Green Room

Mac guide · macOS 14 Sonoma and later

MacBook speakers not working? Fix it in order.

If headphones work but the speakers don't, your Mac is almost always sending sound somewhere else. Start at the top.

Quick check first: play the free sound test. If you hear it in headphones or on another device but not from your MacBook, the problem is where the sound is going (steps 1 and 2).

Fix MacBook speakers, step by step

  1. Choose the built-in speakers.Open Apple menu › System Settings › Sound and click Output. Select your MacBook's speakers (Built-in in the Type column). Drag the Output volume up and make sure Mute is off.
  2. Unplug other audio devices.Sound can go to headphones in the headphone jack, a USB or Thunderbolt audio device, or a display connected by HDMI or USB-C. Disconnect them and try again. Turn off Bluetooth headphones too, since AirPods can take over when they connect.
  3. Check the app's own volume.Most apps that play sound have their own volume. In Safari, click the Audio button in the address field to unmute a page. Video sites like YouTube have their own volume control.
  4. Check the balance.In the same Output pane, make sure the Balance slider is in the middle. All the way to one side silences the other speaker.
  5. Test each side.Use the left/right audio test. If one side plays and the other never does, even with the balance centered, that speaker may have a hardware problem.
  6. Restart your Mac.If no app plays sound and the speakers are selected, a restart clears a stuck audio system. Install any pending macOS updates too.
  7. Get service.If the built-in speakers still don't work after all this, Apple says your Mac might need service.

Sound works in headphones, not the speakers?

Then your Mac's audio works and the speakers are either not selected or not working. Recheck step 1 with the headphones unplugged. If the built-in speakers aren't in the Output list at all, contact Apple.

Test it again

Sound testIs any sound playing at all? Speaker testLeft, right, and a sweep to catch rattles. Left/right audio testJust the channel check, big buttons.

What Green Room does automatically

Green Room is a free menu bar app that keeps track of where your sound is going.

  • A speaker test next to the clock. Click Test to hear a tone on the left, then the right.
  • Warns when sound goes elsewhere. If a display or headphones take over your sound, it tells you which and offers to switch back.
  • Keeps your setup. Turn on Switch back when AirPods take over, and it moves your sound back to your usual speakers on its own.

On a Mac? Green Room tells you when your sound went somewhere else.

Your speakers, a test button, and a warning when another device takes your sound, all one click from the menu bar. Free, with no account.

Download free See how it works