{"id":1736164,"date":"2017-10-27T18:27:04","date_gmt":"2017-10-27T18:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&#038;p=1736164"},"modified":"2025-04-05T14:59:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T18:59:59","slug":"resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"Resolving Audio Interface Issues on Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Audio interfaces are the heart of every digital studio. In this article, we\u2019ll show you how to resolve audio interface issues on your Mac. Windows PC users can read more in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-windows-10\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Resolving Audio Interface Issues on Windows 10<\/a>. Whether you have no sound, the USB ports are not working, or your output device isn\u2019t showing up, following this guide will get you back in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><a href=\"#Mac-audio-device-connectivity\"><strong>Mac audio device connectivity<\/strong><\/a> <ul><li><strong><a href=\"#Compatibility-and-drivers\">Compatibility and drivers<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><a href=\"#If-you-are-setting-up-your-audio-interface-for-the-first-t\"><strong>If you are setting up your audio interface for the first time<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Enabling-Kernel-Extensions\"><strong>Enabling Kernel Extensions<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Hard-disk-sleep-settings\">Hard disk sleep settings<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><a href=\"#USB-hubs\"><strong>USB hubs<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Power-on-sequence\"><strong>Power on sequence<\/strong><\/a> <\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#macOS-Sound-Preferences\"><strong>macOS Sound Preferences<\/strong><\/a> <ul><li><strong><a href=\"#Select-the-default-macOS-audio-device\">Select the default macOS audio device<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><a href=\"#DAW-sound-preferences\"><strong>DAW sound preferences<\/strong><\/a> <\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Audio-device-not-detected\"><strong>Audio device not detected<\/strong><\/a> <ul><li><a href=\"#System-Information\"><strong>System Information<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Audio-MIDI-Setup\"><strong>Audio MIDI Setup<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Reinstall-audio-device-driver\">Reinstall audio device driver&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><a href=\"#NVRAM-reset\"><strong>NVRAM reset<\/strong><\/a> <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Mac-audio-device-connectivity\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Mac audio device connectivity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To make sure an audio device is connecting correctly, check the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac\/#Compatibility-and-drivers\">compatibility and drivers<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac\/#hard-disk-sleep-settings\">sleep settings<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac\/#USB-hubs\">and connections<\/a>, and then&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac\/#Power-on-sequence\">restart your Mac<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Compatibility-and-drivers\">Compatibility and drivers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing to do is to check that your audio interface is compatible with your computer. Compare your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/how-do-i-find-my-computers-specs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">computer\u2019s specifications<\/a>&nbsp;with the system requirements on the manufacturer\u2019s product page. If your interface isn\u2019t compatible, you may need to upgrade or downgrade your operating system or use an interface that is compatible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sweetwater provides <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?s=macos+compatibility+guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">macOS Compatibility Guides<\/a> for recent versions of macOS with entries for 175 manufacturers and software developers. Find information on your brand\u2019s compatibility with your version of macOS, whether their software is Apple silicon native, and links to the manufacturer\u2019s support pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"If-you-are-setting-up-your-audio-interface-for-the-first-t\">If you are setting up your audio interface for the first time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For devices like audio interfaces, following the installation and configuration instructions from your manufacturer is essential. Sweetwater provides Quickstart guides for many products as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some audio interfaces are <strong>class-compliant <\/strong>on Mac, meaning that they can connect to your Mac and transmit digital audio through macOS without custom software. Many audio interfaces, however, require that you download, install, and configure a specific <strong>device driver<\/strong> from the manufacturer. Some manufacturers also provide a <strong>control app<\/strong>, which you must download from their website and install before you can use your audio interface. A control app may not only provide the device driver; it may also be where you go to set up the routing of signals through your audio interface, and where you can upgrade the interface&#8217;s firmware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find your interface\u2019s available downloads on the manufacturer\u2019s product page or our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/where-can-i-download-the-driver-for-my-interface\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">driver index<\/a>. It\u2019s a good idea to check frequently and see if there are newer versions of the software and firmware that you can install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Enabling-Kernel-Extensions\">Enabling Kernel Extensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Specific audio interfaces and their device drivers, chiefly those that use the Thunderbolt protocol, but also some USB 3 devices, require additional installation and configuration steps. They require a special kind of low-level device