To get sound from your Mac through HDMI, connect the cable, then go to Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output and select your HDMI TV, monitor or receiver. Plugging in the cable doesn’t always switch the audio for you, so this manual selection is the step most people are missing. On older macOS versions, the app is called System Preferences instead of System Settings.
Step-by-step: send Mac audio to HDMI
- Connect the Mac to the TV, monitor or receiver. A Mac with a built-in HDMI port can use an HDMI cable directly. USB-C and Thunderbolt Macs may need a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter, and older Macs with Mini DisplayPort may need a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter. Apple advises checking the adapter’s specifications for compatibility.
- Set the TV or receiver to the matching HDMI input. This is a practical check, not an Apple instruction, but a correct input is needed to hear anything.
- Open the sound settings. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Sound.
- Click Output and select the HDMI device. Apple’s sound guide says available output devices appear in this list.
- Play something and check volumes. Confirm the Mac’s output volume is up and mute is off. Then check the volume and mute controls inside the app or website, which are separate.
Apple’s wording for this fix: “In the Output pane, make sure your HDMI device is selected” (Apple Support, “Connect to HDMI from your Mac”). Apple’s guide “Change the sound output settings on Mac” adds that sound can play through the internal speakers, a display’s speakers (if it has any), or other equipment plugged in or connected via AirPlay.
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If there’s still no sound
HDMI isn’t listed under Output
If the display itself isn’t detected, check that it’s powered on, that the cable is fully seated, and that the port or adapter is compatible with your Mac. Apple also describes using the Displays settings to have the Mac try to detect the display, and checking which display connections your Mac supports.
If the display is detected but no HDMI audio output appears, no single cause applies to every setup. Recheck your Mac’s technical specifications, the adapter’s specifications and the display’s documentation instead of assuming every HDMI path carries audio the same way.
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HDMI is listed but silent
- Confirm it is the selected device under Sound > Output.
- Check system output volume and mute, then the app or webpage’s own volume and mute controls.
- Confirm the TV, monitor or receiver is on the right input, unmuted and has its audio enabled.
Mac mini
Apple lists a specific step for Mac mini: disconnect any audio device from the headphone jack, then check HDMI audio again.
Choosing a cable or adapter
Compare three things: the connector on your Mac, the connector on your display, and the adapter’s stated support for the resolution and display features you need. Apple lists several connection types and doesn’t name one adapter that suits every Mac, so match the adapter to your Mac’s ports.
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Surround sound caveat
Apple notes that some Macs with HDMI ports don’t support multichannel audio. If you’re connecting to a receiver for surround sound, check your Mac’s technical specifications rather than assuming support.
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