How to Connect Speakers to a MacBook (Wired or Bluetooth)

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Play audio through a different speaker with our complete guide

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: September 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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Bluetooth Speakers

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Wired Speakers

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Surround Sound Speakers

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Troubleshooting

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Q&A

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Tips

MacBooks already have built-in speakers, but external speakers are the way to go if you want higher-quality audio. Luckily, Apple makes it easy to connect your speakers over Bluetooth and wired connections. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to configure your speakers for your MacBook Pro and troubleshoot issues that pop up.

Best Ways to Connect Speakers to a MacBook

Turn on Bluetooth in your System Settings, turn your speaker into pairing mode, and click on the speaker name on your MacBook.
Plug speakers directly into your MacBook using the audio jack or a USB connection.
Use Audio MIDI Setup to configure multiple speakers for stereo or surround sound.
Go to System Settings → Sound → Output and select your speaker from the device list.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Connecting a MacBook to a Bluetooth Speaker

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1
Turn on your MacBook's Bluetooth. Open System Settings on your MacBook and click on the Bluetooth option on the left side of the window. If your Bluetooth is turned off, toggle the switch to turn it on and see the available devices you can connect with.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, click on the Control Center icon (with 2 switches) in the top-right of the menu bar. Click on the Bluetooth symbol so it’s highlighted.
Turn on your Bluetooth speaker, and refer to the manual to find out how pairing works for your device. Usually, there’s a specific button to hold down until a light appears or a sound plays. Once in pairing mode, your speaker is discoverable by anything with a Bluetooth connection.^{[2]
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Select the Bluetooth device from your MacBook. Check the device list in your System Settings to see if your speaker appears. Hover over the device name and click Connect. After a few seconds, your speaker should pair with your computer and say “Connected” underneath its name.^{[3]
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- Your speaker may have a generic name when you pair it with it for the first time, but you can always change it by clicking on the “i” next to the device on the Bluetooth menu.
- Some Bluetooth speakers require you to enter a code or password to finish pairing with them.
- You may also select the device from the Control Center by clicking on the arrow next to the Bluetooth option and clicking on your speaker.
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Confirm the speaker is set as your audio output. Open System Settings again and select Sound from the menu on the left. Under the Output option, double-check that your speaker is selected from the device list. If it’s not, just double-click on it to switch your speaker settings.^{[4]
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- Your output setting usually changes automatically, but it may not if you have multiple devices or speakers connected.
- You can control the volume using your MacBook or using the built-in controls on the speaker.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Connecting Wired Speakers to Your MacBook Pro

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1
Plug the speakers into your computer. All MacBooks have a 3.5 mm audio jack that connects to headphones or speakers. Plug one end of the audio cord into your speaker and connect the other end to the audio jack on your MacBook Pro.
- Some newer speakers can connect with a USB or USB-C port for higher audio quality. New MacBook Pros have USB-C ports already built in, but you may need an adapter if you’re using a standard USB connection.
Plug your speaker in if it needs external power, or simply turn it on if it runs on batteries.
3
Check for sound. Check that your MacBook is at an appropriate volume and that the sound isn’t muted. Use the volume keys or the slider in the menu bar to adjust the sound. Then, play some music or a video to make sure the audio plays through your speaker.
- If you don’t hear any audio, open System Settings and select Sound from the menu on the left side. Under the Output options, select your speaker. The type will either be listed as “Headphone Port” if you use the audio jack or “USB” for another connection.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Setting Up Audio MIDI for Stereo Surround Sound

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1
Plug your speakers into your MacBook. If you’re using a surround sound system or stereo speakers on your MacBook, plug them in using one of the USB or audio jack connections on your device. Make sure the speakers are powered on so your computer detects them.^{[5]
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Open Audio MIDI Setup and find your device. Audio MIDI Setup is a program that comes on all Mac computers, so you have more control of your audio inputs and outputs. Find the program in Finder by selecting Applications and then Utilities. When you load up the app, locate your speakers in the list of audio devices on the left side.^{[6]
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- If you’re using multiple separate speakers, click on the plus sign in the bottom left corner and choose “Create Multi-Output Device”. Then, select all the speakers you want to output audio.
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Assign the speakers to different output channels. Click on Configure Speakers in the bottom-right corner of the window. A new pop-up will appear listing the available channels for your speakers. Select the type of surround sound you’re setting up, and then change the output channels to the speakers that match the configuration you’re using.^{[7]
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- Example: If you’re setting up 5.1 surround sound, make sure to select the speaker on the left side of the room as the left channel speaker.
- Click on the audio icon to the right of each channel to play a sound from the speaker. That way, you can test and make sure the audio comes from the right one.
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Click Apply to save your settings. Once you confirm your speakers are configured correctly and playing audio, select the Apply option in the bottom right corner of the window. After that, your speakers are ready to use for full surround sound.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting Mac Audio Issues

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1
Check your volume controls if the speaker sounds quiet. If you’re not hearing audio from your speakers, check that they’re turned on and turn up the volume on your MacBook. If that still doesn’t solve the issue, look for any external controls on your speaker and turn them up as well.
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Change the output settings on your MacBook. Open System Settings and click on Sound from the menu on the left. Scroll down to the list of output devices, and double-click on the external speaker you’re connected to.^{[8]
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- If your audio still isn’t working, consult the speaker’s manual for any hidden settings.

Community Q&A

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Question

In our church we have those big speakers and I would like to know how to connect them to the Macbook Pro. For now the sound comes out of the projector but does not sound loud enough. What do I do?

Sammi Liu

Community Answer

You either have to plug them in manually or you can use Bluetooth. If you can use Bluetooth then use it, it will be pretty helpful because you can also control the volume while it being somewhere far. But if you have to plug it in, make sure the cord is long enough.

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The screen on step 4 is not what I see when I go into Bluetooth. Help?

Community Answer

Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth. If the Bluetooth preferences lists options for enabling Bluetooth and making your device discoverable, Bluetooth is installed. From the Apple menu, choose About this Mac, then click More Info. Select Bluetooth from the Hardware section.

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Question

My Mac Book Pro has a bad speaker. I can listen with headphones without distortion. Can I use an external speaker without getting the distortion I normally get when using the internal speakers ?

Epic vs awesome Connor and Ava

Community Answer

Yes, the Bluetooth speaker has its own quality and will not be affected by the computer's speaker quality.

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