driver called a <strong>kernel extension<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>macOS will initially deny access to a kernel extension for security reasons. To fix this, follow the manufacturer&#8217;s instructions and the on-screen prompts in the installer app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On an Intel-based Mac, these kinds of devices can be configured by changing a security setting in <strong>System Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a Mac with Apple silicon, however, you have to shut down your Mac, boot into <strong>macOS Recovery mode<\/strong>, and change security settings there. Then, you reboot into macOS and make the additional changes in System Settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This may sound a bit confusing, but it&#8217;s a straightforward process, and you only have to do it once to get your audio interface set up correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more in this SweetCare article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/kernel-extensions-on-mac-with-apple-silicon\/#What-Is-Enabling-Kernel-Extensions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Background: What is Enabling Kernel Extensions, and Why Is It Necessary?<\/a> Follow this article for specific instructions and links to relevant manufacturer\u2019s support pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/kernel-extensions-on-mac-with-apple-silicon\/#What-Is-Enabling-Kernel-Extensions\" class=\"relatedcontent_link\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-related-content\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_block\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2024\/01\/20231228_Enabling_kernel_extension_on_Mac_with_Apple-silicon_1600x838_01.jpg);background-size:cover;background-position:center\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_overlay_content\"><\/div><div class=\"relatedcontent-text relatedcontent_content\"><p class=\"relatedcontent_title\" style=\"color:#fff\">What is Enabling Kernel Extensions, and Why Is It Necessary?<\/p><p class=\"relatedcontent_subhead\" style=\"color:#fff;border:none\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Update-Mac-drivers\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Update Mac drivers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Visit our driver index page and click on your device\u2019s manufacturer.<\/li><li>Find and download the device\u2019s driver software.<\/li><li>Run the driver installer and restart your computer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"zip-file-downloads\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">.zip file downloads<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>On Mac, you can open .zip files by double-clicking and the decompressed contents will be created in the same directory. Learn more about .zip files on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/how-to-zip-and-unzip-files\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">How to Zip and Unzip Files page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/where-can-i-download-the-driver-for-my-interface\/\" class=\"relatedcontent_link\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-related-content\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_block\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2014\/04\/Audio-MIDI-Interface-Hero-2.png);background-size:cover;background-position:center\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_overlay_content\"><\/div><div class=\"relatedcontent-text relatedcontent_content\"><p class=\"relatedcontent_title\" style=\"color:#fff\">Where Can I Download the Drivers for My Audio or MIDI Interface?<\/p><p class=\"relatedcontent_subhead\" style=\"color:#fff;border:none\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Hard-disk-sleep-settings\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">Hard disk sleep settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To save power, Macs will sleep their hard drive(s) when not in use. When this happens, the operating system unmounts <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/audio-driver\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a> and <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/midi-driver\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MIDI drivers<\/a>. It\u2019s sort of like the OS kicks everyone out before it puts the drive(s) to bed. Unfortunately, when it wakes up, the drivers are gone, and you have to restart your Mac to reconnect them. That\u2019s why we recommend disabling the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>For versions of macOS before macOS 13 Ventura<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>On a Mac laptop computer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li><strong>Go to System Preferences &gt; Battery &gt; Battery<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Uncheck<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Put hard disks to sleep when possible<\/em>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>On a Mac desktop computer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Go to&nbsp;<strong>System Preferences &gt; Energy Saver<\/strong>.<\/li><li><strong>Uncheck<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Put hard disks to sleep when possible<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>check<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off<\/em>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4>For macOS 13 Ventura and later versions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Sonoma-battery-never-sleep-disk.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Sonoma-battery-never-sleep-disk.png\" alt=\"Sonoma battery never sleep disk\" class=\"wp-image-1780106\" width=\"536\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Sonoma-battery-never-sleep-disk.png 715w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Sonoma-battery-never-sleep-disk-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Preventing hard disks from going to sleep on a MacBook in macOS Sonoma<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a Mac laptop computer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>Go to <strong>System Settings &gt; Battery <\/strong>and click the <strong>Options<\/strong> button.