How to play background sounds like rain on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-play-background-sounds-like-rain-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

6 of 7 steps with real screenshots · 3 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

6 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 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

   Click Accessibility in the sidebar, as boxed in the picture.

   Then scroll down the Accessibility page and click Audio. On our MacBook Neo, Audio sits in the Hearing group, whose heading shows at the bottom of the picture.

   Done

3. 

   Switch on Background sounds

   It is the first row of the Background Sounds group. In the picture it is off.

   Done

4. 

   Set the volume

   Drag the Background sounds volume slider. The page notes that system volume is adjusted separately in Sound settings.

   Done

5. 

   Choose the sound

   Click Choose… in the Background sound row, select a sound in the Select Background Sound list, then click OK.

   On our MacBook Neo the list has 16 sounds, from Balanced Noise to Quiet Night, including Rain and Rain On Roof.

   Done

6. 

   Set a timer

   Click Choose… in the Timer row, switch on Timer, then use Set Timer and Stop at to choose when the sounds end. Click OK.

   On our MacBook Neo, Set Timer showed At a specific time, and Always use these settings keeps the timer for every session.

   Done

7. Let it stop when you leave

   Switch on Turn off background sounds when your Mac is not in use. The page says this turns them off automatically with lock screen and screen saver modes.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• There are no Tone or Balance settings. Apple says Tone and Balance only appear after you click Choose… next to Equalizer and turn Equalizer on. Source: Change Audio settings for accessibility on Mac · Source: Play background sounds on Mac · Source: Use Background Sounds to help with sleep, focus, and more
• You want it in the menu bar instead. Apple says you can add the Hearing control: in System Settings click Menu Bar, Add Controls, Hearing, then Add to Menu Bar or Add to Control Center. From there you start and stop the sounds and change the volume. Source: Change Audio settings for accessibility on Mac · Source: Play background sounds on Mac · Source: Use Background Sounds to help with sleep, focus, and more
• There is no Equalizer row. Apple says the Equalizer setting for Background Sounds requires macOS Tahoe or later. On our MacBook Neo with macOS 27 the Equalizer row sits below Background sounds volume. Source: Change Audio settings for accessibility on Mac · Source: Play background sounds on Mac · Source: Use Background Sounds to help with sleep, focus, and more

If this does not work

• The sound is only a short sample. Each sound in the Select Background Sound list has a download button next to it. Apple says this downloads a high-quality version, which needs an internet connection, and a sample stays if you remove it. Source: Change Audio settings for accessibility on Mac · Source: Play background sounds on Mac · Source: Use Background Sounds to help with sleep, focus, and more
• The sounds stop when you leave the Mac. Switch off Turn off background sounds when your Mac is not in use. The page says it stops them with lock screen and screen saver modes.
• You cannot hear anything. Raise the Background sounds volume slider first, then click Sound Settings… at the bottom of the group to check the system volume. Apple says other sound settings, such as the output device, can affect Background Sounds. Source: Change Audio settings for accessibility on Mac · Source: Play background sounds on Mac · Source: Use Background Sounds to help with sleep, focus, and more

About this guide

macOS has a built-in noise player. On our MacBook Neo the Audio page says it plays background sounds to mask unwanted environmental noise and can help you cope with symptoms related to tinnitus.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

Equalizer adjusts the volume of different frequency ranges in the background sound.

On our MacBook Neo, Equalizer and Timer both showed Off until changed.

In short: Apple menu, System Settings…, Accessibility, Audio, Background sounds on, Choose…, pick a sound, OK.