Crackling/popping noises when playing music on iMac.

This started happening to me last week on my iMac. I haven’t updated to Sonoma.

It happens when I’m streaming music on Spotify (app), when trying to edit audio on Adobe Audition or watching video in Chrome or Safari browsers.

Occurs both with internal iMac speakers and connected Air Pod Pro 2.

It’s making life very difficult!

Purchased my 2023 MacBook Pro M3 right before the New Years and started noticing the crackling sound about 3 months in. At first I thought it was just a steaming platform issue but became more noticeable when watching videos online. Has anyone found a fix to this issue? Is it worth going in to the Apple Store for a diagnostic?

I believe this must be a software issue that has "popped up" recently. I have the problem whether I am playing music through the laptop speakers on my MacBook Pro or if I use bluetooth to different headphones. Played same songs on iPhone and on MacBook and crackling is only on the MacBook Pro whether speakers or headphones. If it was a speaker problem I shouldn't be able to reproduce it on different headphones, JLab and Beats and AirPods. What gives? Thanks for any updates or recommendations.

im facing this too and on my non-Apple TV with AirPlay. This is absolutely annoying. Every track has crackling and popping and it’s getting on my nerves. Apple - please fix this issue as it’s stealing the joy of music

My IPhone and MacBook Pro crackle periodically while listening to music oA Spotify and Apple Music. Apparently apple doesn’t care one bit as this has been a problem for a long time. My PC plays back music flawlessly. Recommend ditching apple junk and getting a PC.

Anyone ever get this fixed? It's suddenly getting worse, but only sometimes. It literally sounds like playing music from a CD and hitting all the scratches. I had noticed it a little on my macbook with my airpods, but it's also happening with my iMac speakers.

I too am having this issue and it just began yesterday, December 21. I am not streaming. I am playing from my downloaded music collection on my MacBookPro. I use Sonos speakers and I am not getting static on the speakers, only the MacBook. The operating system is Squoia 15.1.1.

Super frustrating, if only ITunes was as good as it was 20 years ago. Anyway, I checked for software updates, and low and behold there was an update to the OS that I was not notified about. It seems to be better after the update.

Good news and bad news. Although updating initially fixed the problem, one week later the problem is back. However, the issue is only happening with my non-Apple headphones. When I use my Apple earpods, the playback is perfect. Better than nothing, but hopefully I can get it to work all around.

Same crackling/popping issue for months. Just bought a Beats Studio Pro and couldn't understand why it kept cutting out. Just now realizing as I listen to Spotify on my 2021 MacBook Pro built in speakers (which is currently crackling) that the two must be related. So your comment made a ton of sense to me. Ever figure out a fix?

Purchased my MacBook Air around 1-2 years ago in the summer. This has happened many times, but eventually it went away. I noticed whenever I wear my AirPod Maxes there is a crackling/popping noise, rather than through the actual speakers. I do not know how to fix it. I just want to listen to my Spotify peacefully lol

I started having this issue too around last week. M1 air MacOS Sonoma 14.4. It's so annoying. Have you found a fix yet?

There's not any mono audio setting either. This is for an iMac, if that makes any difference. I thought that's what this thread was for, but a lot of MacBook people are responding now.

@Good Old Days

You are right about iMac and as all of us have the same issue on iMac and MacBook it means that it's more likely software problem and solution could be the same as well.

Strange how everyone is having this problem in different ways. I don't even use Safari. But my problem stopped for the most part soon after I first found this thread a few months ago.