How to Fix MacBook Pro Speakers Crackling and Buzzing

Getting annoyed with your MacBook Pro speakers crackling and buzzing?

MacBooks are known for their speakers with impressive sound quality. This stays true for the latest MacBook Pros with a six-speaker sound system

However, having more speakers means having more parts that can fail in the long run. 

MacBook Pro

If you are reading this, it’s likely that you’re hearing crackling and buzzing sounds on your MacBook Pro’s speakers. 

Today, we will show you how to resolve this issue on your MacBook Pro. 

Let’s begin!

1. Clean MacBook Pro Speakers. 

As you use your MacBook Pro, its speaker grills can accumulate dust particles that can block sound waves. 

This can cause the speakers to crackle since it can’t push out the sound waves properly. 

macbook pro speakers crackling

Use a microfiber cloth to dust off any particles that accumulated on the speaker grills. You can also use canned air to blow off any debris blocking the tiny holes. 

Note

Do not use any cleaning agent or alcohol on your MacBook’s speakers since they can damage electrical components inside your Mac.


2. Try Using Other Apps. 

When you encounter sound issues on your Mac, there’s a chance that it is isolated to a specific application. 

There might be a problem with the app or the specific audio track you’ve played that caused your speakers to crackle. 

If you’re using Spotify, play a different song or watch some videos on YouTube to see if the same problem would occur. 

Head to the next step if your MacBook speakers still crackle with any audio source. 

Related: How to Fix MacBook Not Charging After Update


3. Restart Your MacBook. 

A temporary error may have occurred on your Mac that caused issues with the speakers. 

To rule this out, restart your device to refresh its system. This should clear unnecessary data from the system memory, which can resolve temporary errors. 

Here’s how you can restart your Mac: 

  1. In the upper left corner of your screen, click on the Apple icon to open Apple Menu
  2. Now, choose Restart from the drop-down menu. 
  3. When the dialog box appears, click Restart to confirm your action. 
macbook pro speakers crackling

Once done, try playing music on your MacBook Pro to check if the problem is solved. 

4. Lower the Volume Level. 

Not all media are created the same way. There are some videos or music that are comparably louder.

The quality of the audio and how it was recorded can also affect the sound of your MacBook Pro’s speakers. 

Although MacBooks have great speakers, their drivers are relatively smaller compared to regular sized speakers. 

macbook pro speakers crackling

Due to this, we recommend lowering the volume of your Mac to around 80% or until it stops making unusual sounds.

Playing audio at high volume levels can distort the speakers and damage them. 

5. Change Sample Rate. 

A higher sample rate can increase sound quality on your device. If you encounter sound problems on your MacBook Pro, try changing the default sample rate. 

Fortunately, the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) built into your Mac supports sample rates of up to 96kHz. 

Here’s how you can change the sample rate on your Mac: 

  1. Press Command + Space on your keyboard to open Spotlight Search
  2. Look for Audio MIDI Setup and open it. 
macbook pro speakers crackling
  1. Now, click on MacBook Pro Speakers in the side menu. 
  2. Go to Output
  3. Click on the drop-down menu next to Format
  4. Choose 96,000 Hz and close Audio MIDI Setup
macbook pro speakers crackling

Try playing music through your MacBook Pro’s speakers again to check if you’ll hear crackling or buzzing sounds. 

6. Update macOS. 

Faulty versions of macOS can also cause your MacBook Pro’s speakers to buzz or crackle. Check if there’s a newer version of macOS available for your Mac and install it. 

This should patch any bugs or errors with your system that causes sound issues. 

  1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
  2. After that, click on System Preferences
Apple Menu
  1. Open the Software Update tab. 
System Preferences
  1. Click on Update Now or Upgrade Now if there’s an available update. 
Software Update

Note

  • Your Mac can restart several times while installing the update.
  • The update progress bar might also appear to be stuck. When this happens, don’t do anything. Software updates can take several minutes to complete.

Watch a video or play music to see if you’ll still encounter problems with your MacBook Pro’s speakers. 

7. Reset SMC. 

The System Management Controller (SMC) is a chip on your Mac that controls power and other hardware functions. 

Resetting your Mac’s SMC can resolve hardware-related problems, which include speakers and audio controllers. 

If you’re using a Mac with an M1 chip, here’s what you need to do: 

  1. Make sure that your Mac is plugged into power. 
  2. Now, click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
  3. Choose Shut Down and follow the prompts. 
macbook pro speakers crackling
  1. After a few minutes, press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

For Macs with a T2 chip, follow the steps below to reset the SMC: 

  1. Make sure that your Mac is turned off. 
  2. On your built-in keyboard, press the Control (left) + Option (left) + Shift (right) keys for seven seconds. 
  3. Now, press and hold the Power button while continuously holding the other keys. 
  4. Keep holding all four keys for another seven seconds and release them. 
  5. After a few more seconds, press the Power button to turn on your Mac. 

Check if you’ll still hear crackling or buzzing sounds from your MacBook Pro. 

Related: How to Fix Crackling Sounds on Macbook Pro


8. Visit the Apple Store. 

If none of the solutions above worked, you might be dealing with a hardware problem. The speakers could be damaged or there are issues with other components. 

Visit the nearest Apple Store in your area and have your MacBook Pro’s speakers checked.

macbook pro speakers crackling

Before bringing your MacBook Pro, you can check online if it’s still covered by warranty so you know your options. 

If you have just bought your Mac, you have up to 14 days to ask for a refund or replacement unit. 

That ends our guide on how to fix your MacBook Pro speakers if it’s crackling and buzzing. If you have other concerns, leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to respond. 

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Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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