No sound on macOS
No sound on macOS is usually the wrong output device, a muted volume, or audio routed to the wrong speakers/headphones. Work through these, then play the channel test.
Step-by-step fix
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Open System Settings → Sound and select the correct output device (laptop speakers, headphones, HDMI/monitor, etc.).
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Check the volume isn't muted or at zero — system volume and any app volume.
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Unplug and replug headphones; if using Bluetooth, reconnect the device.
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Run the CheckMyMic speaker test — play the left, right and both-channel tones.
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Still silent? Update the audio driver and restart macOS.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no sound on macOS even though volume is up?
Audio is likely routed to the wrong output. Open System Settings → Sound and switch the output device, then run the speaker test.
Only one speaker works — how do I fix the balance on macOS?
Open the speaker test and play Left then Right. If one side is silent, check the balance/pan setting in System Settings → Sound.
Still silent after all of that on macOS — what now?
Plug in wired headphones and play the CheckMyMic speaker test tones. If the headphones play, the audio path works and the fault is the speakers or their connection. If even headphones are silent, it's macOS's audio stack — reinstall the audio driver and recheck System Settings → Sound. Sound missing in only one app? See our Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord and Chrome sound guides.
My Mac lost all sound after sleep — why?
The Core Audio daemon can hang after sleep. A restart fixes it; the quicker fix is running "sudo killall coreaudiod" in Terminal (it restarts automatically within a second). Also check System Settings → Sound isn't still pointed at an AirPlay device or a monitor that's no longer connected.