Sound is essential to your computer experience, and if it randomly cuts out, it’s not just an annoyance. It can be disruptive. It can be frustrating to figure out what happened if you’re working on a project or presentation and suddenly lose audio. Even worse, losing sound can mean losing the connection entirely if you’re streaming a live event or video call.
This is a common issue that many Mac users experience. This article will discuss the possible causes of this problem and how to fix it. We will also provide some tips to help prevent this issue from occurring in the future.
Why Your Computer Sound Cuts Out Randomly
There are a few reasons your computer sound cuts out randomly. One possibility is that your Mac’s audio settings are configured incorrectly. Another possibility is hardware issues with your Mac’s audio system. Lastly, there is also a problem with the software responsible for playing sound on your Mac.
Some of the more common ones are:
1. Hardware failure – This could be anything from a broken speaker to a faulty sound card. This can also cause your microphone to not work on your computer. Here’s the info on how to fix it.
2. Driver issues – If your drivers aren’t up-to-date or are corrupted, this could cause your sound to cut out.
3. Software issues – If an application is causing your computer to crash, this may also affect your audio.
4. Volume settings – If your computer’s volume is turned down or off, you may not be able to hear any sound coming from it.
5. Physical obstruction – If something is blocking the sound port on your PC, you won’t hear anything coming from it.
What To Do
There are a few steps that you can take to fix the sound issue of your computer.
1. Audio Settings
If your Mac’s sound is cutting out randomly, you should first check your Mac’s audio settings. To do this:
- Open the “System Preferences” window and click on the “Sound” icon.
- In the “Output” tab, ensure that the volume is turned up and that the correct output device is selected.
- If you’re unsure which output device to select, try selecting “Built-in Output” or “Headphones.
2. Audio Drivers
Check to see if your audio drivers are up-to-date. You can do this by visiting the website of your computer’s manufacturer and searching for the driver download page.
Try updating your BIOS or motherboard drivers. To do this, visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and search for the driver download page.
3. Try Headphones
You can try using headphones. If your headset is also not working, then the issue is not hardware related; otherwise, you should run a hardware test.
4. Hardware Test
If adjusting your Mac’s audio settings doesn’t fix the problem, there may be an issue with your Mac’s hardware. The best way to test for hardware issues is to use Apple’s Hardware Test tool. This tool can be found on all Macs manufactured after June 2013.
To use the tool, simply turn on your Mac and hold down the “D” key while it boots up. Keep holding the “D” key until you see the Apple Hardware Test screen. Once the test is finished, it will give you a report of any issues it found. If no issues are found, then the problem is likely not hardware-related.
5. Software Issue
If adjusting your audio settings and running a hardware test doesn’t fix the problem, there may be an issue with the software responsible for playing sound on your Mac. One way to try and fix this issue is to reset your Mac’s NVRAM (non-volatile RAM).
You can do this by turning on your Mac while pressing and holding Command + Option + P + R. You will hear the startup sound twice. After you hear the startup sound a second time, you can release the keys, and your Mac should boot up normally.
If none of these solutions fix the problem, you may need to take your Mac to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider for further diagnosis.
Tips To Prevent This Issue in Future
You can do a few things to help prevent this issue from occurring in the future. One thing you can do is make sure that your computer’s audio settings are configured correctly. Another thing you can do is regularly run Apple’s Hardware Test tool to check for any potential hardware issues. Lastly, you can reset your Mac’s NVRAM regularly to help prevent software-related issues.
Final Thoughts
If your Mac’s sound is cutting out randomly, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the problem. Like checking Mac’s audio settings and ensuring that the volume is turned up all the way and that the correct output device is selected.
Next, check to see if your audio drivers are up-to-date. If they’re not, try updating them. If none of these solutions work, you may need to take your Mac to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider for further diagnosis.