No sound from a monitor or TV connected by HDMI or DisplayPort

Why it happens

A Mac doesn't always send sound to a screen just because the picture goes there. It keeps playing through its own speakers or headphones until you pick the TV or monitor as the output. Some adapters and cables carry picture only, and many computer monitors have no speakers at all.

How to fix it

1. Turn up the volume on the TV or monitor itself with its remote or buttons, and make sure it isn't muted.

2. On your Mac, open System Settings, click Sound, and look at the Output list. Click your TV or monitor by name to send sound to it.

   Sound›Output

3. Play something and listen. If the volume slider is greyed out now, that's normal for many TVs. Use the TV's own remote to change the volume.

4. Not in the list? Unplug the HDMI or DisplayPort cable from both ends, plug it back in firmly, and check Sound > Output again.

Still not fixed?

1. Try a different cable or port. Older adapters, such as ones for DVI or VGA, carry picture only and never pass sound.

2. Check the screen really has speakers. Many computer monitors don't, so plug headphones or speakers into the monitor's audio jack if it has one.

3. Restart your Mac with the screen still connected. Open the Apple menu and choose Restart, then check the Output list again.

   Apple menu›Restart…

4. If the TV plays sound from other devices but never from your Mac through any cable, contact Apple Support. A port that gives no sound or picture can be a hardware fault for a repair shop.