Mac User Guide
- Welcome
- What’s new in macOS Tahoe
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- Intro to Apple Intelligence
- Translate messages and calls
- Create original images with Image Playground
- Create your own emoji with Genmoji
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Find the right words with Writing Tools
- Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions
- Use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Block access to Apple Intelligence features
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- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos, and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright and trademarks
Change the sound output settings on Mac
You can play sound through your computer’s internal speakers, your display’s speakers (if it has speakers), or through speakers, headphones, or other equipment plugged into your Mac or available wirelessly through AirPlay.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)Click Output, then select the device you want to use in the list of sound output devices.
All sound output devices available to your Mac are listed, including the computer’s internal speakers, devices plugged into your computer’s sound port (
), USB speakers, and AirPlay devices.For any device plugged into the computer’s sound port, choose Headphones.
Do any of the following to adjust your sound output settings:
Adjust the volume: Drag the Output volume slider.
If you have Sound in the menu bar, you can turn the volume up or down from anywhere.
To set a volume for alert sounds, drag the Alert volume slider in Sound Effects. The alert volume is relative to your computer’s volume, so if you lower the computer’s volume, alert sounds also play more quietly.
Stop sound output: Select the Mute checkbox.
Adjust the balance: Drag the Balance slider.
Depending on your Mac and the devices you use, you may be able to set other volume options using the Audio MIDI Setup app.
If you use apps that have volume controls (for example, Music or iMovie), their settings can only be equal to or less than the computer’s output volume. They don’t override what you choose in Sound settings.