The 16 inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip has a six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers and support for Spatial Audio, and it is among the best-sounding laptops, so a Pro with no sound, a thin sound or crackle usually has a configuration problem. Open System Settings, Sound, Output and choose MacBook Pro Speakers; the Pro often sits connected to monitors, docks and Bluetooth speakers, any of which can become the default output. The Pro also has an HDMI port and a headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones, and plugging headphones into the jack mutes the speakers by design, so check that nothing is in the jack.
The checks in more detail
The Pro's volume keys follow the selected device, so a monitor with no speakers leaves the volume keys inert. Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos content changes the character of sound; test with a stereo track with Spatial Audio off. If you use a DAC or an audio interface, it shows as its own device. For crackle, close audio-heavy apps such as DAWs and conferencing tools, restart, and remove virtual audio drivers installed by capture or conferencing software, since they can take over the output and distort it. Check the app's own volume. Keep keyboard covers off the speaker area on either side of the keyboard.
If the Pro's speakers are silent with everything correct, run Apple Diagnostics by holding the power button at start and pressing D or choosing Diagnostics; it reports a reference code that Apple Support can use. Water or a drop can damage the speakers. Update macOS, because audio fixes arrive in point releases. A Pro that plays fine on headphones but not on speakers has a speaker or connection fault, and one that is silent on both has a software or audio chip fault. Pro owners who use external DACs, audio interfaces and studio monitors should check the sample rate in Audio MIDI Setup: a device set to a different rate from the Mac's output can crackle or play at the wrong pitch,
and setting both to 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz, to match your project, cures it. Also check that the audio interface's own driver is current, since the manufacturer updates it for new macOS versions, and a mismatched driver is a common cause of crackle. If you edit audio or video, check that your editing app's output is set to the Pro's speakers or your interface, because the app may have its own device selection that overrides the system setting and leaves system sounds working while the app is silent. Look in the app's audio preferences and choose the output explicitly, then restart the app. This is a frequent reason for sound that works in the browser but not in an editor.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 family) has no sound or distorted audio”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong output device
What separates it No sound from the Pro
How to confirm System Settings, Sound, Output: choose MacBook Pro Speakers
- 2
Headphones in the jack
What separates it The speakers are muted
How to confirm Unplug them
- 3
A monitor or dock as the default
What separates it Volume keys do nothing
How to confirm Choose the speakers or disconnect the dock
- 4
A virtual audio driver
What separates it Crackle or an odd output
How to confirm Remove it
- 5
A hardware fault
What separates it Silence with all settings right
How to confirm Run Apple Diagnostics
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The selected output
- What is connected
- Whether headphones work
- The Apple Diagnostics reference code
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedChoose the right output
ReversibleIn Sound settings.
Unplug headphones and docks
ReversibleAnd test.
Check app volumes
ReversibleInside the app.
Remove virtual audio drivers
ReversibleIf installed.
Run Apple Diagnostics
ReversibleAt start-up.
Update macOS
ReversibleInstall updates.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Six speakers
- The 16 inch Pro has woofers.
- Diagnostics
- Apple's test gives a reference code.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If Apple Diagnostics reports a speaker fault, contact Apple Support
- !If the speakers crackle at all volumes, ask for repair
- !Water damage needs service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is there no sound on my MacBook Pro?+
The output may be another device.
Do headphones mute the speakers?+
Yes.
How many speakers does it have?+
Six.
How do I run Apple Diagnostics?+
Hold the power button at start-up and choose Diagnostics.