Loud headphone audio despite low volume settings on MacBook Air

My sound audio input/output settings were around the middle before the problem. Whatever the default is. I tried adjusting them lower and it actually plays the sound loudly. The bar is at the lowest volume it can be in "output volume" but my headphones play the sound so loud it hurts. This is at volume 1. It's very frustrating and I need to know how to fix it. My computer seems mostly normal. I believe it is the fault of the sound settings.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Headphones too loud

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Nov 8, 2025 11:15 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 9:51 AM

justusingthisonce wrote:

My sound audio input/output settings were around the middle before the problem.

Whatever the default is. I tried adjusting them lower and it actually plays the sound loudly.

The bar is at the lowest volume it can be in "output volume" but my headphones play the sound so loud it hurts. This is at volume 1. It's very frustrating and I need to know how to fix it.

My computer seems mostly normal. I believe it is the fault of the sound settings.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Headphones too loud

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.6


the current macOS Sequoia is 15.7.2 — I would start there.


re: Headphones

connected how??? you do not say...



for third party Headphones (?) —if in doubt search the developers website or contact their: Support/Help/FAQ/Known issues/compatibility/ any known firmware updates… Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support



you can try making changes in your Audio MIDI Setup.app and compare your results as you go.

ref: Audio MIDI Setup User Guide for Mac




To trouble shoot further you can:


—A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies


Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.


This test will tell you if third party interference; most extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.

 


—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 



***wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries— connect the charging cable, this will make the wired keyboard successful Safe Boot your Mac.

unplug all non-essential peripherals when testing

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS



1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 9, 2025 9:51 AM in response to justusingthisonce

justusingthisonce wrote:

My sound audio input/output settings were around the middle before the problem.

Whatever the default is. I tried adjusting them lower and it actually plays the sound loudly.

The bar is at the lowest volume it can be in "output volume" but my headphones play the sound so loud it hurts. This is at volume 1. It's very frustrating and I need to know how to fix it.

My computer seems mostly normal. I believe it is the fault of the sound settings.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Headphones too loud

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.6


the current macOS Sequoia is 15.7.2 — I would start there.


re: Headphones

connected how??? you do not say...



for third party Headphones (?) —if in doubt search the developers website or contact their: Support/Help/FAQ/Known issues/compatibility/ any known firmware updates… Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support



you can try making changes in your Audio MIDI Setup.app and compare your results as you go.

ref: Audio MIDI Setup User Guide for Mac




To trouble shoot further you can:


—A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies


Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.


This test will tell you if third party interference; most extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.

 


—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 



***wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries— connect the charging cable, this will make the wired keyboard successful Safe Boot your Mac.

unplug all non-essential peripherals when testing

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS



Loud headphone audio despite low volume settings on MacBook Air

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