<\/li><li>Set <em>Put hard disks to sleep when possible<\/em> to <strong>Never<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Mac-mini-Sonoma-Energy-Saver.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Mac-mini-Sonoma-Energy-Saver.png\" alt=\"Mac mini Sonoma energy saver\" class=\"wp-image-1780107\" width=\"538\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Mac-mini-Sonoma-Energy-Saver.png 717w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/Mac-mini-Sonoma-Energy-Saver-300x282.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Preventing hard disks from sleeping on a Mac mini desktop computer in macOS Sonoma<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a Mac desktop computer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>Go to <strong>System Settings &gt; Energy Saver<\/strong>.<\/li><li><strong>Uncheck<\/strong> <em>Put hard disks to sleep when possible<\/em> and <strong>check<\/strong> <em>Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off<\/em>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more in Apple\u2019s support articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/guide\/mac-help\/change-energy-saver-settings-mchlp1168\/14.0\/mac\/14.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Change Energy Saver settings on a Mac desktop computer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/guide\/mac-help\/change-battery-settings-mchlfc3b7879\/14.0\/mac\/14.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Change Battery settings on a Mac laptop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"USB-hubs\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">USB hubs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Computer audio production often involves connecting a few external devices to your computer. Audio interfaces prefer to be connected directly to your computer. Although <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/usb-hub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">hubs<\/a> are a convenient way to connect multiple devices to the same USB port, they may prevent your interface from properly communicating with your computer \u2013this is especially true with passive hubs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While larger audio interfaces have dedicated power supplies, smaller interfaces are often <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/bus-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">bus-powered<\/a> and receive power when your computer is turned on. If your external devices draw more power than your hub can provide, you may experience loss of performance and connection with your interface. Make sure to connect your audio interface directly to your computer, especially when troubleshooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Connect-to-a-powered-USB-hub\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Connect to a powered USB hub<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>While we do not recommend connecting audio interfaces to USB hubs, some interfaces may work perfectly fine in that environment. For best results, use a hub with its own power supply adapter (not powered from your computer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Power-on-sequence\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">Power on sequence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Powering up your system in the correct order is essential for reliable communication between your devices. Basically, turn your computer on last and off first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this example, we\u2019re going to restart your entire system. This includes your audio interface, hard drives, MIDI controllers, etc.. Bookmark this page in your web browser so you can access it after the restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Power-on-your-devices-in-this-order\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Power on your devices in this order<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Power everything off. Then, power on in the following order:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Connect and power on your <strong>audio interface<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Power on your <strong>computer<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Power on your <strong>speaker monitors<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Check that your audio interface is detected and available within your sound preferences by following the steps in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"macOS-Sound-Settings\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignCenter noUnderline customh2 swheader\">macOS Sound Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve successfully restarted your system, your audio interface should be available in System Settings and your DAW. If you are getting sound from your computer speakers instead of your audio interface, then you probably need to configure your <a href=\"#Update-default-macOS-audio-device\">macOS<\/a> and <a href=\"#DAW-sound-preferences\">DAW<\/a> sound settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Select-the-default-macOS-audio-device\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">Select the default macOS audio device<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apps like Safari, iTunes, and Spotify will playback through the device is selected in <strong>System Settings &gt; Sound<\/strong>. Test it with one of our <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/SweetwaterSound\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sweet videos<\/a>. If you don\u2019t hear anything, try relaunching your web browser. If your interface does not appear, scroll down to continue troubleshooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Select-the-output-and-input-for-your-Mac\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Select the output and input for your Mac<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Settings-UA-Apollo2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Settings-UA-Apollo2.jpg\" alt=\"macOS System Settings UA Apollo2\" class=\"wp-image-1782255\" width=\"537\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Settings-UA-Apollo2.jpg 716w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Settings-UA-Apollo2-300x266.