iMac Doesn't Detect Headphones

Question

iMac Doesn't Detect Headphones

I have a ~year old 24" iMac (2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo) that I just suddenly started having a problem with. I use headphones pretty regularly and they are almost always plugged into the headphone jack. Recently, I lent my headphones to someone and, when I plugged them back in, the machine doesn't detect them. The audio works just fine coming out of the internal speakers, it's just that it always comes out of the internal speakers, no matter if the headphones are plugged in or not (the headphones also work fine when plugged in somewhere else). I took a look at the Sound Preferences panel and, sure enough, it doesn't detect the headphones as plugged in. Does anyone have any suggestions on troubleshooting?

I'm not sure it matters, but I did just recently upgraded to 10.5.6. The headphones worked after the upgrade, but it may be that this is the first time they were replugged in after the upgrade.

iMac 24" 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 21, 2009 10:56 AM

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Answer 1

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jan 21, 2009 11:06 AM in response to Betelgeuse135

Hi, oops ~ never lend or a borrower be!
Have you checked the jackplug? is the insulation still intact?
Try the H/Phones on a different unit! Try a different set of H/P's on your Mac!
...L

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Answer 2

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jan 21, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Betelgeuse135

Hi, sorry for 2nd Post:-
try SMC Reset:-
http://macosx.com/forums/howto-faqs/302002-reset-system-management-controller-sm c.html
...L

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Answer 3

Jan 21, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Betelgeuse135

It sounds like the head phone jack has been damaged. If they were connected to a port they weren't meant for, that can happen. And that in turn, can damage your audio output port.

Try disconnecting everything but the keyboard and mouse and reboot the iMac. See if that makes a difference.

Resetting the SMC only provides this kind of support:
-Telling the computer when to turn on, turn off, sleep, wake, idle, and so forth.
-Handling system resets from various commands.
-Controlling the fans. so I doubt it can fix the audio issue.

Check the headphone port really close, make sure there isn't any dust or link or anything that might keep the jack from connecting properly.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 4

Jan 21, 2009 11:57 AM in response to elmac

Thanks for the ideas.

I've checked the plug, and everything seems fine; there's no physical damage that I can see. I've tried different headphones on the iMac (and had the same problem) and tried the headphones on something else (and they worked just fine). Therefore, I really do think the problem is with the computer.

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Answer 5

Jan 21, 2009 11:59 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks for the ideas!

The headphones were just attached to a standard audio port in another computer (where they worked fine). As I said in a reply to the previous post, the headphones continue to work well on other devices. I've looked carefully at the port and don't see any issues with it.

I'll try the reboot with just the keyboard and mouse. I'll also try resetting the SMC; I know it shouldn't work, but I try (almost) anything at this point.

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Answer 6

Jan 21, 2009 12:11 PM in response to Betelgeuse135

I've tried those things suggested here and had no luck. Anything further?

Moreover, does anyone have any suggestions on how to diagnose if this is a hardware or a software problem? I suspect software, but only because I've been exceedingly gentle with my headphone jack and only plugged/unplugged something a handful of times in the year+ that I've had it. I suppose that it's possible that I broke something, but if I did, I can't believe that other people wouldn't have broken something by now, too.

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Answer 7

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jan 21, 2009 5:34 PM in response to Betelgeuse135

Hi, you could spray a LITTLE wd40 on the jackplug and work it gently into the socket..it could be the microswitch is stuck..or you blow a little compressed air into the socket..after that it's the Genius Bar or your local Apple Approved Service Agent..
Do you have Applecare? ..........L

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Answer 8

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jan 21, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Betelgeuse135

Hi, you could try a little wd40 on the jackplug and work it gently in/out of the socket, you could also try a blast of compressed air.. after that I would think a visit to the Genius Bar or your local Apple Approved Service Agent..Do you have Applecare? ............L

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Answer 9

Jan 21, 2009 7:22 PM in response to elmac

If the microswitch were stuck wouldn't there either be no sound coming out of the internal speakers (i.e. if it were stuck in headphone mode) or else there be a red light shining out of the port (i.e. if it were stuck in optical in mode)?

Does anyone else have a suggestion about how to identify if it's a hardware or software problem?

No Applecare here, unfortunately.

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Answer 10

den.thed

Level 9

77,098 points

Jan 21, 2009 8:28 PM in response to Betelgeuse135

If you open and then close GarageBand it resets your Audio MIDI setup and in some cases doing so can clear-up audio issues.

If your sure that you are plugging into the output jack and not the input jack, then I'll have to agree with the other folks above your output jack is jacked up.

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Answer 11

Jan 22, 2009 12:34 PM in response to den.thed

Yeah. GarageBand didn't work for me. Good call with checking the that I was plugged in in the right place but, unfortunately, I'm smart enough to put it in the right jack.

So, if most people think it's the jack, is there a relatively easy way to crack the computer open to take a look at the jack to see if anything is obviously broken (i.e. a broken pin, a cracked solder connection)? I'm pretty handy and would consider trying to fix it on my own if it was just a jacked jack.

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Answer 12

den.thed

Level 9

77,098 points

Jan 22, 2009 4:39 PM in response to Betelgeuse135

It's not quite as easy as popping a cover and peeking inside, if your iMac is still under warranty or you purchased Apple Care the best thing to do is take it's in for service. There are some disassembly links around, but we need to know exactly which 24" 2.8GHz intel iMac you have, a special order 2007 White or the standard 2008 Aluminum?

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Answer 13

Jan 22, 2009 6:50 PM in response to den.thed

No Apple care and it's no longer under warranty (it's only for one year, right?).

I'm not totally sure which version I have. The case is definitely Aluminum, but I got in October (or November?) of 2007.

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Answer 14

den.thed

Level 9

77,098 points

Jan 22, 2009 9:00 PM in response to Betelgeuse135

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_u4FhDP6-o

http://www.amfiteatar.org/content/view/155/57/lang,en/

http://www.kodawarisan.com/k200702/archives/2007/08/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa3.html

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Answer 15

Jan 23, 2009 11:00 AM in response to den.thed

Awesome. Thanks for the links. I think I may try to verify it's a hardware problem before I open it up (I'm thinking I should use a Linux Live CD and see if headphones work under Linux), but this may prove very useful.

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