How to make a Mac flash the screen for alerts

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-make-a-mac-flash-the-screen-for-alerts/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Accessibility › Audio

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Accessibility, then Audio

   Accessibility is in the sidebar. Audio is the first row of the Hearing group on the right.

   Done

3. 

   Switch on Flash the screen when an alert sound occurs

   It is the first switch on the page. In the picture it is off.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Audio is not under Hearing Apple lists it in the Hearing section of Accessibility. Scroll down the Accessibility page to find that group. Source: Accessibility features for hearing on Mac

If this does not work

• You also miss spoken words Apple suggests Live Captions, in the same Hearing section, for a transcription of audio. Source: Accessibility features for hearing on Mac
• You want a sign when someone says your name Apple says Name Recognition in Accessibility can notify you when your name is called. Source: Accessibility features for hearing on Mac

About this guide

The alert sound of a Mac is easy to miss with the volume down, with headphones off, or if you do not hear well. A flash of the whole screen is a visible signal for the same moment.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Good to know

The switch below it, Play stereo audio as mono, helps when you hear with one ear: how to play stereo sound as mono on a Mac.

In short: System Settings, Accessibility, Audio, Flash the screen when an alert sound occurs.