First check both the YouTube player’s mute and volume controls and the Mac mini’s selected sound output. They are separate controls, and macOS may be sending audio to headphones, a USB device, AirPlay, or an HDMI display instead of the speakers you expect.
If you mean your own broadcast is silent rather than YouTube playback, follow the separate encoder checks below. An audio problem appearing after an update does not by itself show that the update caused it.
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If YouTube videos are silent on your Mac mini
1. Check YouTube and browser volume
- Start a YouTube video and make sure the player is not muted and its volume slider is raised.
- Check that the browser and Mac are not muted or turned down in their respective sound controls.
- Try another YouTube video, then play audio from another website or app. If other apps have sound, focus on YouTube and the browser rather than treating it as a Mac-wide audio failure.
- If the controls look right, restart the browser. If that does not help, restart the Mac.
YouTube’s guidance recommends checking browser or device volume and sound settings, then restarting the browser or device if needed: How to fix no sound on YouTube.
2. Select the intended macOS output
- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output.
- Select where you want to hear sound: Mac mini speakers if available, headphones, speakers connected by USB or the audio port, an AirPlay device, or an external display.
- Raise the output volume and make sure mute is off, then test YouTube again.
macOS sends audio to the selected output, and an app’s volume cannot exceed the system output setting. Apple’s guidance for sound issues is at If the internal speakers on your Mac aren’t making sound; its overview of sound settings is at Change the sound output settings on Mac.
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3. Rule out another device taking the audio
Temporarily disconnect headphones, external speakers, USB audio devices, and external displays, then test again. A connected device can redirect sound away from the output you expected.
If you want sound from a display but the output selection keeps switching, unplug headphones or external speakers before selecting the display in System Settings > Sound > Output. This helps distinguish a routing issue from a problem with YouTube itself.
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If you expect sound through an HDMI-connected display
- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output and select the HDMI-connected display or device.
- Disconnect any device plugged into the Mac mini’s headphone jack while testing HDMI audio.
- Check the display’s own sound settings and confirm it can play audio.
- Play audio from another app to see whether the issue is limited to YouTube.
Apple’s Mac mini-specific guidance covers HDMI audio routing and disconnecting headphone-jack devices during troubleshooting: Use HDMI audio with Mac mini. Check the selected route and connections before considering a cable replacement; Apple does not identify replacing an HDMI cable as a standard fix.
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If your broadcast to YouTube is silent
A silent broadcast is a different problem from silent YouTube playback. First test local playback on the Mac mini. If local audio works but viewers hear silence, investigate the encoder’s input, mixer, and stream path.
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- Check the routed sources. In your encoder, confirm that the intended audio source is included and routed to the live output. A video source can be working while its audio source is absent or assigned elsewhere.
- Check the encoder’s meters or preview. Play the source and look for audio activity in the encoder. If there is no signal there, troubleshoot the source or mixer before changing YouTube settings.
- Make a local recording. Listen to an archive made by the encoder. If it is silent too, the fault is likely in the encoder’s source or output configuration, not the audience’s YouTube player volume.
- Review encoder errors. Check its status and logs for audio-source or output problems. If the encoder output itself is faulty, YouTube’s live-stream guidance recommends trying another encoder.
- Compare the stages. Check local playback, encoder meters or a local archive, and the audience-facing stream. This helps identify where audio disappears.
See YouTube’s Troubleshoot your live stream guidance for checks on encoder sources, stream sound, archives, errors, and trying another encoder.
OBS audio capture depends on your versions
Before changing OBS settings, check the macOS version and OBS Studio version. The available capture method differs by version; older third-party virtual-audio-device instructions are not universally required for current OBS.
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- OBS Studio 30 or later on macOS 13 (Ventura) or later: OBS documents a native macOS Audio Capture Source for capturing desktop audio or audio from one application.
- OBS Studio 28 or 29 on macOS 13 or later: OBS describes capturing audio through a Screen Capture Source. If that source is hidden, its audio is removed.
Follow the branch that matches your installed versions rather than applying a setting intended for another release. OBS’s version-specific guide is macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide (dated April 19, 2022).
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhen to seek service
If the Mac mini’s built-in speakers still do not work after checking the selected output, volume, mute, and connected devices, Apple says service may be needed. That guidance applies to persistent built-in speaker problems; it does not diagnose a YouTube playback or encoder issue. Start with Apple’s Mac sound troubleshooting steps.
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Keep a YouTube video stream running without leaving the Mac on
If this is a 24/7 pre-recorded YouTube stream and the goal is to keep it running without relying on the Mac mini, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, without re-encoding or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, once per account.
- Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB of storage per slot pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, and StreamNeo team support.
Plans differ by duration: daily $0.99 per day; weekly $2.99 per week; monthly $9.99 per month; 6 months $49.99 for 6 months; yearly $89.99 a year. UPI and cards are accepted in India; card checkout is available worldwide. Five or more slots: contact support. See StreamNeo for details.
Or let it run in the cloud
- Upload your video or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud.
Nothing has to stay on at home; the video streams as uploaded up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month.
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