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Selecting an audio device in macOS System Settings &gt; Sound<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>From the Menu Bar, click the Apple icon and select <strong>System Settings<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Click <strong>Sound<\/strong>.<\/li><li>For both Output and Input tabs, select your audio interface.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Relaunch-all-apps-or-restart\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Relaunch all apps or restart<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Select the audio playback device before launching any apps. Otherwise, you may need to relaunch the app or restart your Mac with the proper <a href=\"#Power-on-sequence\">power on sequence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"DAW-sound-preferences\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">DAW sound preferences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Other applications like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/daw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">DAWs<\/a>, stand-alone instrument applications and even Skype have their audio settings. You will usually find them in a Preferences, Options or Settings menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If correctly connected, Audio devices are automatically detected and selected by your DAW when launched. If your DAW plays back through your computer speakers or you hear nothing at all, reselect your audio device within these settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Select-DAW-audio-playback-device\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Select DAW audio playback device<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Launch your DAW.<\/li><li>Open DAW preferences.<\/li><li>Locate and select your audio interface.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"Configure-the-DAW-I-O-routing\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">Configure the DAW I\/O routing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though you\u2019ve selected your audio interface in your DAW, you may also need to check that the inputs and outputs are configured correctly to send audio to your speakers &amp; headphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img class=\"wp-image-1736185\" alt=\"Animation: an example showing Garage Band audio playback configuration\" data-gifffer=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-Daw-Preferences.gif\">\n<figcaption>Selecting Garage Band\u2019s audio playback device.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Audio-device-not-detected\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Audio device not detected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your device is not detected within System Preferences, then we need to dig a little deeper. First, check if your device is detected in <a href=\"#System-Information\">System Information<\/a> and then <a href=\"#Audio-MIDI-Setup\">Audio MIDI Setup<\/a> using the steps below. If your device does not appear System Information, you have a hardware problem. Try unplugging\/re-plugging, different ports on the computer, and different cables to get it to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your device shows up in System Information, check that it also appears in Audio\/MIDI Setup. If not, you probably need to <a href=\"#Reinstall-audio-device-driver\">install the latest driver<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are on an Intel-based Mac, if that still doesn\u2019t resolve your issue, <a href=\"#NVRAM-reset\">perform an NVRAM Reset<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"System-Information\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">System Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The System Information app is a handy tool for generating a report on hardware connections, software specs, and other information. In audio production, we like to use this menu for checking that our devices are connected and communicating with the rest of the system. If your device does not appear in this list, consider reseating the cable connecting it to your computer, or trying a different port. If your device is detected but not communicating, you will need to reinstall the latest driver. Read more about <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT203001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">System Information in Apple\u2019s support article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"View-your-Mac-s-System-Information\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh4 swheader\">View your Mac\u2019s System Information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Information-for-audio-interface.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Information-for-audio-interface.jpg\" alt=\"macOS System Information for audio interface\" class=\"wp-image-1782263\" width=\"620\" height=\"471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Information-for-audio-interface.jpg 827w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Information-for-audio-interface-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/macOS-System-Information-for-audio-interface-768x583.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>macOS System Information detailing a connected audio interface on a Thunderbolt port<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Click the Apple icon, hold the <strong>option<\/strong> key and then click <strong>System Information.<\/strong><\/li><li>Under <strong>Hardware<\/strong>, select the type of port that your audio interface is connected to, e.g. USB or Thunderbolt.<\/li><li>In the pane on the right, you will see information about your device if the system can recognize it.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Audio-MIDI-Setup\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">Audio MIDI Setup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/UA-Thunderbolt-in-Audio-MIDI-Setup.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"803\" height=\"507\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/UA-Thunderbolt-in-Audio-MIDI-Setup.jpg\" alt=\"UA Thunderbolt in Audio MIDI Setup\" class=\"wp-image-1782267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/UA-Thunderbolt-in-Audio-MIDI-Setup.jpg 803w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/UA-Thunderbolt-in-Audio-MIDI-Setup-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/10\/UA-Thunderbolt-in-Audio-MIDI-Setup-768x485.