If the speakers on a MacBook Pro 14-inch or 16-inch are silent, distorted or coming from the wrong place, Apple's speaker article gives the order: check the app's volume, disconnect anything that could receive the sound (headphones on the 3.5 mm jack, USB or Thunderbolt audio, or a monitor on the HDMI or USB-C ports), then open System Settings, Sound, Output, choose the built-in speakers and confirm Mute is off. A Pro has an HDMI port and three Thunderbolt ports, so a television or dock left connected is the commonest reason audio vanishes: macOS quietly moves the output to it. Apple says the internal speakers might need service if they stay silent with everything unplugged.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch has no sound or distorted audio”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The output moved to a television or dock
What separates it Sound plays on the monitor or is silent with a display connected
How to confirm Apple says external displays on the USB or HDMI ports can receive audio; disconnect them or choose the built-in speakers in Sound, Output
- 2
Mute or a zero output volume
What separates it The slider is at the far left or the Mute box is ticked
How to confirm Apple lists the Output volume slider and the Mute checkbox in Sound settings
- 3
An app or website with its own volume
What separates it One app is silent while every other app plays sound normally through the same speakers
How to confirm Apple says most apps and sites such as YouTube have their own volume control
- 4
Bluetooth headphones taking over
What separates it Audio goes to AirPods left in a bag because Bluetooth headphones are taking over
How to confirm Choose the built-in speakers, or turn Bluetooth off to test
- 5
A speaker fault
What separates it Crackling or silence in every app with everything unplugged
How to confirm Apple says the internal speakers might need service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which MacBook Pro you have (14 or 16 inch, M3 or M4) and the macOS version
- What is connected to the HDMI port, the three Thunderbolt ports and the headphone jack
- What Sound, Output shows and whether the built-in speakers are listed
- Whether the sound is missing in every app or only one
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTest two apps
ReversiblePlay a video in Safari and a track in Music. Apple says apps and sites have separate volume controls.
Unplug the ports
ReversibleRemove the HDMI cable, headphones, docks and any monitor on the Thunderbolt ports. Apple lists each as a place audio can go.
Open Sound, Output
ReversibleOpen Sound, Output, in System Settings, and select the built in speakers, raise the slider and clear Mute.
Turn Bluetooth off
ReversibleSwitch it off in Control Center; if the speakers return, an accessory was taking the output.
Restart
ReversibleRestart with nothing attached to the Mac, then test again and add accessories back one at a time.
Update macOS
ReversibleUpdate macOS, in System Settings, General, Software Update, and then test the audio again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Book service
ReversibleIf the built-in speakers stay silent with everything unplugged, Apple says the Mac might need service.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Audio by model
- 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, M3 and M4: six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Spatial Audio, and multichannel audio over HDMI on the M4. Per Apple's tech specs.
- Ports that can take the output
- HDMI plus three Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports, Thunderbolt 4 on M3 and M4 and Thunderbolt 5 on the M4 Pro and Max. A monitor on any of them can become the output.
- Part numbers
- No part number is involved. Apple identifies the Mac by model and serial number under About This Mac, and quotes speaker repairs after diagnosis.
- Tools and supplies
- A known-good charger and cable, a flashlight to look into the ports and the SD slot, and a dry towel for the desk. The Mac should not be opened at home.
- Repair cost
- Apple quotes speaker repairs after diagnosis. iFixit's table lists Apple's US estimate for a MacBook Pro battery replacement at $249, and that is the only fee it gives for these Macs.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 family), MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3 family).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If no built-in output appears in Sound, Output after a restart with everything unplugged, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider
- !If the speakers crackle at every volume in every app, book a service check
- !If the Pro was wet or dropped before the fault began, stop using it and have it inspected
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.
72.4-watt-hour battery, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 24 hours video, Center Stage camera and display support.
100-watt-hour battery, 140W adapter, Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC and ProMotion.
Apple silicon MacBook Pro history: 14-inch and 16-inch generations, ports, displays and fans.
Exact questions
Common questions
What speakers does the MacBook Pro have?+
Apple lists a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers on the 14-inch and 16-inch M3 and M4 models, with Spatial Audio for supported content.
Does the HDMI port carry sound?+
Yes. Apple's M4 specs say the HDMI port supports multichannel audio output, which is why a connected television can take the sound.
Is there a headphone jack?+
Yes. Apple lists a 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones on these Pros.
Why does sound go to a monitor I forgot about?+
Apple says audio can be sent to external displays connected to the USB or HDMI ports. Choose the built-in speakers in Sound, Output.
Do the M3 and M4 Pros have different audio?+
Apple lists the same six-speaker system, so a difference would be a fault rather than a design change.
Could a recording tool cause silence?+
An audio interface or virtual device can be selected as the output. Check Sound, Output for anything other than the built-in speakers.