Stop the calming rain or ocean sound that keeps playing on your Mac

Why it happens

Background sounds is an Accessibility feature that plays rain, ocean, stream or white noise to help you focus or relax. It's easy to switch on by accident, and it keeps playing on its own, even when no app is open. Unless you tell it to stop when you're away, it carries on until you turn it off.

How to fix it

1. Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings. Click Accessibility in the sidebar, then Audio.

2. Turn off Background sounds if you don't want the sound at all. It stops straight away.

   Accessibility›Audio›Background sounds

3. Like the sound but want it to stop when you step away? Leave Background sounds on and turn on Turn off background sounds when your Mac is not in use.

   Accessibility›Audio›Background sounds›Turn off background sounds when your Mac is not in use

4. On macOS 27 you can also give the sound a timer. Use Set Timer under Background sounds and choose when it should stop, so it never plays all night.

Still not fixed?

1. If the sound isn't from Background sounds, look for a web page or app playing audio. In Safari, a tab that's making sound shows a speaker icon you can click to mute it.

2. Check what's playing by clicking Control Center in the menu bar. The Now Playing area shows any app that's playing sound, with a pause button.

3. Restart your Mac. If a sound keeps coming from the speakers after a restart, with Background sounds off and no apps open, contact Apple Support or a repair shop, as it may be a hardware fault.