rahimac
Level 1 (20 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Internal speaker option missing from System Preferences

Turned on MacBooPro (mid 2009 running OS X 10.8.5) and was surprised to find no sound coming from built-in speakers. Had sound cominf from the internal speakers in the past, but now there is none. Checked System Preferences/Sound/Output and find there is no option present for using internal speakers. What happened?  What to do to get sound back?

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air

Posted on Feb 11, 2014 11:54 AM

by rahimac,Solvedanswer
rahimac rahimac
Level 1 (20 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Looks good, Dominic23. I followewd your Step 1. and plugged the headphones in and pulled them out 6 times in a row and the sound came back on through the internal speakers. Also, the "internal speakers" abd "built-in" listings in System Preferences/Sopund/Output have reappeared.

 

I did not go on to Steps 2 and 3, but did check Step 4 and found the settings to be as you recommended (no boxes muted).

 

Residual questions:

 

1) Should Steps 2 and 3 be taken now that the Sound function is listed and operating properly?

 

2) What caused the Sound "malfunction" and turn off?

 

Thank you.

Posted on Feb 11, 2014 2:25 PM

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rahimac

Q: Internal speaker option missing from System Preferences

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  • Helpful answers

  • by dominic23,

    dominic23 dominic23 Feb 11, 2014 12:26 PM in response to rahimac
    Level 8 (41,748 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 11, 2014 12:26 PM in response to rahimac

     

    1.Plug in and  remove the headphone.

     

        If you see red light in the headphone port, plug the headphone

        in and out of the port 5 or 6 times to flip the microswitch inside.

        Sound output may be stuck in the digital mode.

     

     

    2. Reset PRAM.  http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405

     

    3. Reset SMC.     http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

     

        Choose the method for:

        "Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".

    4. Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup

     

        Audio Devices window

        Side Bar

        Click the Built-in Output.

     

        Under Mute any of the boxes checked? If so, uncheck it.

  • by rahimac,Solvedanswer

    rahimac rahimac Feb 11, 2014 2:25 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 11, 2014 2:25 PM in response to dominic23

    Looks good, Dominic23. I followewd your Step 1. and plugged the headphones in and pulled them out 6 times in a row and the sound came back on through the internal speakers. Also, the "internal speakers" abd "built-in" listings in System Preferences/Sopund/Output have reappeared.

     

    I did not go on to Steps 2 and 3, but did check Step 4 and found the settings to be as you recommended (no boxes muted).

     

    Residual questions:

     

    1) Should Steps 2 and 3 be taken now that the Sound function is listed and operating properly?

     

    2) What caused the Sound "malfunction" and turn off?

     

    Thank you.

  • by dominic23,

    dominic23 dominic23 Feb 11, 2014 3:45 PM in response to rahimac
    Level 8 (41,748 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 11, 2014 3:45 PM in response to rahimac

    Glad to hear  that internal speakers are working again.

     

    No need to proceed with other steps now.

     

    There is a microswitch inside the headphone port flipping between

     

    internal speakers and headphone analog/digital modes.

     

    Sometimes the switch gets stuck with headphone.

     

    Inserting and removing the headphone releases the switch from the stuck position.

     

     

    Best.

  • by TimeeDee,

    TimeeDee TimeeDee Apr 23, 2015 5:51 AM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2015 5:51 AM in response to dominic23

    Thanks dominic23 - really helpful!

  • by kyanos1,

    kyanos1 kyanos1 Sep 27, 2016 6:09 AM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 27, 2016 6:09 AM in response to dominic23

    I just had this happen to my macbook.  I followed all of the steps and it worked after the SMC reset.

    Thank you.