Written by
Amanda WongSummary: The MacBook speakers crackling issue could be caused by software- or hardware-related issues. Read this post to understand the specific reasons and find workable solutions to fix MacBook speakers crackling. If you need to uninstall problematic apps that cause MacBook speakers crackling, try CleanMyApp.
It can be very annoying to hear crackling or distorted sounds from your MacBook speakers when watching movies, listening to music, or making video calls. Dust or software problems can occasionally cause the speakers to make strange noises. In other situations, the problem might be hardware-related.
You can usually fix the MacBook speakers not working issue. We will guide you step-by-step to help you get your speakers working flawlessly once more. Follow these easy steps to restore clear sound on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. Let's begin resolving the MacBook speakers crackling issue!
Why are my MacBook speakers crackling?
Hardware issues, such as dust obstructing the speaker grille or physical damage from drops or moisture that messes up the speaker parts, and software issues, such as macOS bugs, out-of-date audio drivers, or apps that cause audio glitches, are typically the two main causes of crackling sounds in MacBook speakers.
In addition, the source of these bothersome noises may also be high CPU usage that degrades sound quality.
Let others know the possible causes of MacBook speakers crackling.
How to fix MacBook speakers crackling?
It's possible that the most recent macOS update caused the audio service to stop working, that the incorrect audio settings are to blame, or that the app you're using is simply incompatible with the software on your Mac. You can take a few tried-and-true steps right now to get rid of your MacBook Pro speakers' crackling problems.
Try these quick fixes first:
- Restart the Mac. It is worth a try when the Mac encounters minor issues such as MacBook speakers crackling or Mac sound not working.
- Clear the speakers. Clean your speakers gently to get rid of any dust or debris that's making noise.
- Disconnect audio equipment. To ensure that your audio devices are connected correctly, unplug and then re-plug them.
- Update to the latest macOS. Ensure the Mac device is running the latest macOS to avoid system errors.
If the above fixes don't work, then apply the methods below to further troubleshoot the MacBook speakers crackling issue.
Adjust the sample rate
The quality of the audio you hear is affected by the sample rate that your Mac's speakers use. Typically, it is set at 44.1 kHz or CD quality; if it is set higher, it might be burdening your Mac's CPU, which results in the crackling. Here's how to fix it:
- Open Applications from Finder's sidebar, and open Utilities.
- Double-click Audio MIDI Setup to open it.
- Select your MacBook's speakers in the sidebar.
- Ensure the 'Format' is set to 44.1kHz.
Check the Sound settings
When you find the MacBook speakers crackling, you should check the Sound settings on your device, incorrect audio preferences could be the culprit, so follow the steps below to check the Sound settings:
- Head to the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Scroll down the left sidebar and choose Sound.
- Check the selected Alert Sound, it may be mistaken for speaker issues.
- Low down the Alert Sound volume or turn off Play user interface sound effects.
- Reduce your Output volume, and ensure you have selected the correct output audio device.
Reset the audio settings
Some Mac users find that deleting the related plist file to reset the audio setting is working to fix the MacBook speakers crackling issue. You can apply the method on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro when there are audio-related problems.
- Open Finder and click Go > Computer > Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences.
- Open the Audio folder, and find the following two files.
com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist
com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist - Delete these plist files.
- Empty the Trash and restart the Mac.
Kill the coreaudio process
The Core Audio service is primarily responsible for processing and managing all audio on your Mac, including signal processing, audio systems, recording, editing, playback, compression, and decompression. The audio crackling on the MacBook Pro might be resolved by forcing this service to close.
- Launch Terminal via Spotlight or Launchpad.
- Enter the following command and press Enter. sudo killall coreaudiod
- Enter your user password to authorize the command.
Close unnecessary process
Your MacBook Pro's hardware may not operate as efficiently if there are too many processes running at once. As a result, your speakers might not function properly either. Thus, you can check the running processes via Activity Monitor and quit unnecessary processes, especially those resource-intensive ones.
- Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities, and open Activity Monitor there.
- Select the Memory tab, and double-click any process you want to close.
- Click the Quit button on the new window and choose Quit again.
Uninstall problematic apps
Should the problem be limited to particular applications and updating them prove ineffective, attempt uninstalling and reinstalling them. Using a third-party Mac uninstaller is the simplest method for effectively uninstalling multiple apps while ensuring that all related files are deleted.
CleanMyApp is a good choice to thoroughly delete an app and its leftovers, it fully supports macOS Sequoia and works on both Intel-based Mac and Apple Silicon Mac. Besides, it supports batch uninstallation, enabling you to remove multiple unwanted apps at once.
Steps to uninstall apps on Mac with CleanMyApp:
- Download and install CleanMyApp on your MacBook.
- Launch this Mac uninstaller and select the problematic app you want to remove.
- Tap the Uninstall button and choose Continue uninstall.
- Enter your admin password to start the uninstalltion.
- Click Finish when it successfully removes the app and the leftovers.
Which fix works for your case? Share it to help others with the same MacBook speakers crackling issue!
