Mac Sound Not Working After Update? Complete Fix

You updated macOS. Everything seemed fine, until you noticed there's no sound. Or the sound is crackling. Or the volume is stuck. Or your audio output device is gone. Audio problems after an update range from mildly annoying to completely silent.

Here's a step-by-step guide to getting your Mac audio working again after a macOS update.

Step 1: Check the obvious

Is it muted?

Press the volume-up key and check that the volume indicator appears on screen. An update can leave the system volume at zero or muted.

Is the right output device selected?

Go to System Settings > Sound > Output. After an update, macOS sometimes picks an unexpected output device: a connected monitor's speakers, a Bluetooth device that isn't connected, or the built-in speakers when you want external ones. Select the correct device.

Is a headphone volume limit on?

If your Sound settings show a headphone safety option such as "Reduce Loud Audio", check whether it is on and turn it off if you didn't set it yourself.

Step 2: Restart Core Audio

The audio service (coreaudiod) can get into a bad state after an update. Restarting it is often the quickest fix.

Open Terminal and run:

sudo killall coreaudiod

Audio cuts out briefly and restarts. Test whether sound works now. If it does, the audio service was simply stuck.

Step 3: Reset NVRAM or restart fully

On Intel Macs: shut down completely, then power on while holding Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds. This resets NVRAM, which stores volume settings, the startup disk and other low-level preferences.

On Apple silicon Macs: there is no key combination for this. A full restart (not just sleep and wake) is usually enough.

Step 4: Check third-party audio software

A macOS update can stop third-party audio drivers, virtual audio devices and audio interface software from working until they are updated.

Fix: Open System Settings > Sound > Output. If a virtual device installed by an app is selected, switch to your real speakers or headphones. Then check that app's website for an update for your macOS version, or uninstall it. If you use an audio interface, check the maker's site for updated software.

Step 5: Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode tells you whether a startup item or third-party extension is the cause:

• Apple silicon: Shut down, hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears, select your startup disk, hold Shift and click "Continue in Safe Mode"
• Intel: Restart and hold Shift until you see the login window

If audio works in Safe Mode, a third-party extension or login item is the cause. Look at recently installed software.

Step 6: Try a new user account

If the problem is still there, create a temporary user account (System Settings > Users & Groups > Add User). Log in to it and test audio. If sound works there, the problem is in your own user account, often a damaged preference file.

Once sound is back: fix the levels per app

After an update, sound often works again but individual apps feel wrong: a video call too quiet, music too loud next to it. macOS only gives you one volume for everything.

SoundDial adds a volume slider and a mute button for each running app, in your menu bar. Lower one app without touching the others, or boost a quiet one above 100%, up to 200% (there's no limiter, so raise a boost in small steps). More on how that works: per-app volume control on Mac.

SoundDial, a per-app volume mixer for Mac is €14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, no subscription, and needs macOS 14.2 or later.