volume keys Not Working

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Level 1

7 points

volume keys Not Working

Ok... I can't be the only one experiencing this.

I have a Macbook Mid 2009, I recently upgraded to Mountain Lion. NO Problems til i try and use the volume control keys on the keyboard. If i hit the Increase (f12) key i get the Dashboard, and the other two keys do nothing.

I have found that when i restart the computer it works again for a short time (usually after i open an application it reverts to stupid and volume no longer works) i can control the volume from the menu bar (but really why should i have to do that)

I have reset the PRAM ... same thing. on restart the volume buttons work, when i open an application it reverts to what i described above.

HELP any one it is truly a nuisance and doesn't make any sense.

MacBook (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 31, 2012 1:58 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Merlini Author

Level 1

7 points

Jul 31, 2012 2:59 PM in response to Merlini

UPDATE:

SO i restart my Mac and it seems that the volume control is working. It has nothing to do with starting an application as i previously stated, when the computer finishes starting up the volume keys just cease to function. Also to add the (f7-f9) player keys don't seem to work seemingly after the machine completely loads.

I have Sound and can control from the Menu, but NO Use of the Volume Keys.

It seems like it must be a startup thing, but not being a programmer i have no clue where to look to fix.

ALSO PRAM RESET does nothing to fix this. nor does the simple restart method mentioned somewhere else in this forum

FIX THIS Apple

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Answer 2

Therabyte

Level 4

1,075 points

Jul 31, 2012 3:17 PM in response to Merlini

Looks like you have FN locked.

Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Uncheck "Use F1, F2 as standard function keys".

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Answer 3

Merlini Author

Level 1

7 points

Jul 31, 2012 7:58 PM in response to Therabyte

Thanks, I tried that also. Didn't solve it for me

It seems to work briefly on a restart then nothing.

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Answer 4

Therabyte

Level 4

1,075 points

Jul 31, 2012 9:01 PM in response to Merlini

When it stops working, try with the FN key and the volume key (F11 or F12) at the same time.

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Answer 5

Aug 2, 2012 9:16 AM in response to Merlini

i am also having this exact same problem. I also have a mid-2009 MBP and after upgrading to Mountain Lion, the volume keys stopped working. I have also noticed that my brightness keys no longer work either, for adjusting the keyboard backlight or the screen backlight. I've seen several other discussions on the internet about users having the same issue. i have tried restarting several times and toggling the Fn key preferences under keyboard settings does nothing.

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Answer 6

Aug 2, 2012 9:22 AM in response to Ian Goldense

Update: Sorry read to fast, I thought the audio stopped working...

Sounds (no pun) like the coreaudio service is failing or an issue.

1. open up activity monitor

2. search for coreaudio

3. kill coreaudio, should restart the audio.

Terminal command to do the same instead of rebooting;

sudo killall coreaudiod

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Answer 7

Aug 2, 2012 9:54 AM in response to whitewater2

this didn't work. I get audio just fine, i just cant use the volume keys on the keyboard.

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Answer 8

aPontes

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2013 11:10 AM in response to Merlini

i had the same problem and i tried this one thing:

basically i've been told to plug the hearphones, then to play a random audio file and finally to try all the volume, pause and track buttons, it worked perfectly fine. Then i unplugged the hearphones and it was as fine, and it's working perfectly so far.

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Answer 9

Aug 29, 2013 12:13 PM in response to aPontes

Thanks! This worked.

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Answer 10

Eric Root

Level 10

684,027 points

Aug 29, 2013 12:20 PM in response to Merlini

Apple support article.

Keyboard Keys Do Not Respond

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Answer 11

Oct 4, 2013 1:34 PM in response to aPontes

I had the same problem with no volume controls on the keyboard. I followed your advise about plugging in headphones, and playing a file, try the controls, then unplug. It worked. Thanks. My curiosity wants to know why I had the problem in the first place, and why this worked, but I'll stick with being glad it did work!

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Answer 12

Nov 25, 2013 5:08 PM in response to aPontes

I just plugged and unplugged the headphone and it started working again!

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Answer 13

Feb 10, 2014 1:10 PM in response to aPontes

Wroked for me too. Thanks. Good suggestion.

Before the keys would activate the sound for volume up and down, and the onscreen popu would indicate levels changing, but the actual volume was all the way on until I clicked the sound down to Mute and then it went off. Plugged in a headset, let itunes play for a bit while I clicked the volume keys a couple of times, then unplugged headset. Now works normally.

Did all this while I was on with Apple Care, the tech had never heard of this before.

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Answer 14

NO0

Level 1

0 points

Mar 4, 2014 3:52 AM in response to Merlini

None of these work long term. I have the Mid 2009 white Macbook with the trackpad clicker. I am almost certain its a hardware flaw and is unfixable via software as I restored to factory settings, I restore to Snow Lepord, Lion and now im on Mavericks same problem on all of them 😟 If anyone can pin point it maybe we can solve it ourself as I already know Apple wont help.

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Answer 15

NO0

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2014 11:59 PM in response to NO0

Its also funny how this thread has almost 100k views lol Apple should be on this

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