Mac Mini with Sequoia 15.5 drops headphone out

[GtrDude]

I have a Mac Mini with MacOS 15.5.
Every time I wake it up from Stand-by it has completely dropped the 3.5 mm headphone output.
There's no sound coming from there and under Settings>Sound the headphone out isn't even there in the output section.
So all sounds starts coming from the Mac Mini built in speakers.

Is there a way to fix this.
I think this started after I updated to 15.5.

I have to reboot it and then the headphone outptut works again.

Thanks

 

[GtrDude]

"...Sleep mode..."
Not Stand-by.

 

[bzgnyc2]

What does System Preferences/Settings/whatever->Sound output show as the selected output device normally (i.e. when things are working) and then what does it show after your computer comes out of Sleep? Does it still show External Headphones as an option but the internal speakers selected or is External Headphones even disappearing as an option altogether?

 

[GtrDude]

In the Sound settings everything is there except the Name: External Headphones, Type: Headphone port,
is totally missing.
The Mac Mini Speakers is there and so is the Monitor and the Airplay stuff.
It's always had the Headphone out but it's not even there.

 

[bzgnyc2]

In the Sound settings everything is there except the Name: External Headphones, Type: Headphone port,
is totally missing.
The Mac Mini Speakers is there and so is the Monitor and the Airplay stuff.
It's always had the Headphone out but it's not even there.

What if you unplug and plug the headphones/speakers at the 3.5mm jack on the Mac after it comes out of sleep? Does the External Headphones option come back without rebooting?

 

[tmjdisorder]

I used to have audio problems on my Mac, all audio went dead, what fixed it? Launching Garage Band. Probably won't fix your issue, but a pretty low stakes solution to try.

 

[aussie al]

The "headphone"port appears in the sound inputs, as soon as I plug in headphones. I take them out and the h/ph. port disappaears.
I'm using the same OS 15.5 as you

 

[bzgnyc2]

The "headphone"port appears in the sound inputs, as soon as I plug in headphones. I take them out and the h/ph. port disappaears.
I'm using the same OS 15.5 as you

Does it continue to work like that after you wake the machine from sleep?

 

[bogdanw]

Anyone have any ideas what could be going on?

The simple solution is not to use Sleep. Turn off your Mac when you don't use it.
I have a Mac mini M4, macOS 15.5, small speakers connected to to headphone jack and so far no problem with sound.

 

[GtrDude]

Here's a screenshot of what it looks like in the Sound settings.
The headphones is completely missing.
I went down down the list and did everything that was suggested, i.e. launch Garage band, unplug and plug the headphones, I even got a new headphone cord.
Still the headphone output is missing when I wake up the computer from Sleep Mode.
I hear a loud click in the speakers while it's sleeping and then when I launch the computer it's missing.
Only thing that fixes it is to reboot the computer.
Maybe it's a coincidence but this wasn't happening before 15.5.
Here's that screenshot, the Odyssey reference is the monitor:

 

[GtrDude]

Just now had to reboot it in order to get the headphone output to show up and work, sure enough after the reboot it appears and works like it should.

 

[bzgnyc2]

Here's a screenshot of what it looks like in the Sound settings.
The headphones is completely missing.
I went down down the list and did everything that was suggested, i.e. launch Garage band, unplug and plug the headphones, I even got a new headphone cord.
Still the headphone output is missing when I wake up the computer from Sleep Mode.
I hear a loud click in the speakers while it's sleeping and then when I launch the computer it's missing.
Only thing that fixes it is to reboot the computer.
Maybe it's a coincidence but this wasn't happening before 15.5.
Here's that screenshot, the Odyssey reference is the monitor:

Thanks, I think you've isolated the issue pretty well. I'd say if someone else is having this problem with the same model of Mac Mini (is yours M4 or earlier?) running Sequoia 15.5, I'd say it's a bug that needs to be reported to Apple. If not, your Mac Mini may actually have a hardware problem.

 

[DarlaRR]

Hi - I'm having the exact same problem on my MacBook Pro running Sequoia 15.5. It's been super frustrating and I have to keep restarting to get it to recognize the headphone jack again. Just wanted to let you know - it's not just you!

 

[p33t3r]

I'm having related problems, so I'm just wondering – have any of you who have reported problems ever had Rogue Amoeba's Soundsource installed?

 

[GtrDude]

I'm having related problems, so I'm just wondering – have any of you who have reported problems ever had Rogue Amoeba's Soundsource installed?

I don’t have it.
Mine is 100% original.
Only app is the Brave browser.
I used to sometimes get cracking sounds, like you get when plugging in your speakers, randomly in the monitors, Focal 6 BE Twin, but things took a sharp turn for the worse after 15.5.

 

[Martin1979]

Having exactly the same issue on 15.5 with a 16" 2024 Mbp. No sound from headphones after I wake the computer from sleep and no headphones in the audio output menu. And yes, after a restart it is back on.

 

[Martin1979]

I'm having related problems, so I'm just wondering – have any of you who have reported problems ever had Rogue Amoeba's Soundsource installed?

I have Amoeba's Loopback installed! I wonder if it has to do with kexts it installs

 

[p33t3r]

I have Amoeba's Loopback installed! I wonder if it has to do with kexts it installs

They shouldn't install kexts anymore, but they do use something called ARK, which I have found seems to mess with audio output sometimes.

 

[Martin1979]

They shouldn't install kexts anymore, but they do use something called ARK, which I have found seems to mess with audio output sometimes.

That was my experience too but never had a problem this big. Also, OP says they don't have anything like that installed and still experience the issue.

 

[H_B]

I'm having the same problem on my Mac Pro 16 m4 Sequoia 15.5. I have to keep restarting to get it to work with external headphones after sleep mode.

 

[mayday563]

Same issue here with Mini M4 & Sequoia 15.5

 

[bzgnyc2]

Same issue here with Mini M4 & Sequoia 15.5

Sequoia 15.6 just out. I'm sure those here a little weary to try another upgrade but would be great if those having problems can confirm whether it fixed this issue or not.