Catalina killed my speakers

[Aviisr]

Hello all!

I have MBA mid 2013.

yesterday I updated to 10.15.4 and suddenly I noticed the speakers don’t work anymore.
Trying to volume up / down shows me icon of a circle and diagonal line on it under the speaker icon.

checking the per fences show me there isn’t anyinternal speakers recognized.

tried restart,smc reset, coreaudio kill and all I could find on the forums.

anyonecan suggest any other way since the Apple stores are closed...

Thanks,
Avi

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

Try refreshing the PRAM. I encountered this exact issue with a MacBook Pro recently and this is the only thing that fixed it.

How to Reset PRAM

 

[Aviisr]

Trying also PRAM RESTART. Didn’t help :/

 

[flowrider]

When I updated I lost my speakers too. My sound went to the internal speaker. When I went into the "Sound" Preference Pane, the Headphone Port was no longer listed. I unplugged the cable from the headphone jack and replugged it. Voila it was again listed. I chose it and my Klipsch have worked since.

Lou

 

[Aviisr]

Hey Lou,

Tried to connect the headphone jack. didn't help. The only thing being shown on my sound preferences is the following picture ("Living room" is the ATV name)

 

[chabig]

It certainly sounds like a software problem. You could download the 10.15.4 combo updater and rerun it.

Download macOS Catalina 10.15.4 Combo Update - Apple Support

macOS Catalina 10.15.4 introduces iCloud Drive folder sharing, Screen Time communications limits, Apple Music time-synced lyrics view, and more. The update also improves the stability, reliability, and security of your Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[Aviisr]

Hey Chabig,

Unfortunately, I tried it this morning. still didn't work.

I seriously hate Catalina

 

[chabig]

Don't hate Catalina. We will figure this out. Do the speakers show up in Audio Midi Setup (Applications > Utilities)?

 

[Aviisr]

Nothing in the midi setup

 

[chabig]

Well we know you Mac has speakers, so it has to be software. You said it's a 2013 machine. If you've been doing in-place updates for years, it's very possible that it's time for a clean install. I know it takes time and isn't something you want to do, but it ought to fix your problem. Do you know how?

Before doing that, you could also run a simple test...do a clean install of Catalina on an empty external drive and then boot from that drive. See if the speakers work.

 

[Aviisr]

Well,

I knew it will come to that. I did a back up. Ill update on what goes...

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

When you tried to reset the PRAM did you see the Mac restart screen once, or twice? Normally a PRAM reset causes one restart, followed by another restart that goes to the login screen.

No output device found on my mac. No sound. Can you fix

No output device found on my mac. No sound. Can you fix this? - Answered by a verified Mac Support Specialist

www.justanswer.com

 

[Aviisr]

When you tried to reset the PRAM did you see the Mac restart screen once, or twice? Normally a PRAM reset causes one restart, followed by another restart that goes to the login screen.

No output device found on my mac. No sound. Can you fix

No output device found on my mac. No sound. Can you fix this? - Answered by a verified Mac Support Specialist

www.justanswer.com

I did it twice as said.

I can connect my AirPods to the Mac and have sound. I just don't have any option to use the internal speakers since the update.

And with my luck, I am no near a place with a broadband internet so I have to wait for Sunday for clean install to rule out software mess that the update did.

 

[Aviisr]

So I came back to update. Unfortunately, in the end, Catalina killed my speakers.

I did a clean install of Snow Leopard and clean install of Catalina. Nothing help. I'm with a great MBA from2013, working like it was bought yesterday but with no speakers since the update.

I can use my airpods or headphones.

I regeret I update.

Peace,
Avi

 

[shafez]

So I came back to update. Unfortunately, in the end, Catalina killed my speakers.

I did a clean install of Snow Leopard and clean install of Catalina. Nothing help. I'm with a great MBA from2013, working like it was bought yesterday but with no speakers since the update.

I can use my airpods or headphones.

I regeret I update.

Peace,
Avi

Do you hear the startup sound when you reset the PRAM?
If yes ,this is got to be software issue, otherwise have your MacBook checked.

 

[Aviisr]

Happy update guys!

After the despair I wanted to take my Mac to repair but the COVID-19 closed everything in Israel. I thought to use a private lab to fix the speakers but then I decided to wait for everything to open back.

Fortunately, today in the 10.15.5 notes I saw that T2 chip Macs have their speakers fixed by this update. A quick update, restart and got my speaker back!!!


I hate Catalina. Never thought an update will kill the speakers.

Cheers and health to all.

Avi

Update notes

 

[lemil]

Hey Guys, Not sure if it's the right place to post this issue because i'm not sure if catalina is the problem. I'm using macbook pro 16inch, going to be 3 months since i purchased.

Today morning while I was on a google duo call, my right speaker started making some crackling noise. First I thought it was a problem with the call, and later post call I played some music and then right speaker starting distorting so badly.

Spoke to apple care, they did all tests remotely. NVRAM/PRAM reset and diagnostics were done. No changes. Attaching a video here. Please help me to move this to a different thread if this is not the right place. I'm new here.

PS: Please reduce your headphone/speaker volume before playing the video below, this might damage your ear/speaker.