You're on a Zoom call. The other person is talking, but their voice is barely audible. Your Mac volume is at maximum. Zoom's speaker volume is at maximum. You're leaning into your screen, straining to hear. This shouldn't be this hard.
Low Zoom call volume is extremely common, and it has multiple causes. Let's walk through every fix, from simple settings checks to boosting Zoom's audio past its normal limit.
1. Check Zoom's audio output settings
Open Zoom → Settings → Audio. Under "Speaker," make sure:
- The correct output device is selected (not an inactive monitor or disconnected device)
- The speaker volume slider is at maximum
- Click "Test Speaker" to verify you can hear the test tone clearly
If the test tone is also quiet, the issue is between Zoom and your speakers — continue with the fixes below. If the test tone is fine but actual calls are quiet, the other participant likely has a microphone issue on their end.
2. Check your Mac's output device
Go to System Settings → Sound → Output. Make sure the right device is selected. If you recently connected/disconnected headphones, a display, or Bluetooth devices, macOS might have auto-switched to an unexpected output.
3. Disable Zoom's automatic volume adjustment
Zoom has an "Automatically adjust microphone volume" setting (Settings → Audio) that can also affect perceived output levels in some configurations. Try disabling it and testing again.
4. Disable background noise suppression (temporarily)
Zoom's noise suppression aggressively filters background noise — but in doing so, it can sometimes reduce the perceived loudness of the other person's voice, especially in quiet environments. Try setting "Suppress background noise" to "Low" or "Auto" instead of "High."
5. Check Bluetooth codec
If you're using AirPods or Bluetooth headphones, joining a Zoom call forces macOS to switch from the high-quality AAC codec to the lower-quality SCO codec (because Zoom uses your mic). SCO reduces audio quality and can make call audio sound quieter and more compressed.
Fix: Use a separate microphone (built-in Mac mic or USB mic) while keeping AirPods as the output device. This prevents the codec switch — AirPods stay in AAC mode with better audio quality and volume.
6. Reset Core Audio
macOS's audio daemon sometimes gets into a state where output levels are reduced, especially after sleep/wake or device switches. Open Terminal and run:
sudo killall coreaudiod
Audio will restart after a brief interruption. Rejoin the Zoom call and check if volume has improved.
7. Boost Zoom's volume past 100%
If you've tried everything above and Zoom is still too quiet, the problem might be that Zoom's audio output simply isn't loud enough for your setup. Some participants have quiet microphones, and there's only so much Zoom can do to amplify their signal.
SoundDial lets you boost any app's volume to 200% — including Zoom. If a participant is too quiet, drag Zoom's slider to 150% or 180%. The audio signal is amplified beyond Zoom's built-in maximum, making even the quietest voices audible.
The key advantage: boosting Zoom doesn't affect anything else. Your music, notifications, and other apps stay at their current levels. Only Zoom gets louder.
This also works for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, FaceTime, Discord, Slack huddles, Webex, and any other calling app. If you can hear it, SoundDial can boost it.
Get SoundDial on the Mac App Store — €14.99 one-time purchase, no subscription, macOS 14.2+.