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macbook no sound after the latest macos update

Ask By Harry S.2,270 views

updated my macbook air to the newest macos and now sound is gone. volume keys do nothing, output shows no devices. is my speaker dead?

Brand
Apple
Model
MacBook Air M2
Connection
Built-in Speakers
System
macOS 15
Browser
Safari 18
Sample Rate
48 kHz
Output Channels
2 channels
No Sound And Output DeviceMac
Tool used in this discussionSound TestQuick left, right and stereo check for any speakers or headphones
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Short Answer

After a macOS update, Core Audio can hang. Quit it from Terminal or restart, then reset NVRAM on Intel Macs. If outputs still show nothing, contact Apple Support.

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Camila Silva
Camila SilvaAudio Team
Micro-Speaker Specialist · 10+ years experience · Answered Apr 22, 2026

A software update does not break a speaker, but it can leave the Core Audio process in a bad state so no outputs are listed. A full restart or a Core Audio restart clears this.

If nothing appears even after a restart, the cause may be a hardware flag that Apple can check.

Step By Step Fix
  1. Open Terminal and run sudo killall coreaudiod, then enter your password
  2. If that fails, shut down fully for 30 seconds and start again
  3. On Intel Macs reset NVRAM by holding Option, Command, P and R at start-up
  4. Check System Settings, Sound, Output after restarting
  5. If the outputs list is still empty, book an Apple Support check
Sources
  1. Apple Support

Checked by Rishabh Sharma on . How we verify answers

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Community Replies 2

  • Hannah MurrayCommunity Member

    The coreaudiod command fixed it for me in 10 seconds. Thanks for the tip. Hope that saves you some time.

  • Vivaan BoseCommunity Member

    Be careful with the sudo command, but yes this is the known fix. Restart did nothing for me.

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Camila Silva
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Camila Silva

Micro-Speaker Specialist at Sound Test

Camila Silva is the Micro-Speaker Specialist on the Sound Tester Audio Team. Focuses on phone micro-speaker clarity, ringtone peak distortion, and voice coil temperature tracking. Connects with mobile acoustic developers via Instagram and LinkedIn. Based in Brazil. On Sound Tester she answers phone speaker discussions, such as muffled sound, quiet calls and ringtone distortion on iPhone and Android.

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  • 7 answers on Sound Test
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Each answer is written by the specialist closest to the topic and checked by a second team member. How we verify answers

Answers are free general guidance from the Sound Tester Audio Team and community. They are not medical advice. For hearing loss, ringing or ear pain, see a doctor or audiologist. Opening a device can void its warranty, so check the maker's support first for hardware faults.

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