To get sound to play through HDMI on your Mac, you need to connect it properly, then select the HDMI device as your audio output in System Settings. This is the direct fix for the common problem where audio keeps coming from the Mac’s internal speakers after you plug in an HDMI cable.
Connect your Mac to HDMI the right way
The physical connection determines whether your Mac can even send audio over HDMI. Macs with a built-in HDMI port connect directly with an HDMI cable. If your Mac has Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB-C ports, you’ll need an adapter such as the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. For older Macs with Thunderbolt 2, Thunderbolt, or Mini DisplayPort, use a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter or cable that supports both audio and video, not all of them do, so check the packaging for audio support.
Plug the HDMI cable firmly into both the Mac and the TV, display, or AV receiver. If you’re using an adapter, make sure it’s fully seated in the Mac’s port and that the HDMI cable clicks into the adapter. A loose connection here is a common reason why sound through HDMI Mac setups fail.
Select the HDMI output in sound settings
Once the cable is connected, your Mac needs to be told to use the HDMI device for audio. This is the most frequent fix for missing sound.
- Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
- Click Sound, then click the Output tab.
- Select your HDMI device from the list of sound output devices. It may appear as “HDMI,” “TV,” or the name of your display or receiver.
After selecting it, play a test video or audio file. If you still hear nothing, check the volume. When outputting audio through HDMI, volume control on the Mac itself may be greyed out or ineffective, so adjust the volume directly on the connected HDMI device using its remote or physical buttons. This is normal, the TV or receiver controls the final output level.
Check your HDMI cable and connections
A faulty cable or a dirty port can block audio even when video works fine. Inspect the HDMI cable for visible damage like frayed wires or bent connectors. Reseat the connections at both ends, unplug, blow out any dust, and plug back in until you feel a firm click. If the problem persists, try a different HDMI cable to rule out a bad one. For Mac mini models, if you are not getting audio, disconnect any audio device from the computer’s headphone jack; the presence of a headphone plug can override HDMI audio output.
Restart your Mac and TV or display
Temporary glitches in either device can interrupt the HDMI audio handshake. Restart both your Mac and the TV or display to clear these errors.
- On your Mac, click the Apple menu and choose Restart.
- Turn off the TV or display and unplug its power cord for about 30 seconds.
- Plug the TV back in, turn it on, and wait for it to fully boot.
- Reconnect the HDMI cable and check the sound output selection again.
This simple reset often resolves intermittent audio dropouts or cases where the Mac doesn’t recognize the HDMI display as an audio destination.
Reset NVRAM on your Mac
If sound still won’t route through HDMI, resetting NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) can clear corrupted audio settings. This is especially useful on Intel-based Macs.
- Shut down your Mac completely.
- Press the power button, then immediately hold Command + Option + P + R.
- Keep holding until you hear the startup sound for the second time, then release.
- Let the Mac restart normally.
After the reset, reconfigure any custom settings like display resolution or startup disk preference, then reconnect the HDMI cable and check if sound now plays. Note that this process resets some system-level preferences, so you may need to reapply your usual settings.
Configure audio with the Audio MIDI Setup utility
For persistent issues, the Audio MIDI Setup utility gives you deeper control over the HDMI audio stream. Open it from Applications > Utilities. Select the HDMI device in the left panel, it may be labeled “HDMI” or the display’s name. Check the format and sample rate; keeping them at default values is usually best for compatibility. If you have multiple HDMI devices listed, try each one. Click Configure Speakers to verify the correct audio channels are selected for your setup, then use the Test button to play a tone through the HDMI connection. If you hear nothing, change the Format to a different option and test again.
Mac computers with a built-in HDMI port support 8-channel/24-bit audio at 192kHz, Dolby Surround 5.1, and traditional stereo. However, some Mac computers with HDMI ports may not support multi-channel audio, so check your specific Mac’s tech specifications if you’re trying to get surround sound. If the utility shows no HDMI device at all, the cable or adapter is likely the problem, return to the connection steps and try a different adapter that explicitly supports audio.
