Mute not working on Mac mini with macOS 13.2

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Level 1

16 points

Mute not working on Mac mini with macOS 13.2

Simple problem: I can't mute my Mac. Pushing the mute key on the keyboard produces the crossed-out sound icon but then next time I get an alert there's a sound. It doesn't matter what it is - an illegal keystroke, a notification, everything that can produce sound does. I've tried switching the outputs in the system settings and setting them to mute (I have 2 outputs, Mac Mini and Dell monitor), but still I get sound. It's extremely irritating and the only way I can get rid of sound is to plug some earplugs into the sound out port and wrap them in a cloth. Can anyone help?

Mac Mini M2 running 15.2

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Jan 27, 2025 01:46 AM

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Answer 1

Leo Bloom Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 27, 2025 03:04 AM in response to hcsitas

Thanks for that, but I still don't understand why I can't mute the Mac Mini when it's set as the output source. What does that have to do with the monitor? I tried setting output to the Mini and muting it, and it works, but only when the headphones are plugged in. When I unplug the headphone I get sound from the Mini no matter what.

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Answer 2

hcsitas

Level 6

13,958 points

Jan 27, 2025 02:54 AM in response to hcsitas

Your monitor doesn’t come with a USB port, so the keyboard can’t be used to mute it. Use the controls on the monitor itself.

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Answer 3

Leo Bloom Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 27, 2025 03:11 AM in response to hcsitas

Sorry, my repiles aren't in the right place. But I think I have it now. I assumed that when I switched output from Dell to Mac Mini the sound was was coming from the Mac, but no, regardless of the setting in the sound preferences the sound comes out of the monitor, presumably since both video and audio are directed to the HDMI - I can't choose just one of the two, apparently. Because the monitor and the Mac are so close I didn't realise the sound wasn't switching over.

Anyway, thanks for your help, at least I know what's going on now.

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Answer 4

hcsitas

Level 6

13,958 points

Jan 27, 2025 03:23 AM in response to Leo Bloom

The Mac mini has a built-in speaker for small stuff like notifications etc. If you choose it for everything, it will output everything and take commands from the keyboard. Likewise headphones.

A monitor OTOH needs a separate USB connection to respond to keyboard commands, which your monitor doesn’t have. So use the physical controls the monitor provides to mute.

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