How to Fix Cracking and Popping Sound ?

Catalina 10.15.7 same issue still not fixed, it's actually way worst. Unbelievable. User @raymo is actually correct, switching the iOS Simulator, if you are a developer, fixes it for a bit.

Same issue here, MacBook Pro 16" 2019 (Base Model) using Catalina 10.15.7 and Xcode 12.1...

I have this problem too, really feel bad.
Restart it and hope the Apple will fix it.

2019 MBP 16
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 (19H2)
Xcode Version 12.1 (12A7403)

You can restart the coreaudio process manually. This doesn't fix the firmware issue that I just paid $5k for (Great work as always, Apple!) but it does mean you won't have to reboot your computer every time this happens.

Restart coreaudio

• Open Activity Monitor

• Search for "coreaudio"

• Double-click coreaudio

• Select Quit

• Select Force Quit

• coreaudio should restart on its own in a moment or so

Same problem here running Catalina and XCode 12.+.

Restarting the simulator fixes the problem instantly for a while. I have to do this once every so often ... waiting for a more permanent solution from Apple.

Same issue here. Really frustrated. Using Xcode and listening to audio caused no issues on my mid-2015 MacBook Pro that I just sold last week. I upgraded to the 16in MacBook Pro and now I cannot watch coding tutorials while using Xcode or listen to music either. And it only happens when you start to build and run an app in the simulator or the canvas in SwiftUI. They really need to fix this.

I'm having the same issue. I have a MacBook Pro 13.3-inch, 2014 and I'm now using macOS Catalina 10.15.7 after updating from el captain mac os Sierra. When Mac start and the start up audio playing then cracking noise starts and if ANY sound is coming out of the internal speakers from any app... Please fix it!

Simple workaround in the Terminal:

Code Block 
sudo killall coreaudiod

hello,
I updated my MacBook Pro 13.3-inch, early 2013 and I'm now using macOS Catalina 10.15.7 after updating I have really bad sounds*cracking sounds*. Please fix it ASAP. I couldn't use my MacBook.

I think there is a way to solve this in the quickest way: killing the simulator and audio process from the terminal

Code Block 
xcrun simctl shutdown all

and

Code Block 
sudo killall coreaudiod

Still a workaround but at least I don't need to restart my mac.

This problem is really exhausting because it happens to me all the time, but I believe that it will only be solved if someone legally sues Apple for negligence or someone sympathize with our requests. I waited months for an update to fix this problem, but not even the Big Sur last release fixed my problem.

Anyway, you can add the code below to your .zshrc or .bashrc:

Code Block 
alias fix-damn-audio="xcrun simctl shutdown all && sudo killall coreaudiod"

and when the problem occurs you just call in the terminal:

Code Block 
fix-damn-audio

You can change the name of the alias as you like.

Good luck to all of us

I was having the same issues after running on a brand new 16" I got yesterday... I jus upgraded to Big Sur and it seems to have fixed the issue

Tried all the trouble shooting steps as well, sound issue seems to be intermitten especially in Logic Pro but seems to also "pop" even when loading a song in Apple Music or a video on Youtube. Very Frustrating as audio engineer. Even switched from 2015 MacBook Pro to 15 inch 2018 2.9 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i9 and updated to Big Sur. Same issue. we need a fix!

Hi guys!
I also had this trouble, but I found a simple decision: just change format in «Audio midi setup»: for me, it was from 44100 hz to 48000 hz — it solved my problem.

I'm having the same issue as everyone else. Once I run anything with the simulator or preview in SwiftUI the audio is weird after that. Not sure what to do. I'm also running all the latest software.

I was able to fix that by setting audio for simulator (I/O menu) to any other setting, than the one I use (external headphones).

Yesterday I updated my MacBook Air 2018 to Big Sur and Now I'm facing the same issue of audio

same here, it only happens when i run xcode

Also having this issue on a brand new 16".

Getting the run around from support.

Resetting SMC fixes it for like a day or 2.

Same issue here with Big Sur 11.0.1, only when using xcode (12.2)

Last year I bought my most expensive mac ever, 16'' with 1TB SSD, 64 GB RAM, Intel Core i9 2,4 GHz, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M.

• Sound Problems

My problems first started while running simulator on Catalina, I have a daily meeting in Google Meet so when I left the simulator on I got the most disgusting popping sounds while my colleagues were talking (I do think that if I leave it it will **** out the speakers if they are not already). 

Ok simple fix, quit the simulator and restart the audio, I even did a Automator app for it. But now with big sur I am angry, the problem doesn't go away with a simple restart you need to wait ~5 minutes after closing the simulator (I am not even sure if it is connected to the simulator anymore). This means that I cannot use my Macbook for the DS, I join from my iPhone and use it for just viewing. My AirPods 2 aren't working of course while using it's microphone on the mac, it works on the iPhone. Btw I tried using wired headphones, the popping persists.

Once I tried to do a screen recording of an app on the device through QuickTime while listening to music, the popping was even worse! Do not try it!

• Overheating Problems

When connected to a second monitor the fans start turning like crazy and I actually cannot keep my finger above the touch bar because of the heat. First I tried to lift the Macbook from the desk using a cardboard box, didn't help so I stopped using my not expensive monitor ...

• Conclusion

I am a mac user for the past 8 years. This Macbook is my most expensive and worst experience with an apple product. Cannot use the AirPods on it (works on everything except macs), cannot use a monitor for it (except a small iPad, maybe), the sound on this one is great when it works, but it usually doesn't. I am very disappointed in Apple and I am not sure if I would continue to be one of their "pro" users, but I hope that at least the sound problems would get resolved ASAP!

Hi, everyone. I have the same problem here, only when running Xcode (simulator). I have a MBP 13.3-inch, 2020. I have tried some way to fix it but noting happen. Here are what I tried:

(1) Big Sur 11.0.1 + Xcode 12.x (Include beta version) ❌
(2) Big Sur 11.1 Beta + Xcode 12.x (Include beta version) ❌
(3) Big Sur 11.0.1 + Xcode 11.7 ✅
(4) Catalina 10.15.7 + Xcode 12.2 ✅

And I have no idea. Pless fix it.

I have a 16" i9 MacBook Pro. Never had any issues with Catalina but as soon as I updated to Big Sur audio issues started. Pops and clicks when playing/stopping a sound are horrible. Specially for my line of work, as Music Producer / Audio Engineer.

Please fix this ASAP.

Little update.

I went to an Apple store and listened to some sounds on the MacBooks that they had for sale.
Tested a MacBook Pro 16" and a brand new MacBook Pro 13" M1.
Both the units had Big Sur installed and had the same audio issues.

So either this is a software issue, or the entire Macbook line-up has some serious problems.

This is not acceptable, I paid 5 thousand dollars for a machine that doesn't let me do my work. Fix this!!!

I had the same problem with MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), BigSur 11.0.1 (20B29).

I can reproduce the bug:

• start playing a youtube video

• start XCode Version 12.2 (12B45b)

• navigate to any SwiftUI preview

• sound starts clicking after preview is generated in the XCode

I have no clue why SwiftUI rendering has any relation to cracking sound.

This fixed it for a while:

Code Block 
sudo launchctl stop com.apple.audio.coreaudiod && sudo launchctl start com.apple.audio.coreaudiod