If your Mac sounds too quiet, first turn up the volume in the app or media player. Then check Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output: select the device you want to hear from, raise Output volume, and make sure mute is off. If you are testing the built-in speakers, disconnect headphones and other audio devices. These steps help identify whether the cause is an app, macOS setting, output routing, or external equipment.
1. Check the app or media player
Start with the volume control in the app, video player, or website. Some apps have their own volume slider, and a browser page or tab may be muted. Turn up the media control and check the browser’s mute setting if you are listening on a website.
Then try audio in a second app or on another website. If that plays at a normal level through the built-in speakers, the first app or media source is the likely place to investigate. Apple notes that app volume controls can be equal to or lower than the Mac’s output volume; they cannot raise sound above the system’s output level. Apple’s Mac volume-control guidance explains the relationship.
2. Raise the Mac’s output volume and check mute
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output.
- Select the output device you intend to use, such as Mac speakers or a connected headset.
- Raise Output volume and confirm that mute is off.
You can also use the Mac’s keyboard volume controls or the Sound control in the menu bar or Control Center, if available. The exact Sound settings and controls can vary by Mac model and macOS version. For Apple’s current steps, see Change the sound output settings on Mac.
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3. Confirm sound is going to the right device
A Mac can send audio to built-in speakers, headphones, USB audio devices, compatible displays, or AirPlay devices. If sound is unexpectedly quiet—or you hear nothing from the speakers—check the selected destination in System Settings > Sound > Output.
Testing the built-in speakers
Disconnect headphones, USB audio devices, external speakers, and displays that may carry audio. In the Output list, select the built-in speakers and test audio again. Apple’s troubleshooting guidance says that if any app or website produces sound through the built-in speakers, the speakers are working. See If the internal speakers on your Mac aren’t working.
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Using headphones or another output
If you want sound from a connected device, select it explicitly in the Output list. A device can be connected without being the active output, so do not assume the Mac has switched destinations automatically.
4. Check external speakers and receivers
For separate speakers, check both the Mac’s settings and the speaker hardware:
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- Confirm the cable or wireless connection is active and the speakers are connected to the appropriate Mac or display port.
- Check that the speakers have power, their power switch is on, and their own volume control is turned up.
- Select the speakers in System Settings > Sound > Output.
If audio is sent digitally to a receiver, adjust the receiver directly: the Mac’s volume controls may not control that output. Apple covers external audio connections and output selection in its volume-control guidance and speaker troubleshooting steps.
5. When to contact Apple for built-in speaker trouble
If the built-in speakers still do not work after checking app volume, disconnecting external devices, selecting the built-in speakers, raising Output volume, and turning mute off, Apple advises arranging service. That recommendation addresses speakers that do not work; it is not a guaranteed fix for every case where functioning speakers simply seem quieter than expected. Use Apple’s internal-speaker troubleshooting guidance to review the checks.
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Should you get separate speakers?
Consider external speakers only after checking the app, system volume, and output routing. When comparing options, focus on the connection your setup supports—such as an audio port, USB, or wireless audio—whether the speakers need separate power, whether they have their own volume control, and compatibility with your Mac and other equipment. Apple describes these output-device types but does not endorse a particular speaker model.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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