Built-In Speakers Sound Output Missing.

hi all,

just FYI, same problem just started, same vintage MBPro... the toothpick worked!

VERY gently push pick till it stops, move in VERY gently circular path around the jack walls. O.

i tried the prefs rebuild first, but it didn't work.

(physical reality wins again ;-)

For anyone else coming here with this problem...

I didn't want to go poking around with a toothpick (and certainly not anything metal!) so I just plugged in a set of regular headphones, left them there a couple seconds, and pulled them out. When I plugged them in and immediately pulled them out it didn't reset everything.

I had tried using the earbuds+mic that came with my iPhone 4S (which works fine, btw) and that's what triggered this issue.

I believe it's software more than hardware, but since I don't know what the inside of the jack actually looks like that's purely speculation.

HTH.

Toothpick worked for me and the problem was triggered by the earbuds from my iPhone 4S too.

exact same problem here! mine is surely a problem of software. I tried doing the PRAM trick and I got the 'bong'' sound after my MBP restarted. But when it proceeded to the login page, the sound is disabled again...

Did you ever get this figured out?

I too had the same problem. I think I know what casued mine to start having trouble. I had my iPhone earbuds in my gym backpack, next to gum. I found a wrapped piece of gum stuck onto the earbud plug. I think I noticed it too late and had already inserted it into my MacBook Pro. Once I noticed it, I removed the gum. It was from there that I noticed the built-in internal speaker choice was gone, or came, and then went. I used a cotton swab per earlier postings and it worked.

I think that dust and/or, in my case, gum, may contribute to the problem. The internal speaker choice has reappeared and all is well.

Johnny

On my 17" early 2011 Macbook Pro I had to press the switch on the top(inside) of the headphone/digital out jack, and the internal speakers came back in the system preferences. I used a Q-tip with the end cut off.

Try this, Go>utilities>AudioMIDI set up, click built in output, On the dropdown Source: make syre it is set for built in speakers.

I wanted to thank sanjampet for great answer that worked! I tried rebuilding my plist file, then used the end of a wooden match stick to poke into the audio output port a bit, but neither of those worked. Using the utilities located AudioMIDI app. worked like a charm to get the darn system preference program to realize internal speakers existed. Something wrong with the system preferences program I guess 'cause you can see the internal speakers definitely exist when you go to "About this Mac" to see the hardware configuration. Thanks!

I'm having the same issue here with my RMBP 15'' (Mid 2012). The issue is not persists and may disappear after a restart. Yet it ocassionally comes out which is really annoying.

Just hit the same issue myself today. New 27" iMac. Never used earphones or external speakers with the system whatsoever. Followed every trick given so far in every thread about this issue, and none have worked. Did not do the toothpick idea (no one should ever...EVER...shove anything into a computer, unless its out of warranty.)

Start up chime is active, so its not a hardware issue per se. Definetely software.

I have a 3pm call booked with Apple for tomorrow, so hoping they have a resolution to this matter. Otherwise, back in the box and back to the store to get a replacement.

I found no sound from built in output, and saw the red light coming from my headphone port.

I opened the sound pane in system preferences and saw 'digital optical output'. I inserted a set of headphones and just wiggled them a bit. A headphone option became available after doing so, and when I removed them, I saw that the built in output had returned - and hooray I have sound.

Found this tip on another forum and it worked for me:

-Open your Sound control panel so you can see your output options

-Get a toothpick, blunt the end just a bit, and gently poke around the back of your digital jack. You'll feel it give just a bit as the switch back there gets pressed.

-Watch the output in the control panel as it turns from Digital Out to Built-In Speakers!

It took a bit of poking, and I never saw the infamous red light showing I was in digital out mode, but it did finally let go and reset my output. YMMV, but give it a try.

I can't believe this worked - thank you Lee!

IT WORKED FOR ME

-Open your Sound control panel so you can see your output options

-Get a toothpick, blunt the end just a bit, and gently poke around the back of your digital jack. You'll feel it give just a bit as the switch back there gets pressed.

-Watch the output in the control panel as it turns from Digital Out to Built-In Speakers!

It took a bit of poking, and I never saw the infamous red light showing I was in digital out mode, but it did finally let go and reset my output. YMMV, but give it a try.

Its amazing.

Thank you

awesome! Too nervous to poke around with a toothpick, so tried wiping the .plist files - no luck.

Looked around for a toothpick, couldn't find one, so tried, of all things, a little plastic LEGO shovel - worked like a charm

THANKS