2 Fixes for Mac Not Playing Sound Through Bluetooth Headphones

Quick Tips

• Re-pair your headphones and check their output settings on your Mac. Ensure that you have selected the correct device.
• Check the battery levels and charge your headphones.

Basic Fixes

• Disconnect Bluetooth Headphones from other devices: This can prevent playing sound on your headphones using the Mac.
• Reduce Device Distance: There shouldn’t be too much distance between your headphones and Mac. This will disrupt the connectivity between them.
• Update macOS: Install a new version of macOS to resolve bugs or glitches causing this issue.

Fix 1: Check Sound Output Settings

Step 1: Open System Settings on your Mac and select Sound from the left menu.

Step 2: Click the Output tab, select your connected device name, and check the output volume by moving the slider to the right. Ensure the Mute box isn’t ticked, too; you’ll see this below.

Fix 2: Reset SMC

This only applies to Mac models running on Intel chips. For Macs with M-series chips, a simple restart helps.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power Button till your Mac shuts down.

Step 2: After your Mac shuts down, wait for a few seconds and then press Shift + Left Option + Left Control key. Press and hold the Power Button as well.

Step 3: Keep pressing the four keys for another 7 seconds. If your Mac turns on, it will play the default startup chime again while you hold down those keys.

When you see the Apple logo, the display will turn on normally. After that, check if the headphone jack is working.