MacBook Pro optical out won't turn off

ldambergs · Oct 2, 2006, 10:32 AM

Somehow the optical digital audio on my MacBook Pro has turned itself on, and I can't turn it off. It's pretty annoying because it has disabled the speakers. When I stick headphones in, they work just fine (they're regular, analog headphones), but as soon as I take them out the red light inside the port turns back on, and the analog audio opition disappears from the sound preference pane. All that appears in preferences is Digital Out.

Has anyone else had this problem? How do I get my speakers working again?

Thanks.

scottlinux · Oct 2, 2006, 03:53 PM

Trash the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist

Then restart and see if that helps.

ldambergs · Oct 4, 2006, 12:01 PM

Actually, it's a hardware problem with the combined analog/digital optical port. I found a thread on the Apple Discussion site (http://discussions.apple.com/thread....sageID=3255575 ) that discusses it. Apparently, one solution is to stick a toothpick in the port and fiddle around until some sensor latch releases. Scary. Good thing I'm still covered under Applecare - this laptop's going in for some servicing!

zimv20 · Oct 4, 2006, 12:25 PM

thanks for posting back about the issue.

stoddad · Jan 15, 2007, 01:54 AM

I experienced this very same problem. The toothpick working in about 10 seconds. I think the sensor is at the base (bottom of the minijack) hole.

I was surprised it worked so easily. I hope this isn't going to be a continuing problem. It is good to have my speakers back.

caseystrom · Oct 28, 2007, 09:36 PM

This is caused by being hard on the interface, bad plug inserted, bending plug, or just being forceful. Ive had my left I/O board replaced by apple twice because of this issue.

mohthom · Nov 14, 2007, 03:34 AM

No, it's not. It's caused by shoddy Apple design. Take it to the apple store and they'll replace the audio IO board (with a better design jack and output preamp). That's what happened with me . . .

MohThoM

bwburrell · Jan 22, 2008, 06:30 PM

The toothpick method worked for me. My AppleCare is expired now, so I'm out of luck. Good thing the Random Shut-off issue started happening like two weeks ago...guess I can pay for my own logic board

pguerrer · Nov 17, 2008, 05:08 AM

My MBP got this issue today. I must admit that in my case it's probably due to defective hardware: I once pulled the cable accidentally to the side, which could have damaged the latch sensor

Luckily the toothpick worked like a charm.
In any case I've attached an image showing how it was before fixing it:

oYx · Dec 23, 2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohthom

No, it's not. It's caused by shoddy Apple design. Take it to the apple store and they'll replace the audio IO board (with a better design jack and output preamp). That's what happened with me . . .

MohThoM

does the audio output still sound hissy after the replacement? i think the hiss alone is reason enough for apple to do a replacement.

ljova.com · Aug 19, 2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pguerrer

My MBP got this issue today. I must admit that in my case it's probably due to defective hardware: I once pulled the cable accidentally to the side, which could have damaged the latch sensor

Luckily the toothpick worked like a charm.

had the same problem, and toothpick worked like a charm. hope it doesn't happen again - though if it does, I'll just take it to the retail store before my applecare runs out..

silverspoon · Nov 9, 2009, 07:17 AM

Hi, I used a toothpick and also had results. Although on reinserting audio plugs (headphones, lineout etc) the problem occurs again, resulting in additional toothpickery! Would anyone suggest that this a replaceable reason for apple store? I am still under warranty.

Thanks.

juanomatic · Jan 6, 2010, 06:04 PM

I have a unibody MacBook Pro 13" (Mid-2009) and I am having the same problem. I didn't have a toothpick handy so i used a twisty-tie. Too bad they didn't fix this problem.

davejohnusrname · Jan 15, 2010, 12:47 PM

Had this same dumb problem. Hasn't been easy to get the headphone lead into and out of the jack for the last 2 yrs and this "Digital Out" on all the time thing occurred recently.

I didn't even know my computer had digital out!

Anyway the toothpick worked very easily.

