There are times when your Mac may not be producing any audio and you may end up feeling confused or frightened that something serious is wrong. Well, we’re here to tell you that there is no reason to panic. It is not an uncommon problem and more often than not, there are a number of fixes that you can implement to solve the problem. However, before you start trying all the possible fixes, you need to try and figure out what the cause of the problem may be.
Reasons Why Your Sound Isn’t Working
#1. Volume Settings
It may seem like an obvious solution, but there are times when the problem in question is actually the volume settings. For instance, it is possible you forgot to unmute your volume! Alternatively, there is a chance that you connected your Mac to wireless speakers and the sound isn’t working. In which case, that can often be an issue with the connection or even the external device itself. You can disconnect the speaker and test to see if the volume works on your Mac or not. If it does, then the speaker or the connection must have been the problem.
If you have tried reconnecting and the sound issue is still there, then you can always use a usb hub long cable to directly connect your Mac to the speakers instead. This should establish a better connection that should work properly.
#2. App Issues
It is also possible that the problem with your sound is directly related to a recent application that you may have downloaded. It could be that the sound isn’t working for that specific app only or that the app itself is causing an issue with your Mac’s audio output. You can often check to see if this is the problem by trying to open different audio, video or browser apps to play some music or videos. Should a specific app be the issue, you can try deleting the app.
Alternatively, if the app is important enough that you don’t want to get rid of it, then you can always try using the app from another device like an iPad instead. You can even make use of an ipad pro dock to help improve your workspace and make the audio/video watching experience more enjoyable too!
#3. Hardware Issues
Another primary cause of a Mac with no sound is hardware damage. It is possible that your speakers may be damaged in some way due to an accidental fall or drop. It is also possible that there is an excessive amount of dust buildup within your Mac that is causing issues. It is often for this reason that many Mac users are advised to invest in a laptop desk riser. It will allow you to elevate your Mac into a better viewing position and provide better airflow into your Mac which should keep excess dust buildup from forming.
#4. macOS Update
If the first three suggestions are not working, then the next step is to check whether your software has a problem. In some cases, it is possible that you have an outdated macOS that is causing glitches and issues with your Mac that are causing it to stop working properly.
The best ting to do to make sure that isn’t the problem is to update your Mac to the latest macOS. You can easily head to System Preferences > Software Update to perform it.
#5. Check Your Sound Settings
The next step that you can try to fix the problem is to check your sound settings. You can do this by heading to System Preferences > Sound > Output. From there, select Internal Speakers and check the clue slider. If it is set on low, drag it to the right to increase the volume, then try to play some audio to see if the sound works again. You should also check to see if you have any external devices plugged in that could be interfering with the sound. In which cases unplug them and try again.
Audio Still Not Working?
As you can see, there are several things that can often make your sound output not work that would make the sound on your Mac stop working. The fixes that we have suggested above will normally help you find a quick resolution to your problem. However, if your Mac’s audio still doesn’t work, then you might have to consider taking your device to a qualified expert to examine it. In the meantime you can always either make use of some headphones. Or, try directly connecting to a HDMI TV or speaker, if your internal speakers seem to be at fault. In this respect, you can try using a usb hub with long cord, which will help facilitate a reliable connection that should allow you to use an external output source, temporarily.