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
- Summarise 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 Sound settings on Mac
On your Mac, use Sound settings to change sound effects, adjust the volume and select a different sound input or output device.
To change these settings, choose Apple menu 
in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
Note: Not all options described here appear for all Mac models.
Sound Effects
Option | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alert sound | Choose a sound to play when you receive an alert. The alert plays when you select it so you can hear how it sounds. | ||||||||||
Play sound effects through | Choose a sound output device to play sound effects. | ||||||||||
Alert volume | Adjust the alert volume. The alert volume is relative to the output volume of your Mac, so if you lower your Mac volume, alert sounds also play more quietly. | ||||||||||
Play sound on startup | Hear the startup chime when you restart your Mac. | ||||||||||
Play user interface sound effects | Play sound effects when you perform certain actions, such as dragging an item to the Trash. | ||||||||||
Play feedback when volume is changed | Play a sound when you change the volume so you can hear the new volume. | ||||||||||
Output options
Option | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
List of sound output devices | Select the device you want to use for sound output. | ||||||||||
Output volume | Adjust the output volume. To stop sound output, select the Mute tick box. | ||||||||||
Balance | Adjust the output volume balance between the left and right channels. | ||||||||||
Input options
Option | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
List of sound input devices | Select the device you want to use for sound input. | ||||||||||
Input volume | Adjust the input volume. If you’re recording sound through your computer’s sound port, you can adjust the input volume to compensate for the sound source being too loud or quiet. | ||||||||||
Input level meter | See a visual representation of the sound input level. | ||||||||||