internal speaker output device missing

Since day one I have not been able to rely on sound. If I unplug the headphones when the computer is asleep it most frequently does goes silent. I was told to update everything, I have done this for years, and not come across a fix. Today I can't figure it out at all. I do not use any windows stuff or strange programs. The hard drive was replaced because it lost all its keys one random day--and I lost a years worth of unbacked up data. I reported a shocking problem under my left hand at the same time and this issue remains. I thought it might be due to a bad connection, but I have no clue.

I have shut down and restrted so many times trying to get my computer to remember that it have internal speakers--it only lists headphones

powerbook g4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

This might be a fix for some of you. I tried headphones in and out of the jack, this normally worked, but did not this week. I learned on a related apple message board that you can put a toothpick in the headphone jack and push around for a button or switch. This worked immediately for me. Give it a try. Also I found my first year that I had to plug in the dev that was plugged in when it when to sleep. The computer does not remember anything when it wakes. I have the same problem with external monitors as I do head phones on wake-up.

crappy fix, but a toothpick might be the ANSWER everyone for you too.

Sorry to those that may have been told they needed a new motherboard, when perhapsif was something simpler.....a crappy jack.

Exact same problem as described in topic.

Sound Prefs > Output > (No "Internal Speakers" shown). Instead has "Digital Out" with red light coming out of headphone jack.

I tried calling Apple Support (nothing), decided to wait for next path then out of the blue...during a client conference call 🙂 the sound comes back from this mysterious coma.

It also remains OK after closing the lid (force sleep and back again). Have not tried re-boot.



MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6) Bootcamp+WinXp

I'm having the same problem. I've had my laptop for 1.5 months and not had any sound issues, but after listening to iTunes thru my headphones yesterday, the speakers seem to be disabled, and I can't get them going again. Argh I already had to send my first MBP back because the touchpad didn't work out (right outta the box!).

I have the same problem. The red light will not turn off no matter what I stick into that stupid headphone jack. This only happened after I updated the firmware. I don't have bootcamp or anything like that installed. Anyone with a solution please help.

I have the same problem. Been using the MBP for a month with no problems. Last night I plugged in headphones to listen to an audiobook and closed the lid when done. I unplugged the headphones and took the MBP to work. When I opened the MBP I could get no sound and noticed the red light on in the headphone jack. I tried restarting several times, tried restarting WITH the headphones plugged in, and without the headphones plugged in.
Cannot change anything in the Sound Pref Pane, only Digital Out is shown, and controls are greyed out.
I have to think this is related to a Software Update. I did nothing unusual recently, except a week ago I installed Parallels Desktop, but I know it was working after that, I used headphones since then.
I never installed Boot Camp on this Mac, by the way (since there was some mention of that above.)

I have the same problem on the MacMini Intel. I reformatted and reinstalled the software. No sound. I updated. No Sound. I used the toothpick method and the plugging in the headphones over and over, No sound.

I believe I have the same problem as you. It all started when I updated the firmware. Any other ideas? I emailed an Apple Tech that I know, hopefully he might know something.

Chevy

I just started having this problem too with my 17" PowerBook. I didn't have a toothpick, only the backside of a sewing needle. I stuck it into the jack and could feel some little hole or something at about the 5 o'clock position that, when pressure was applied, turned off the optical light. I had to really mess with it to get it to stay turned off, but eventually it did. The speakers worked just fine then.

I had to plug in the headphones for something I was doing, and then after pulling them out, the optical light remained on and the speakers didn't work. Again I fiddled with that particular spot and got the light to switch off and the speakers to work again. I am hoping that this isn't something that I'm now going to have to manually reset every time I use the headphones. I live in Mexico and my computer is out of warranty. It's going to suck if I have to replace the jack.



17" PowerBook Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1.67 GHz PowerPC

I had the same problem with my macbook about 2 months ago. Apple replaced the sound board, nothing. Then the system board and still nothing. They ended up giving me a new macbook. If you are having this progblem, just ask for a replacement, it will save you time in the long run.

I've found many posts online that relate to this, where people using PowerBooks, not just MacBooks are having problems. Mine is out of warranty, and even if it were under warranty, I bought it in the US and I now live in Mexico, which means they won't service it (only the US and Canada).

While it seems some MacBook users have the problem only under Windows, that's obviously not the problem with mine. I didn't start having this problem until just recently, and I don't know enough about it to know if it's a hardware or software problem. I just know that the only way I can get it to stop is by sticking a toothpick in and flipping something I can't see at the right spot, so it seems like a hardware issue. Even that is getting more and more difficult (it's taking longer and longer to get it to work) each time.

Alright,
I fixed it. I kept to the idea of toothpick, but I didn't use a toothpick. I used an old metal compass tool with a sharp end. I also opened my Mac Mini up and checked out the insides. That was an annoying moment when I couldn't any sound from it. Cheap headphone jacks if you ask me.

Hey I have a PB G4 1.67 and seem to be having the same problem you did: red light coming out of the audio jack, no internal speakers but external speakers work when attached. Tried everything, including PRAM reset, etc. I called Apple and I'm within the 1yr warranty but out of the 90 day initial applecare or whatnot, but the tech couldn't fix the problem so I am going to send it in. How likely is it do you think that they will fix my problem or, that they won't, and that I can get hooked up with a new MacBook/Pro?

if you could, please e-mail me with add. info: spatel9@mail.rochester.edu

I am having the same problem. Contacted Apple and they avised to send it in for repair, claiming they had never heard of the issue, not even on this site.

I have spent a good amount of money on my MacBook Pro and am not going to fiddle in it with toothpicks or needles. I notice that when I hover a headphone plug into the jack (without fully plugging it in), the red light goes off and "Digital Out" changes to "Internal Speakers" So, while holding the plug in that position, I play a song in iTunes and can then remove the plug. The internal speakers will then work fine until I plug a headphone plug in all the way and remove it. Then it's back to square one.

Obviously, this is a software bug. The only thing I don't understand is why Apple would rather exchange logic boards, I/O boards, etc still on warranty, instead of paying attention to this thread and fixing the problem?

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Well, it looks to me like a hardware problem which manifests in a software error.

A switch in the headphones jack is supposed to provide information to the OS on what sort of device is (or is not) plugged into the jack. But the switch malfunctions, and so the software (wrongly) assumes that a digital device is plugged in, and therefore, assumes that the internal speakers should be disabled.

IMHO, the software shouldn't make the assumption that plugging in an external device should disable the internal speakers. .. it should have a button somewhere in the Sound Control Pane which allows the internal speakers to function regardless of whether anything is plugged into the output port. Personally, I would sometimes like to be able to hear the sound coming out of the speakers, even though I have the output port feeding line out.

Also, I filed a bug on this issue with the ADC Bug Reporter against the software aspect of the problem, and Apple marked it locked so that even I couldn't view or change the bug. Hmmm..

Hi,
Just joined this forum...i don't know if it's helped or not...just want to share, anyway
I had the same experience about the internal speaker...been frustrated back then...even restart didn't help...
things that I did was plug the jack back, mute it, and pull it out, then unmute it again...worked for me
i don't know would it be happen again...it just happened once (hope the last).
as info, it happened after trying to use audio chat (which was failed) with iChat...
hope it help

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7)

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7)