Free1. Check the volume and mute
- Press the volume up key, or use the sound slider in Control Centre in the menu bar.
- Check speakers are switched on, and headphones have no volume control turned down.
2. Choose the right output
- Open the Apple menu › System Settings › Sound.
- Select the Output tab and choose your speakers or headphones.
- AirPods, external displays and TVs each add their own output, and the Mac can switch to them automatically when they connect.
3. Check the app and browser tab
- Check the app's own volume control, and that it isn't muted.
- In a browser, a speaker icon on the tab shows it's playing; click it to unmute if it's crossed out.
4. Fix AirPods and Bluetooth headphones
- AirPods can automatically switch to your iPhone or iPad. Select them again from the Sound menu in the menu bar.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on in Control Centre, or remove the device under System Settings › Bluetooth and pair it again.
5. Check wired headphones and speakers
Unplug and firmly re-plug the cable. If you use a USB-C adapter, try another one; cheap adapters often fail. When nothing is plugged in, the output list should show MacBook Speakers (or your Mac's built-in speakers).
6. Restart your Mac
A restart resets the Mac's sound system, which fixes most cases of sound disappearing after sleep or after an update.
Still not working?
If even the built-in speakers stay silent after a restart, with nothing connected, contact Apple Support. For external speakers or headphones, try them on another device to rule out a fault.
Frequently asked questions
My external display has speakers, but there's no sound.
Choose the display in the Output list in step 2, and check its own volume or mute in the display's menu.
Sound is crackly or cuts out.
Close heavy apps, disconnect other Bluetooth devices, and restart the Mac. If it continues on one pair of headphones only, try another pair.