If you have recently updated to the new version of macOS, you might be experiencing sound issues. When this happens, you don’t have to worry about anything, as a little tweaking in settings can fix any audio-related problems in no time.
Finding issues after a macOS update attempt is not common, and you rarely face any problem. Although these issues may seem frustrating at first, they are easy to Resolve and won’t take more than your time and a little effort.
No Audio at All
After upgrading to the macOS Big Sur, if you notice that the microphone is not working and there’s no audio coming out of the MacBook, try to adjust the volume bar or play media on external speakers. If the audio is not playing in the external sound device, try to unplug and then replug the speakers. This can be a problem that you face after the initial boot-up attempt.
To fix this issue, navigate to the System Preferences from the Apple menu, and click on the Sound icon. Under the Sound, find the tab named Output. From here, you can select the in-built audio system, Internal Speakers, as your sound output device. Make sure to uncheck the Mute option and adjust the Output volume to an appropriate level.
You might have selected another audio output such as a Bluetooth speaker or a headset prior to upgrading to the macOS. Selecting the Internal Speakers will enable the device to restore audio to in-built speakers. Also, you may need to restart your Mac to enable the changed sound settings to work appropriately.
No Audio in Safari
Users find issues with Safari sound while it works just perfectly with other browsers after macOS Big Sur upgrade. You can blame the macOS upgrade for applying changes to the audio configuration settings. In this case, you will hear no sound while you play a video in Safari, but you can listen to the same video in alternate browsers such as Chrome.
If this is the problem, try to go to the menu bar, select System Preferences, click Sound, and then tap on the Sound Settings. In the Output, select Internal Speakers as the macOS update might have automatically selected another audio output source. Based on the Mac model you are using, you may have to tweak these settings after every restart.
Sometimes, you need to repeat the workaround methods to fix similar audio issues. In most cases, simply restarting the device can help fix sound-related errors. If you configure the Sounds settings, it is recommended to restart the Mac to bring the changes into the expected actions and fix persisting sound problems.
Weird Popping Sounds
If you are hearing random static noises such as cracking and popping sounds, you might be thinking of rolling back to the previous version of macOS installed on your computer. The best fix is to connect external speakers and use them as the audio source. If they don’t work, disconnect them from the Mac and connect them to another device to check if they work.
You need to revisit the settings by going through the System Preferences. Click on the Sound icon and tap on the Sound Effects. You will then see a variety of sound effects along with additional settings. Find the box that says Play Feedback When Volume is Changed and toggle to set it to Off.
In most cases, turning this option off can fix the issue; however, if it’s not, then take note of all the Bluetooth devices connected to the MacBook and disconnect them. To do this, navigate to the System Preferences and select Bluetooth settings. Select the connected devices one by one and then unpair and pair them to check if the audio resumes.
When macOS Big Sur Downgrade Is the Only Way Out
Sometimes, users find it difficult to deal with the Big Sur problems that appear after upgrading. If you are not able to fix the persisting sound issues on Mac, a macOS downgrade may only be the solution. Sometimes, Apple releases update patches to fix common problems, but you may need to wait for a few weeks.
If you are planning to downgrade to the previous macOS version, make sure you have a backup available. It can help you restore data in case it doesn’t go as planned. There’s no time limit to downgrade even if you have recently upgraded to Big Sur.
If you have Time Machine backup, start your Mac in Safe Mode and tap Restore from the available Time Machine backup. It may take some time; avoid clicking anywhere on the screen as it may interrupt the process.