If the MacBook Air has no sound, crackles or plays from the wrong place, look at the output first: click the Sound icon in Control Center or open System Settings, Sound, Output, and make sure the built-in speakers are chosen rather than a Bluetooth headset, a display or an AirPlay speaker. The Air has four speakers and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a plugged-in headset mutes the speakers. Restart, check the volume and the mute key, and test in another app. If the speakers stay silent in every app and no other output is selected, run Apple Diagnostics and contact Apple.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple MacBook Air (M2, M3 and M4) has no sound or distorted audio”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong output device
What separates it Sound plays from headphones, a display or an AirPlay speaker, or from nothing
How to confirm Choose Built-in Speakers in the Sound settings
- 2
A headset or adapter plugged in
What separates it The speakers are muted when something is in the headphone jack
How to confirm Unplug it and test the speakers
- 3
The mute or volume setting
What separates it The volume is zero or a key is muted
How to confirm Raise the volume and check the mute key
- 4
A software glitch after an update
What separates it Crackle or no sound that began after an update
How to confirm Restart and install the latest macOS update
- 5
A hardware fault
What separates it No sound from the speakers after a restart, in all apps
How to confirm Run Apple Diagnostics and contact Apple
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which output Sound settings show
- Whether headphones or Bluetooth devices are connected
- Whether the problem occurs in every app
- Which Air it is, M2, M3 or M4
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the output
ReversibleOpen System Settings, Sound, Output and choose Built-in Speakers.
Unplug accessories
ReversibleRemove headphones and turn off Bluetooth devices.
Raise the volume
ReversibleCheck the volume and mute keys and the app's own volume.
Restart and update
ReversibleRestart and install macOS updates.
Run Apple Diagnostics
ReversibleShut down, hold the power button until startup options appear and press Command and D.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Speakers
- The Airs have a four-speaker sound system, and the headphone jack is on the left with the ports.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the MacBook Air (M2), MacBook Air 13-inch (M3).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the speakers stay silent in every app after a restart, contact Apple
- !If sound crackles with nothing connected, contact Apple
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
App volume, disconnecting external audio devices, Sound settings and service.
External speakers, USB speakers, display speakers and output selection.
Ports, MagSafe 3, Wi-Fi 6, one external display, four speakers, adapters and weight.
Wi-Fi 6E, one external display plus a second with the lid closed, adapters and weight.
Thunderbolt 4, two external displays, 12MP Center Stage camera, adapters and weight.
Fanless design, one and two external display limits by generation, SSD, memory and the M5 generation.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why are my MacBook Air speakers silent when headphones are not plugged in?+
Sound may be going to a Bluetooth device or a display. Choose Built-in Speakers in Sound settings.
Does the MacBook Air have a headphone jack?+
Yes, a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the left side that supports high-impedance headphones.
Why does the sound crackle on my Air?+
Often a heavy app or a Bluetooth link; try another app, disconnect accessories and restart. Persistent crackle with nothing attached needs Apple.
Does the Air support Dolby Atmos or spatial audio?+
The Air's speakers support spatial audio with supported content; check the specifications for your model.
Why does my Air's sound seem thin or quiet?+
Check that Loudness-style enhancements are not turned off in the app, that the output is the built-in speakers and that the volume is not capped by a headphone safety setting.
Why is there no sound after plugging in an HDMI display?+
Sound may switch to the display. Choose Built-in Speakers or your headphones in Sound settings, Output.
How do I test the Air's speakers?+
Play a track in Music, then use Apple Diagnostics if the built-in speakers stay silent with the right output selected.
audio: model differences
Also covered: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2018 to 2020).