iMac headphone jack stopped working

I had this issue after updating to MacOS Sierra.

Solution: Shutdown your iMac 27" (late 2013) normally and then the unplug iMac the power cord and hold the power button for 15 seconds ( Also known as an SMC Reset) with your external speakers connected to the headphone port. Re-connect your iMac power and start normally and upon reboot your external speakers started working.

Go to System Preferences

Got to Output

Select a device for sound output Select the device

It should work now. It worked for me.

My issue was that even after I put the headphones in USB the sound would output though the Mac's speakers.

Hello Befuggled,

It may help to reset your computer's NVRAM and SMC.

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

About NVRAM and PRAM

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

Cheers,

Allen

Befuggled,

Try taking a set of headphones and plugging the in in and out several times, you can eve try toggling the volumes controls while doing this. There is a switch that sometimes gets hung up, and this may free up. You can also try wiggling the jack gently as you plug in in and out. See if that helps, then try a reboot.

On some headphones being plugged in just ever so slightly from all the way has been said to help as well.

Hope this helps

Befuggled,

That would tend to suggest that the switch may be defective/failed.

You can bring it in to an Apple store Genius bar for a free diagnosis/evaluation. The price for a repair will be offered (which may not be too expensive...I never had to fix one so just a guess here)

It will cost you nothing to find out.

Make an appointment first as they can sometimes be busy.

http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

You may also consider a set of USB or Bluetooth headphones, there are many online and in stores, check the online reviews, and if possible take your MBP to a store and try some out.

All the Bes.

SJP

Best of luck, hope it all works out for you.

Peace

Befuggled,

Found your question when I discovered my earphones were not working this morning. Your systematic approach was very helpful. I will point out for others that there are different "Preferences" available on various system applications. I did solve my problem by 1. Restarting the computer; 2. Going to the folder "Applications" then System Preferences; 3. Plugging my headphone jack securely whereupon "Headphones" magically appeared under device for sound under "Output"; 4. I then noticed the "Mute" button was on (on the Output volume bar), so I unmuted and sound blissfully arrived through my headphones.

I will note that at all times I did have sound on my iMac while my headphone jack was not working. It appears there is this mute button which is specific to the headphone jack and it only appears when the headphones are plugged in. Why the mute button was engaged overnight I have no idea. I rarely visit things like system preferences unless I am having some trouble with my iMac (which is also rare).

Hope this trial is helpful to some folks.

Writerpioneer

Excellent advice, writerpioneer! Your final paragraph described my situation, and your solution proved apt. Very helpful to a frustrating, bizarre occurrence.

Many thanks writerpioneer - this has fixed this issue. This issue started happening for me on the same day I did an update on OS X Update version 10.10.2 on Yosemite - so I'm guessing it is related(???)

Thank you, writerpioneer--Your Step #2 seemed to do the trick (accessing System Prefs from the Applications rather than the Apple icon at the top of the computer); I didn't have to shut down my computer to fix the headphones situation. A mystery as to why my computer checked off the "mute" button and the headphones stopped working today. I upgraded to Yosemite many months ago.

Excellent!! Had the same problem and this was definitely the answer.

Thanks for the solution. I think I know what happened in my case. I had been plugging and unplugging external drives on my iMac and I suspect that I inadvertently rested my arm on the keyboard resulting in a "Mute" selection being made.

I have been tearing out the last few hairs I have left trying to get my speakers back until I came across this thread. Its so obvious when you know how.

Thanks again.🙂