1. Open Terminal from your applications or search with ⌘+Space, start typing Terminal, then hit Return.
2. In Terminal, copy and paste the following command, hit Return then type your password, then hit Return again

$ sudo killall coreaudiod

This immediately restored sound so I could hear my Skype exercise class!

Why This Problem Happens

The root cause is a Bluetooth audio profile conflict. When AirPods connect to your MacBook, macOS switches the system audio output to the AirPods. But Skype (and many other VoIP apps) manage their own audio device settings independently of the system. When you disconnect the AirPods, Skype may still be trying to route audio to a device that no longer exists.

This is especially common when AirPods auto-connect and disconnect between your iPhone and MacBook, which happens frequently if you have multiple Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.

The Quick Fix: Reset Skype Audio Settings

The fastest solution is to manually set Skype’s audio devices:

• Open Skype and go to Settings (click your profile picture → Settings)
• Navigate to Audio & Video
• Under Speakers, change from “Default” to “MacBook Pro Speakers” explicitly
• Under Microphone, change from “Default” to “MacBook Pro Microphone”
• Click Test Audio to confirm sound is working

Setting specific devices instead of “Default” prevents Skype from getting confused when Bluetooth devices connect and disconnect.

The System-Level Fix

If the problem persists beyond Skype, the issue is at the macOS level:

• Open System Settings → Sound
• Check the Output tab — make sure it shows “MacBook Pro Speakers” and not a phantom Bluetooth device
• Check the Input tab — verify “MacBook Pro Microphone” is selected
• If you see your AirPods listed even when they’re in the case, click on MacBook Pro Speakers to force the switch

You can also reset the Bluetooth module entirely by holding Shift + Option and clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. Select Reset the Bluetooth module (on older macOS versions) or toggle Bluetooth off, wait 10 seconds, and toggle it back on.

Preventing Future Issues

The Apple Support documentation for AirPods recommends managing automatic device switching to prevent audio routing conflicts:

• Open System Settings → Bluetooth
• Click the i next to your AirPods
• Under “Connect to This Mac”, change from “Automatically” to “When Last Connected to This Mac”
• This prevents AirPods from hijacking audio when you didn’t intend to use them

The Nuclear Option: Reset Core Audio

If nothing else works, reset the macOS audio daemon by opening Terminal and running:

sudo killall coreaudiod

This kills and automatically restarts the core audio process, clearing any stuck device configurations. After running this, re-open Skype and test your audio.

For more Mac troubleshooting tips and tech guides, check out the GTWebs blog.

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