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Volume control only works with headphones. Built in speakers don't play sound.

sn0warmy

sn0warmy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 26, 2009
630
75
Denver, CO
Audiopic.jpg


When my headphones are plugged in I can use the volume control keys on the keyboard to adjust the volume just fine. But when I unplug my headphones the volume display goes dim, my volume control keys no longer work, and my speakers will not play sound.

The problem started last week. The computer has never been dropped and I won't even bring liquid near it so I know neither of those caused this.

Has anyone else had this problem?
 
Your computer thinks you're using optical audio out. Is the headphone jack glowing red?

Blow it out with compressed air.
 
Two things:
  1. If you look in the headphone port is a red light shining?
  2. Under System Preferences/Sound/Output what is shown as selected?
 
Yes there is a red light glowing in the headphone jack. I'll try blowing it out and see what that does. I tried resetting my VRAM and PRAM to no avail.

Thanks for the help!
 
I blew out the headphone jack with compressed air and restarted the computer and I still have no sound.:confused:
 
sn0warmy said:
Yes there is a red light glowing in the headphone jack. I'll try blowing it out and see what that does. I tried resetting my VRAM and PRAM to no avail.

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

The problem you're experiencing is that the micro switch for the optical audio out is accidentally getting turned on and sticking in the on position.

To get the light to go off you can also try inserting and removing a headphone/speaker plug. Even something like a toothpick or a bamboo skewer inserted and moved around will sometimes work. Whatever you use be careful to not break it off in the headphone jack. Good Luck.
 
DewGuy1999 said:
The problem you're experiencing is that the micro switch for the optical audio out is accidentally getting turned on and sticking in the on position.

To get the light to go off you can also try inserting and removing a headphone/speaker plug. Even something like a toothpick or a bamboo skewer inserted and moved around will sometimes work. Whatever you use be careful to not break it off in the headphone jack. Good Luck.
Click to expand...

That makes sense because that's been my previous solution, if I plug my headphones in and unplug them a couple times it fixes it. But it always comes back to not working. I'd like to get a permanent fix if possible.
 
sn0warmy said:
That makes sense because that's been my previous solution, if I plug my headphones in and unplug them a couple times it fixes it. But it always comes back to not working. I'd like to get a permanent fix if possible.
Click to expand...

It's possible that Apple has a fix, but I've not heard of one. If they do have a fix it would involve the logic board being replaced. I guess you could make an appointment and take it in to see what a Genius says about it.
 
DewGuy1999 said:
Here's another thread on this same problem that may have more information than what I'm aware of:

MacRumors: Forums: No sound out of MacBook speakers & red LED in Headphone jack
Click to expand...

Sounds like a lot of people have this same problem. And it does seem to be a problem with the sensor inside the headphone jack. I just plugged my headphones in and out a few times and it fixed it for now. I suppose that will just have to be my solution whenever this happens.

I'm pretty pissed that my $2,500 laptop has this problem when my previous $500 laptops never did.:mad:
 
sn0warmy said:
Sounds like a lot of people have this same problem. And it does seem to be a problem with the sensor inside the headphone jack. I just plugged my headphones in and out a few times and it fixed it for now. I suppose that will just have to be my solution whenever this happens.

I'm pretty pissed that my $2,500 laptop has this problem when my previous $500 laptops never did.:mad:
Click to expand...

I imagine that the $500 laptop never had optical audio out either. I know that doesn't help any.

Since the problem has only started happening for you by any chance did you start using a different set of headphones? I recall that there was some speculation that it was caused by some headphone plugs being slightly out of spec and pressing on the optical audio out micro switch when they shouldn't have been.
 
Imac with same problem

I have the same problem with my iMac 27" but I don't have a red light flashing in the headphone jack. This is a very annoying problem, is there any permanent solution?
 
Headphone jack

Hello,

I think I pulled the headphone jack out too fast, but there is no red light glowing as some of you said were a system problem.

Now the mac's sound will only work with headphones and is disabled when just trying to use speakers.
Any suggestions?
:)
Please
 
sn0warmy said:
Audiopic.jpg


When my headphones are plugged in I can use the volume control keys on the keyboard to adjust the volume just fine. But when I unplug my headphones the volume display goes dim, my volume control keys no longer work, and my speakers will not play sound.

The problem started last week. The computer has never been dropped and I won't even bring liquid near it so I know neither of those caused this.

Has anyone else had this problem?
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1498056545][/doublepost]I have the same problem. Please help?
 
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