure volume is turned up in each app.

• If you’re on a MacBook, verify the volume keys (F10, F11 and F12) are not accidentally muted or turned down.

Simple volume issues are some of the most common reasons for no audio output on a Mac. Run through these basic checks first before trying other solutions.

Reset PRAM/NVRAM

Resetting the PRAM (Parameter RAM) and NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) can often resolve quirky system issues like audio problems on a Mac. Here are the steps:

1. Shut down your Mac completely.

2. Press the power button and immediately press and hold Command + Option + P + R.

3. Keep holding the keys until your Mac reboots and you hear the startup chime a second time.

4. Let go of the keys and let your Mac finish booting up.

Resetting PRAM/NVRAM resets many system settings to default and can fix audio issues caused by configuration problems or corrupted data. It’s one of the first troubleshooting steps I try for any audio problem.

Check Your Cable Connections

Loose or faulty cable connections are a straightforward reason why you may hear no audio on your Mac. Here’s what to check:

• External speakers – Disconnect and reconnect audio cables, both at the Mac and speaker ends. Try different cables if possible.

• Headphones – Check headphone cable connections at both ends. Try different headphones and headphone ports if possible.

• HDMI/DisplayPort – If audio is routed through an external display, check if connections are secure at both ends of the video cable.

Don’t overlook simple cable checks. Jiggling cables to make a better connection can immediately restore lost audio.

Change Your Audio Output Device

If you have multiple ways of getting audio out from your Mac – like the inbuilt speakers, headphones, HDMI or USB-C connections – an incorrect output device selected in System Preferences is a possible cause for no audio.

To change your audio output device:

1. Go to System Preferences > Sound.
2. Click the Output tab.
3. Select the device you want sound to come from in the list.
4. Check the volume sliders again for the newly selected device.

Switching output devices like this will usually get audio working again, provided the device itself does not have any issues.

Restart CoreAudio Service

CoreAudio is the underlying audio service in macOS that handles audio input and output for apps. Restarting the CoreAudio process can help resolve temporary glitches:

1. Open Activity Monitor (in /Applications/Utilities or via Spotlight search).
2. Select CoreAudio in the CPU or Memory tabs.
3. Click the (X) icon above the list to Force Quit it.
4. CoreAudio will automatically restart within a few seconds.

Restarting CoreAudio essentially performs a quick reset for your audio services and may fix problems like no sound output.

Run Apple Diagnostics

For hardware-related audio issues, it helps to run Apple Diagnostics. This checks your Mac’s components like speakers and ports for faults:

1. Restart your Mac and press D while booting to load diagnostics.
2. When prompted, select your language.
3. In the main menu, click the icon for Audio Testing to run checks.
4. Review the test results – any issues detected normally indicate hardware problems.

Apple Diagnostics helps isolate whether no audio on your Mac is a system problem or caused by physical damage/failure. Follow up with Apple support if hardware issues are reported.

Contact Apple Support

If you still have no audio on your Mac after trying the troubleshooting steps, get in touch with Apple support:

• Call Apple or chat online to troubleshoot with a support advisor.

• Visit an Apple store for in-person troubleshooting and repairs.

• Schedule a repair at an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Apple can run deeper diagnostics, test component replacements, or suggest other fixes as needed to restore audio on your Mac.

No sound from your Mac can significantly affect your ability to work and be entertained. With some focused troubleshooting however, you can usually get your audio output functioning again. Follow the tips outlined here to efficiently resolve most common causes of no audio from a Mac’s internal speakers, headphones, or external devices.