M4 Mac mini hdmi sound

so I’ve got a keyboard that has vol controls. A dell 27” 4k screen with speakers. Why can’t I adjust the vol from the keyboard using hdmi sound in the monitor? It only works using the Mac mini speaker. I have to use the monitor settings for vol. the Mac blocks this for some reason and it should not.

Posted on Oct 18, 2025 3:16 AM

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3 replies

Oct 18, 2025 5:55 AM in response to Daniel Moilanen

Daniel Moilanen wrote:
....I have to use the monitor settings for vol. the Mac blocks this for some reason and it should not.

It has been like this for Macs for years now. It is rare to be able to control the volume of a computer display from macOS (sometimes can be controlled within apps).


I believe a lot has to do with the information that a computer display exchanges with a Mac in terms of the display's capabilities and also it likely "sees" the HDMI interface as a purely digital interface without any adjustment capabilities.

Oct 19, 2025 1:30 AM in response to Daniel Moilanen

Thanks guys.

The monitor has good speakers for my use. Loud. Sound is fine. I’ll try the Mac Mini speaker to see how it is.


I play StarTrek Fleet Command and Eve Online. And then Logic Pro and Fruity Loops Studio. I just goof around in the music apps so don’t need anything else. And the monitor sound is plenty good/loud for any of this.


Will check mini speaker. Thanks much.

M4 Mac mini hdmi sound

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