User profile for user: kb152
kb152 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Sound input/output options disappearing on M1 Macbook Air

I have to restart my M1 Mac every day before I can have a Zoom call because it's the only way to get audio input/output devices to appear in the app and in system preferences.


It seems that after my Mac sleeps for some amount of time, all audio options disappear; A restart restores things to normal, but the next day, it's the same thing again.


I've found threads like this one on this problem with recommendations to reset SMC and PRAM/NVRAM, but that advice only seems to apply to Intel macs.


I can't figure this out — Any advice is welcome.

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on Jul 7, 2021 4:38 AM

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User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
102,343 points

Posted on Jul 8, 2021 10:06 AM

Have your attempted Test while starting in Safe Mode. It will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. Therefore, it will load slowly - Normal. TEST is the issue is presented or Not.


If it does not present in Safe mode one of two things may have been happening - some third party software installed is interfering the the normal operation of the computer OR there is a User Account issue


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User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
102,343 points

Jul 8, 2021 10:06 AM in response to kb152

Have your attempted Test while starting in Safe Mode. It will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. Therefore, it will load slowly - Normal. TEST is the issue is presented or Not.


If it does not present in Safe mode one of two things may have been happening - some third party software installed is interfering the the normal operation of the computer OR there is a User Account issue


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User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
102,343 points

Jul 9, 2021 4:39 AM in response to kb152

Welcome :-)


The fact the sound option are available in Safe Mode is conclusive enough. All this third party software, extensions and fonts are not loaded in this mode ( Safe ).


To determine if this issue is User Account - need to create a test account >> boot into the test account via normal boot up and Test if the Sound Input / Output issue presents. If not presented in the test account - that would define things more clearly

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Sound input/output options disappearing on M1 Macbook Air

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