Thanks

teklikethis · Jan 26, 2010, 02:09 AM

i couldnt find a tooth pick, so i used a qu-tip without the cotton on it. it worked! anything that saves a trick to the apple store is fine by me

Oct 2, 2006, 10:32 AM	#1
ldambergs macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2006	MacBook Pro optical out won't turn off Somehow the optical digital audio on my MacBook Pro has turned itself on, and I can't turn it off. It's pretty annoying because it has disabled the speakers. When I stick headphones in, they work just fine (they're regular, analog headphones), but as soon as I take them out the red light inside the port turns back on, and the analog audio opition disappears from the sound preference pane. All that appears in preferences is Digital Out. Has anyone else had this problem? How do I get my speakers working again? Thanks.

Oct 4, 2006, 12:25 PM	#4
zimv20 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: chicago	thanks for posting back about the issue. __________________ "Legacy code" often differs from its suggested alternative by actually working and scaling. -- Bjarne Stroustrup

Jan 15, 2007, 01:54 AM	#5
stoddad macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2007	Toothpick and 10 seconds I experienced this very same problem. The toothpick working in about 10 seconds. I think the sensor is at the base (bottom of the minijack) hole. I was surprised it worked so easily. I hope this isn't going to be a continuing problem. It is good to have my speakers back.

Nov 17, 2008, 05:08 AM	#9
pguerrer macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2008	Pic for the curious My MBP got this issue today. I must admit that in my case it's probably due to defective hardware: I once pulled the cable accidentally to the side, which could have damaged the latch sensor Luckily the toothpick worked like a charm. In any case I've attached an image showing how it was before fixing it:

Nov 9, 2009, 07:17 AM	#12
silverspoon macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	toothpick and repair Hi, I used a toothpick and also had results. Although on reinserting audio plugs (headphones, lineout etc) the problem occurs again, resulting in additional toothpickery! Would anyone suggest that this a replaceable reason for apple store? I am still under warranty. Thanks.

Oct 2, 2006, 03:53 PM	#2
scottlinux macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2005	Trash the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist Then restart and see if that helps.

Oct 4, 2006, 12:01 PM	#3
ldambergs Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2006	Actually, it's a hardware problem with the combined analog/digital optical port. I found a thread on the Apple Discussion site (http://discussions.apple.com/thread....sageID=3255575 ) that discusses it. Apparently, one solution is to stick a toothpick in the port and fiddle around until some sensor latch releases. Scary. Good thing I'm still covered under Applecare - this laptop's going in for some servicing!

Oct 28, 2007, 09:36 PM	#6
caseystrom macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2006	This is caused by being hard on the interface, bad plug inserted, bending plug, or just being forceful. Ive had my left I/O board replaced by apple twice because of this issue.

Nov 14, 2007, 03:34 AM	#7
mohthom macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2007	No, it's not. It's caused by shoddy Apple design. Take it to the apple store and they'll replace the audio IO board (with a better design jack and output preamp). That's what happened with me . . . MohThoM

Jan 22, 2008, 06:30 PM	#8
bwburrell macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2007	The toothpick method worked for me. My AppleCare is expired now, so I'm out of luck. Good thing the Random Shut-off issue started happening like two weeks ago...guess I can pay for my own logic board

Jan 6, 2010, 06:04 PM	#13
juanomatic macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2010	I have a unibody MacBook Pro 13" (Mid-2009) and I am having the same problem. I didn't have a toothpick handy so i used a twisty-tie. Too bad they didn't fix this problem.

Jan 15, 2010, 12:47 PM	#14
davejohnusrname macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2010	toothpick worked! Had this same dumb problem. Hasn't been easy to get the headphone lead into and out of the jack for the last 2 yrs and this "Digital Out" on all the time thing occurred recently. I didn't even know my computer had digital out! Anyway the toothpick worked very easily. Thanks

Jan 26, 2010, 02:09 AM	#15
teklikethis macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2008	i couldnt find a tooth pick, so i used a qu-tip without the cotton on it. it worked! anything that saves a trick to the apple store is fine by me

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