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Selecting an audio interface in Audio MIDI Setup<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to check the status of your audio interface is through Audio MIDI Setup (AMS). AMS is a macOS utility used to manage the audio and MIDI devices connected to your computer. If your interface shows up here, that means it is recognized as a connected audio hardware device, but may not be successfully communicating for other reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow the directions below to see if your interface is recognized as an audio device. If it\u2019s detected but it\u2019s grayed out or has the wrong number of inputs and outputs, you will need to reinstall the driver (below). Read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/guide\/audio-midi-setup\/welcome\/mac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Audio MIDI Setup in Apple\u2019s support article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>From the Finder menu bar, click <strong>Go<\/strong> and select <strong>Utilities<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Double-click <strong>Audio MIDI Setup<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Locate and select your audio device in the <strong>Audio Devices<\/strong> window to view its status.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Reinstall-audio-device-driver\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">Reinstall audio device driver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your system is still not detecting or communicating properly with your device, then you will need to reinstall the interface\u2019s driver software. Some audio interfaces are class-compliant and do not require driver software to operate. If your interface does not have any driver software, and you are on an Intel-based Mac, skip down to <a href=\"#NVRAM-reset\">NVRAM reset<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drivers are often bundled with control panel software which allows you to remotely control your audio interface. Go to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/where-can-i-download-the-driver-for-my-interface\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">driver software index<\/a> and locate your device\u2019s manufacturer. Click it to view their page, find your product, then download and install the latest compatible driver software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the driver is installed, shut your system down and follow the <a href=\"#Power-on-sequence\">Power on sequence<\/a>. Your device should now be detected by your computer. Test playback by following the directions in macOS Sound Settings. If your device is still not detected, and you are on an Intel-based Mac, follow the directions below to perform an <a href=\"#NVRAM-reset\">NVRAM reset<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"NVRAM-reset\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh3 swheader\">NVRAM reset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are on an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/intel-based-mac-or-mac-with-apple-silicon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intel-based Mac<\/a>, \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT204063\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NVRAM resets<\/a>\u00a0often clear up temporary device detection complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/intel-based-mac-or-mac-with-apple-silicon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mac with Apple silicon<\/a>, there is no need to reset the NVRAM involved; on these models of Mac, it&#8217;s taken care of automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To perform an NVRAM reset on an Intel-based Mac, shut your system down and follow the directions below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Power <strong>off<\/strong> your Mac.<\/li><li>Power <strong>on<\/strong> your Mac and press and hold the <strong>option + command + P + R<\/strong> keys.\n<ul>\n<li>Press all four keys all at once.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li><li>Continue to hold the keys until the Mac restarts.<\/li><li>Release the keys.\n<ul>\n<li>Hold the keys to repeat the reset.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img class=\"wp-image-1746733\" alt=\"Animation: to reset your NVRAM, hold Command, Option, the R key, and the P key while your Mac restarts.\" data-gifffer=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2018\/11\/NVRAM-PRAM-Reset-Keyboard-Keys.gif\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The NVRAM reset can be sensitive, so make sure you press the keys simultaneously and don\u2019t release until you hear your Mac chime or it restarts. After that, you can release the keys and your computer will power on like normal. For good measure, once your Mac has powered up, shut everything down and follow the <a href=\"#Power-on-sequence\">Power on sequence<\/a>. Once your computer is powered up, go to the <a href=\"#Audio-device-not-detected\">Device not Detected<\/a> section of this article and check for your audio interface again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more at this Apple Support article, <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT204063\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reset NVRAM on your Mac<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1756865,"template":"","categories":[1,2,7],"tags":[36050,115941,54722,58299,75807,62020,131963,131962,57492,131970,91304,34869,97795,131966,131971,36320,131961,74193,34259,34717,57497,55208,58849,40666,131964,35337,54229,35491,131968,44163,124088,58625,54209,101558,131965,131967,131969,54004,78626,35179,72184],"storecat":[],"itemids":[],"manufacturers":[33171,33183,33193,33198,33207,33214,33367,33440,33441,33501,33512,33516,33566,33631,33671,33684,33755,33792,33829,33875],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read this article to learn how to resolve audio interface issues like no sound, USB ports not working, or your output device not showing up.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-mac\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Resolving Audio Interface Issues on Mac - 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