No Sound
Fix audio that's not working on your computer, whether it's speakers, headphones, or Bluetooth
No sound is almost always a software problem – the wrong output device is selected, something is muted, or an app is sending audio to the wrong place. Work through these steps before assuming your hardware is broken.
You can verify your speakers are actually working with the speaker test on TheTest.com.
- Click the Sound icon in the menu bar (or open Control Center) and make sure the volume slider isn't all the way down
- Check that the right output device is selected: click the Sound icon in the menu bar and choose the correct output (speakers, headphones, HDMI, etc.) – if you don't see the Sound icon, go to Apple menu > System Settings > Control Center and set Sound to Always Show in Menu Bar
- For more detail, go to Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output and select the correct device from the list
- Make sure the Mute checkbox at the bottom of the Output section is unchecked
- If sound works in some apps but not others, the app may have its own volume control – check the app's audio settings or preferences
- Check if a browser tab is muted: look for a speaker icon on the tab. If it has a line through it, click the icon to unmute, or right-click the tab and choose Unmute Tab
- If you plugged in headphones and they're not detected, try unplugging and re-plugging them. For USB or Bluetooth headphones, check they appear in the Output device list
- For Bluetooth audio issues, go to Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth, remove the device, and re-pair it (see the Bluetooth pairing guide for details)
- If nothing shows up as an output device at all, try restarting your Mac – this resets the audio subsystem
If you're trying to get sound through an HDMI or DisplayPort connection to an external monitor or TV, the display must appear as an output device in System Settings > Sound > Output. Select it explicitly – macOS doesn't always switch automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sound works in some apps but not others. What's going on?▾
Individual apps can have their own volume controls and output device selection. Check the app's audio or preferences settings first. On Windows, also check the Volume mixer (Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer) where each app has its own volume slider. On Linux, use pavucontrol's Playback tab to see per-app routing.
My Bluetooth headphones are connected but no sound comes through them.▾
The headphones are probably connected as a "phone audio" (HFP) profile instead of "media audio" (A2DP). On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound > Output and select the headphones explicitly. On Windows, check the output device near the volume slider in the taskbar. On Linux, check pavucontrol's Configuration tab and switch the Bluetooth device's profile to A2DP Sink or High Fidelity Playback. See the Bluetooth pairing guide for more.
Why did my sound stop working after an update?▾
Updates sometimes install new audio drivers that conflict with your hardware. On Windows, open Device Manager, right-click your audio device under Sound, video and game controllers, go to Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. On Mac, restarting usually resolves post-update audio issues. On Linux, restarting PipeWire (systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse) often fixes it.
My headphones work but my laptop speakers don't.▾
On most laptops, plugging in headphones disables the speakers. If speakers don't come back after unplugging headphones, the headphone jack sensor may be stuck. Try plugging headphones in and out a few times. On Mac, restarting often fixes this. On Windows, check Device Manager for the audio device and try updating or reinstalling the driver. Also blow out the headphone jack gently – lint can trick the sensor.
How do I get sound to come through my monitor's speakers via HDMI?▾
Your monitor or TV needs to appear as a separate output device. On Mac, go to System Settings > Sound > Output and select the display. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Sound and pick the display from the output list. If it doesn't appear, check the cable and try a different port. Not all HDMI cables or ports carry audio – make sure you're using an HDMI cable that supports audio (most do, but some older DVI-to-HDMI adapters don't).