How to Fix Audio Errors on a Mac

If your Mac has audio problems, or when you’ve selected a playback device that doesn’t have sound, apply a few quick fixes before taking it to Apple’s technical support (also known as Apple’s technical support). Genius Bar). Sometimes we just need to plug in and unplug the headset, the sound can also work again. Or, simply resetting the PRAM (memory on Mac computers) can fix quite a few audio-related problems. Even when the latest version of OS X is updated, sound problems caused by system errors can be resolved.

Table of Contents

Basic processing steps

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/26/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/26/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-1-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Restart the computer. Sometimes, we just need to restart the machine and the sound problem will be fixed. When your computer encounters any problem, this is the first thing you should do.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/38/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/38/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-2-Version-2. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Plug in the headset then pull it out. If audio control is disabled, or you see a red light in the headphone jack, plug the end of the headphone cable in and out a few times. This will solve the problem and restore the sound. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Note: This is a sign of hardware failure so you need to do this several times until it’s ok. Then, bring the computer to Apple service for a thorough repair.
Some users have reported that using Apple headphones makes the process more efficient.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/75/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-3-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/75/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-3-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Update all software (if applicable). Maybe some system or hardware update will fix this problem. Click the Apple menu and select “Software Update” to start searching for and installing all the latest updates.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3a/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-4-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3a/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-4-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open Activity Monitor and stop the “coreaudiod” process. The audio driver on the Mac will be restarted: ^{[2] X Research Source}

Open Activity Monitor from within the Utilities folder.
Find the “coreaudiod” process in the list. Click the “Process Name” heading to sort the list alphabetically.
Click the “Quit Process” button. After confirming, coreaudiod will automatically shut down and restart.

Check the devices

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b9/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b9/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-5-Version-3. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Make sure no headphones are connected to the computer. If the computer is plugged in with headphones, the speakers will not make any sound. Sometimes plugging and unplugging the headphone jack turns the speaker back on.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/35/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-6-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-6-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/35/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-6-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-6-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences. If your Mac is connected to multiple audio devices, the inputs may not be converted properly.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9e/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-7-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9e/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-7-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the “Sounds” section and select the “Output” tab. A list of devices that can play audio will appear.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/bd/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-8-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bd/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-8-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Select the appropriate output device. Select the device you want to use to play the sound.

If you want to output sound to your Mac’s external speakers, select “Internal Speakers” or “Digital Out”
If you want to play sound from the connected TV, select the “HDMI” item.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/90/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-9-Version-3.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-9-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/90/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-9-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-9-Version-3. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Check the loudness of the speakerphone. Many external speakers have their own controls. If the speaker is muted or turned low, you will not be able to hear the sound even if the correct device is selected.

Reset PRAM

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f2/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f2/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-10-Version-3. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Turn off your Mac computer. Reset parameter RAM (PRAM) can fix many problems related to volume control and audio output. This will reset some settings, but will not erase data.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/36/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-11-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/36/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-11-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open up your Mac and press ⌘ Command + ⌥ Option + P + R now. Keep holding this key combination until your Mac restarts.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a1/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-12-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a1/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-12-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Release the key when you hear the startup sound again. The computer will continue to boot as normal, but it will take a little longer.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/35/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-13-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/35/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-13-Version-3. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Check the sound settings, and so on. Check if you can hear the sound and adjust the volume. During this process, the clock may be reset, so you need to adjust it properly.

Update to the latest OS X operating system

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d9/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-14-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-14-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d9/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-14-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-14-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Check that you are using the latest operating system. OS X Mavericks (10.9) suffers from a variety of audio issues, most of which have been fixed in Yosemite (10.10). Later, the El Capitan version (10.11) significantly improved these issues.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c2/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-15-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-15-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c2/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-15-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-15-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open your Mac’s App Store. Mac updates are always free and available on the Mac App Store.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4e/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-16-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-16-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/4e/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-16-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-16-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the “Updates” tab. System updates (if any) will appear.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b4/Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-17-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-17-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b4/ Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-17-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-the-Sound-on-a-Mac-Computer-Step-17-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Get the latest version of OS X. Download the version of El Capitan (if available) located in the Updates section. Wait for a while for the download to complete.

Advice

Audio hardware malfunction is a very common problem with many different MacBook lines. The safest way is to bring the machine to Apple MacBook service. Usually the motherboard is damaged. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Steps

Basic processing steps

Check the devices

Reset PRAM

Update to the latest OS X operating system

Advice

Related Posts