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My Macbook's audio output (headphone jack) is broken!

M

macAttack!

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 21, 2007
36
0
i have an intel macbook running leopard with the most recent update. A problem arose a day before the update was installed wherein my macbook no longer transmits sound through the headphone jack. i have no reason to suspect a hardware failure, there has been no damage to the computer.

is there any way this could (please, god) be a software failure? and if so, one that i can fix?

please help! you guys have solved so many of my dilemmas, i hope you can keep up the good work!

thanks for the help!
 
checked them, also used external speakers to try to see if the output would work for that (it didn't)....

the headphones work on my ipod. also, on the sound menu of systems preferences it recognizes the headphones being plugged in...

but still no sound.

any ideas?
 
solution.

hey guys, for all who may be interested:


i took it to the apple store. they had to repair the logc board, they offered no explanation.

hopefully this helped anyone with the same issue!
 
I know this is an old thread, but i have the same problem. I can't get to the mac store for a couple of weeks (brother borrowed the car for a trip out of town). I NEED to use my headphones probably for the same reasons as anyone. Also, if anyone can tell me what the charge or cost is to fix the headphone jack, it would be greatly appreciated.

*Same symptoms apply as the thread starter

Thanks!
 
FrEaKwEnSie said:
I know this is an old thread, but i have the same problem. I can't get to the mac store for a couple of weeks (brother borrowed the car for a trip out of town). I NEED to use my headphones probably for the same reasons as anyone. Also, if anyone can tell me what the charge or cost is to fix the headphone jack, it would be greatly appreciated.

*Same symptoms apply as the thread starter

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If the repair is similar to the MagSafe connector/socket, shouldn't cost you that much. I forgot how much it costs but it was less than a $100.
 
So I did some searching and came across a thread that scared me. Someone somewhere mentioned that this problem is with the Logic board and that the repair cost is around $1000! I really hope that's not true...
Can anyone verify that?
 
i had my logicboard replaced a few months ago.
About a month ago, i was having problem with the headphone jack. The optical light was stuck on (i was using the fibre optic cable) and would get any sund out of it. It was also making a wierd noise as well. I took it into apple and ofcourse everthing was fine. I haven't experienced any problems lately, but i suspect it could be the logicboard.

As long as you take it into apple and they document that you have experienced problems, i think that will help your case if/when you start having more problems..
 
Whatever the outcome, be sure to come back and update this thread because this question keeps coming up... there is an issue here and we can't hone in on it unless you update us!

It's getting a little annoying because there were at least three of this same inquiry in as few days, and no one has bothered to update the posts.

We could have a definite fix by now if only someone would report back!

Thx.
 
my problem

all of the sudden, my macbook headphone jack doesnt work. i tried a different set of headphones too. what happens when i plug in my headphones is the sound still comes from my internal speakers of my macbook. the computer isnt recognizing the new output. help me please!
 
Intel Macbook Jack fault fix

I've also had the odd random failure of my audio output jack, with no apparent hardware fault. Reseting the PRAM worked fine, and it hasn't happened again since. If you don't know how to reset the PRAM: Shutdown, then hold down Command-option- P - R and turn on again, hold down until after the second startup noise. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
 
Restarting your mac

I experienced the same problem today. My headphone jack wouldn't work, and whenever I pulled the jack out, a red light will light up inside the jack. I simply restarted my computer, plugged the headphone back in, and it worked.
 
I have had the same problem with the optical thinking it was on, i found that with a needle i could press against the optical sensor which is at the back on the right of my macbook. after a night and a morning i managed to get the red light to go out and my internal sound restored!
i haven't since plugged anything in of fear of this happening again! is there a cheap option for repairing this without doing it my self!!!
 
Worked for me

I had his problem in my new April Macbbok pro. It all started when I plugged an audi jack into the headphone speakers and despite being the correct jack, it seemed a tighter fit - might have been mono not stereo. After that I couldnt hear the sound coming through headphones when they were plugged in. It was still coming through the laptop speakers. I was sure I had mucked up the connection inside and that it was a hardware issue.

To my surprise it could be fixed over the phone.

Rang up mac, they told me to first reset the hardware: Turn computer off. Then hold down (i think - check with mac) option command delete and the power button to reset hardware (nothing visible will happen).

Then you reset the PRAM.

Resetting PRAM and NVRAM
Shut down the computer.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
 
inorbit30 said:
I had his problem in my new April Macbbok pro. It all started when I plugged an audi jack into the headphone speakers and despite being the correct jack, it seemed a tighter fit - might have been mono not stereo.
Click to expand...

This sounds somewhat familiar of what happened to me.
I had the laptop maybe a week.
I headed right back to the store, and the tech reached in with a plastic probe and was able to un-dork the connection.

He attacked it as if he did it ten times that day to others.

Apparently the leaf blades in the jack can get out of place if slightly different male headphone enters in too deep.

Just a thought, and a 30 second fix.
Good Luck, and pretest size of male ends before inserting.
 
broken headphone jack macbook

Hi,

PROBLEM:
my headphone jack is not working. internal speakers off-line because system switches to optical output (red light is shining out of jack).

SOLUTION:
contact spray as they use it to fix problems with the spark plug of cars.

system is fully functional now: stereo output through headphone jack,
internal speakers active when no headphones attached.
 
awesome

inorbit30 said:
Then you reset the PRAM.

Resetting PRAM and NVRAM
Shut down the computer.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Click to expand...

Good advice bro, worked perfectly for me.
 
Headphone speaker output

Glad I found this old thread. About to take my machine (McBookPro 15" Lion, 2009) in to Apple.
Go in to sound settings and discover when you put the jack in the socket it was switching to mute. Why? Did i hit some weird shortcut I never knew about? Maybe.
Anyway, thanks guys.
 
one solution

My headphone jack was not working as well but the internal speakers were.

So I looked in my Sound settings in system settings, somehow it changed the setting for use audio port for input and not sound output. I changed it to sound output and now it works. The headphones are listed.

Hope it helps someone.
 
Solved!!!!

Followed someones advice and checked System Preferences>Sound>Output and MIRACLE! Found that the output was to the speakers until the earbuds were plugged in at which time it switched to "Airparrot" an app that allows for Airplay to work on an older macbook pro (such as mine) that don't technically support Airplay.

Wahooo!
 
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