Error opening sound device in Audacity on Mac? We got fixes

Mac

Reading time icon 2 min. read

Calendar icon Updated on

by Milan Stanojevic 

updated on

Share this article

Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team. Read more

Key notes

  • When it comes to audio editing, Audacity is one of the best-known open-source solutions.
  • Many users reported Error opening sound device in Audacity on Mac, and today we’re going to show you how to fix that.
  • For more similar issues and guides, we suggest that you check our Mac issues section.
  • If you want to learn more about Mac computers, we encourage you to visit our Mac Hub for more information.
audacity error opening sound device mac

Audacity is a popular audio editor, and it’s available on all major platforms, Mac included.

Speaking of Mac, many users reported Error opening sound device in Audacity for Mac. This can be a problem, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it.

How can I fix Error opening sound device in Audacity on Mac?

1. Check your settings

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Navigate to Go > Utilities > Audio Midi Setup.app.
  3. Now in Audio Devices set the appropriate Recording and Playback devices.
    audio devices audacity error opening sound device mac
  4. Set Format to the same sample rate, bit-depth, and a number of channels as in Audacity.

2. Close other audio applications

  1. Make sure that Audacity is closed.
  2. Close all other audio applications.
  3. Now start Audacity again.

Users reported that other applications can interfere with Audacity, so it’s advised to disable all other applications and try to run Audacity.

3. Reinstall Audacity

  1. Press Command + Shift + G.
    go to folder audacity error opening sound device mac
  2. Now enter ~/Library/Application Support
  3. Move the Audacity folder to the Trash.
  4. Once you install Audacity again, check if the issue is still there.

4. Change settings in Audacity

  1. Open Audacity.
  2. Now set Project Rate to 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz or anything in between.
  3. Now to go Edit > Preferences.
  4. In the Device section set Channels to 1 or 2.

Error opening sound device message in Audacity for Mac can cause problems, but you can usually fix it by adjusting your audio settings or Audacity settings.

If our solutions worked for you, feel free to let us know in the comments section.

FAQ: Learn more about Audacity

  • How do I fix an error opening recording device in audacity?

To fix Error opening recording device in Audacity, be sure to check your audio settings.

  • Why is Audacity not opening?

If Audacity isn’t opening, its installation might be damaged. If you’re having this issue, you might want to try other audio recording software.

  • Why does Audacity keep crashing?

Audacity crashes if there’s a problem with your playback or recording software. If that’s the case, you might want to consider getting a new studio microphone.

[wl_navigator]

More about the topics: audio editors

Milan Stanojevic

Milan Stanojevic Shield

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He's a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology. Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he's one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.

User forum

0 messages