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RolfMendez Author

Level 1

59 points

Internal Speakers not available in Audio Output

I have a 17 inch i7 Intel Chip 2010 MacBookPro running OS 10.8.5 that works correctly in all respects except that my Built-in Speakers stopped working. My Built-in Speakers worked perfectly until...

I was using Rosetta Stone software and it required plugging in (and using) the included USB mic/headset. The Rosetta software gave instructions to Open Preferences/Audio and choose the USB mic/headset as the input/output device (this muted the built-in speakers on my MacBookPro.

After completing the lesson, I unplugged the USB mic/headset and plugged in my external speakers into the Audio OUT port. Since I could hear the audio through the external speakers, I forgot to reset any settings in the Preference/Audio window.

When I disconnected the external speakers, and restarted my MacBookPro, I heard the Startup Chime (so I knew the speakers work) but, when I tried to listen to ANY audio through the Built-in speakers (from iTunes, video, clips from the internet, etc.) no audio was heard. Remembering I had to change back the audio settings, I opened Preferences/Audio/Output and the ONLY selection listed under Name/Type was Digital Out/Optical digital-out port. The Mute Box is unchecked and the Volume Curser is grayed out. There were NO OTHER options available so, Built-in Speakers was no longer an option. Without that option, I can't "choose" the Internal Speakers to turn them "on".

I have reset PRAM and SMC Power Management 4-5 times with no success. I have used Disk Utility to "VerifyRepair Permissions" (which was needed) and also checked "Verify Disk" (which didn't find anything wrong).

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to try next?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 10, 2013 12:43 AM

Top-ranking reply

harraz2008

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Oct 11, 2017 1:47 PM

same problem my macbook air 13' output audio no found..... help me what can i do...

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32 replies

Eric Root

Level 10

684,603 points

Apr 15, 2017 9:51 AM in response to archcan

Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem or a suggestion for change. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem/suggested change solved sooner.

Feedback

Oct 19, 2014 9:48 PM in response to johnp2011

Hello everyone

The resolution I used on my own Macbook 2008 can be found here. Apple will not let me post the resolution here on the their forum.

Proceed at your own risk

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=20146330#post20146330

Sep 9, 2015 9:57 PM in response to Levi The Great

I have spent many an evening the past week trying to get my internal speakers to show as an output after my sound just stopped working out of nowhere. This post, with the digital i/o suggestion finally worked. I plugged headphones into it and removed. put headphones into headphone input, restarted and reset PRAM, for good measure. Finally, got the start up chime! And viola, my headphones appeared as a device (finally) and I was able to unplug them and my internal speakers appeared. I think my ten year old tried to plug her headphones in and accidentally put them in the digital i/o which flipped a switch? Sounds hokus pokus, but I have sound now. Off to watch Netflix! Thank you Levi The Great!

13HANDS

Level 1

4 points

Sep 15, 2016 5:31 PM in response to ArnoB

I saw that when the mini plug was removed from the headphone jack, there was a red light still on...digital port still activated?

so I just blew air into it as I removed the mini-plug....and light went off.... and then the internal speakers option popped back on and

wooolah, the problem solved... must of been some dust on the contact that could reset back to internal speaker option... so that's the goto fix, something going on on the contact point on the motherboard?

archcan

Level 1

4 points

Apr 14, 2017 7:25 PM in response to RolfMendez

This problem drove me crazy with my 17" Macbook Pro as well. The solution is to trigger the on/off switch built into the audio out jack that controls the switch-over to optical out. I think there was considerable dust and lint inside the audio jack that I sucked out with a desoldering pump. Before I used this technique my computer audio out was continually switching from internal speakers to optical out and back. This fixed the problem.

Oct 31, 2017 9:46 AM in response to harraz2008

I have the same screen as you. Neither the internal speakers nor the headphones show as output devices on the Sound screen. The only way I can get sound is if I plug in the HDMI to the TV. That it recognizes.

I have been trawling the support pages (which are terrible) to no avail. I tried a chat with a support rep but gave up after waiting for over 20 mins.

Dec 15, 2017 9:31 AM in response to RolfMendez

I have the exact same problem and I tried what your all suggesting and its not working. I stuck an end of a match stick in the audio port and I also tried plugging and unplugging my headphones and nothing is working. Please help as this is frustrating.

Feb 19, 2014 1:08 PM in response to RolfMendez

I've just had the same problem and found these posts really useful. Thanks!

Eric Root

Level 10

684,603 points

Mar 22, 2014 12:24 PM in response to rtpftguy

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.