Any technical issue with the High Definition Multimedia Interface means you won’t be able to receive signals on your laptop from an external device connected via HDMI port. Somehow, if you are facing the problem of HDMI not working on Mac, then it is unable to transfer video and audio signals to other devices. This including input from computers, cameras, HDTVs, gaming consoles, and DVD players. However, it is not necessary that the HDMI port is faulty which is why you are getting this error. Even the TV unit or gaming console can be defective already and hence, the HDMI is not detecting any audio/video output. In order to fix HDMI error, you must be aware of its common causes and apply some technical fixes to resolve them. So, check out this article to learn a few techniques to troubleshoot issues regarding the HDMI port on Mac PCs.

Mac HDMI Not Working: Know The Causes And Troubleshooting Methods

Before you know about the underlying causes of HDMI becoming unresponsive on Mac devices, you must be aware of its purpose and a few benefits.

What’s The Purpose Of HDMI Connection?

With the help of HDMI, you can easily connect multiple devices and send signals from one device to another. Mostly, you can utilize its features when you connect your Mac device to a TV set or a decoder. You can also watch High Definition movies (Blu-Ray) on media players that are stored on your PC. It can be done by simply connecting HDMI cable in between both the devices. You can even play games on Mac by connecting the console output to the device’s HDMI input port. So, if the HDMI is not responding to external connections, it can prevent you to enjoy all the benefits as mentioned above.

Common Causes Of Getting Unresponsive HDMI On Your Device

There are some users who assume that the issue of unresponsive HDMI port on their Mac has something to do with the Operating System. But, there are several other reasons that can lead to HDMI not recognizing any audio or video signals from external devices.

1. HDMI cables can sometimes slip out of its socket if the connected electronic components are moved abruptly.
2. If the HDMI port on your laptop or other external devices is problematic, it will prevent you to send video and audio output from one device to another.
3. When you include multiple devices to make a connection using HDMI cables, any defective device in the loop can prevent proper video or audio output.
4. If the video resolution of your laptop does not match the external display’s settings, you can encounter the HDMI error.
5. When your system lacks latest firmware updates to resolve drivers issues, it can lead to HDMI sound not working Mac. Even the video may not also function properly if the important updates are missing.
6. If you are trying to connect an HDMI based laptop to a DVI based device, it can make the HDMI port unresponsive.

How To Resolve Audio Problem Due To Defective HDMI?

Many Mac users have reported that they are receiving no sound whenever they are connecting their laptops to a TV set using an HDMI cable. According to them, you will be able to view a perfect image on the display but will not get any audio output from the TV speakers. However, you will start hearing sound on your Mac device’s inbuilt-speaker.

So, if your laptop detects video without any audio output, then resolve the problem by the following fixes.

Solution 1: Set Your TV As The Device For Audio Output

To apply this method, locate the ‘Option’ button (usually next to Ctrl key) on your keyboard. Also, hit the icon of your speaker from the Menu bar on Mac devices. You can find it at the top-right corner of your display. Then select your TV set connected to the device via HDMI. After this, restart your PC and play any video or audio file to check if the sound is working properly.

Solution 2: Modify System Preferences For Playing Sound

If you are using a Mac-based device, click on the Apple icon on its Menu bar. Then select the option of ‘System Preferences’ and click on the audio icon. It will provide three options- Input, Sound Effects, and Output. So, select ‘Sound Effects’ and go to the section of ‘Play sound effects through’. When you click on the box beside it, select your TV set instead of the default audio output device. Then go to the tab of ‘Output’ and it will show ‘Select a device for a sound output:’.

Under this, the default ‘Type’ for Headphones can be displayed as ‘Headphone port’. So, change this option and select your TV set that is connected to your Mac device through HDMI connection.

Then click on ‘Applications’, choose ‘Utilities’ and then look for ‘Audio MIDI Setup’. In order to view it, double-click on it and you will be able to view the HDMI. Then click on the tab of ‘Output’ and look for ‘Source:’. Locate your TV from the list of devices in the drop-down menu. If you can’t view the icon of device speaker, look for a wheel icon having a triangle pointing downwards. You can locate it near the bottom-left on the window. Then ensure that you have checked the option for sound output. Hopefully, now you can see the audio icon next to the list of devices showing HDMI. Make sure to select ‘Use this device for sound output’ under ‘Configure speakers’.

Solution 3: Choose Audio Format As 41000.00 Hz

In your Mac laptop, go to ‘Audio MIDI Setup’ by following the method as discussed in above solution 2. On that window, you can find the HDMI device on the left side of the menu. Click on the HDMI and set the option of ‘Format’ to 41000.00 Hz and restart PC. This should fix the sound issue on your Mac device.

Solution 4: Through Device Settings

You can also resolve audio errors by choosing the accurate speakers for your system. If you are using any media player on your PC, then launch the program and check its ‘Audio’ options. You can navigate to the Sound Device section in the software and select ‘HDMI’ while playing any input file. For making changes on the external device, let’s consider the HDMI based TV. So, click on the ‘Sound Settings’ under TV Menu and select the input type as ‘Common’.