Marvest

Q: Lost sound on Mac mini (Late 2012) Yosemite 10.10.1

Hello everybody,

I lost the sound on my Mac mini. It was working just fine a few days ago. (I tried restoring it to an earlier date but no joy). I tried the troubleshooting mentioned here Troubleshooting issues with no audio from built-in speakers on Macs - Apple Support to no avail. I tried connecting external speakers (which worked in the past) but nothing. They don't show on the Audio/Output screen.

I can see the Audio icon on my screen. I can increase and decrease volume from my keyboard (through F11/F12). But no sound. I have reset the PRAM, reset the SMC (by unplugin/plugin power cord). Pretty much runnig out of options. Any advice will be welcome. Thanks.

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Dec 15, 2014 4:25 PM

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Q: Lost sound on Mac mini (Late 2012) Yosemite 10.10.1

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  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 15, 2014 5:29 PM in response to Marvest
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Dec 15, 2014 5:29 PM in response to Marvest

    There are many possible causes for this issue. Take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Some may not apply to your model. Back up all data before making any changes.

    1. Start with the steps recommended in this support article. Don't skip any of the steps. It's the starting point for further efforts to solve the problem.

    2. Make sure you have a fully up-to-date installation of OS X.

    3. If you've installed an application called "Memory Clean" or any other third-party software that is supposed to "clean" or "purge" memory automatically, remove it according to the developer's instructions and restart. You should do that even if the software is not causing the problem, because it's useless.

    4. Other third-party software that has been reported to interfere with sound output includes "Boom" and "Samsung Kies." If applicable, uninstall according to the developer's instructions (not by dragging something to the Trash.)

    5. If an AirPlay device is selected for sound output from iTunes (or from other applications via third-party software such as "Airfoil"), deselect it.

    6. Launch the application "Audio MIDI Setup" by entering the first few letters of its name in a Spotlight search and selecting it in the results (it should be at the top.) Select Built-in Output from the list on the left. If the Mute boxes are checked, uncheck them.

    7. If a red light is visible in the audio-out port when sound should be playing, the internal switch is stuck in the position for digital output. You may be able to free it by inserting and removing a mini-stereo jack of the proper size. Inserting any kind of tool in the port may cause damage that won't be covered by the warranty.

    If there's no red light, the switch may still be stuck in the headphone position. Try to free it the same way.

    8. Disconnect all wired peripherals except keyboard and mouse, if applicable. If more than one display is connected, disconnect all extra ones. Restart and test.

    9. If you have a MacBook Air, turn off Bluetooth and restart.

    10. Start up in safe mode. Don't log in; just restart as usual when the login screen appears. When you do, make sure the words "Safe Boot" do not appear in the login screen. If they do, the system is still in safe mode and sound won't work.

    11. Reset the NVRAM.

    12. Reset the SMC.

    13. Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

    /Library/Preferences/Audio

    Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

              Services Reveal in Finder (or just Reveal)

    from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart the computer and empty the Trash. Recreate your settings in the Sound preference pane.

    *If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C. In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    14. Reinstall OS X after backing up all data.

    15. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store.

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Dec 16, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Thank you for your prompt reply. Much appreciated. I went through the list up to 14 and still no joy. I chatted with support as well and they recommended Safe Mode and to create another user account. Still no sound. What I finally did is to hook up my Mac mini to my Dell monitor U2413 using the DisplayPort instead of HDMI. I plugged my speakers to the audio out port of the monitor and selected it on my Mac Sound/Output. Not ideal solution but workable until I can take my Mac mini to the Apple Store. I still wonder why this problem arises. Why is the audio port so vulnerable?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 16, 2014 10:16 AM in response to Marvest
    Level 9 (50,816 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2014 10:16 AM in response to Marvest

    Marvest wrote:

     

    What I finally did is to hook up my Mac mini to my Dell monitor U2413 using the DisplayPort instead of HDMI. I plugged my speakers to the audio out port of the monitor and selected it on my Mac Sound/Output. Not ideal solution but workable until I can take my Mac mini to the Apple Store. I still wonder why this problem arises. Why is the audio port so vulnerable?

    If the audio port is providing audio (as you say) to your monitor exactly how is it vulnerable?

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Dec 16, 2014 10:23 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 10:23 AM in response to Csound1

    What I meant is the audio port is not working as it should. When I plug in headphones there's no sound. If I plug in the speakers directly to the Mac mini's audio port there's no sound. In other words no sound coming from the internal speakers.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 16, 2014 10:28 AM in response to Marvest
    Level 9 (50,816 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2014 10:28 AM in response to Marvest

    Now I am lost,

     

    Are you saying that the port provides audio to the TV but not to a pair of headphones?

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Dec 16, 2014 10:37 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 10:37 AM in response to Csound1

    Yes. It is really weird. I can tell audio is coming out of the computer but not through the internal speakers. Before my actual workaround I tested the sound with Skype using a Logitech camera with speakers and it worked as well.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 16, 2014 10:46 AM in response to Marvest
    Level 9 (50,816 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2014 10:46 AM in response to Marvest

    I am surprised that one port can supply voltage to a TV input but not to a pair of headphones, the requirements are vey similar (>20K load impedance similar drive voltages). None of which has anything to do with the HDMI audio either. Something is not working correctly, can you do any audio testing? (a multimeter and a cable to connect it to the audio port is needed)?

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Dec 16, 2014 11:09 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 11:09 AM in response to Csound1

    I don't have a multimeter unfortunately. Just to be clear. My Mac mini is connected to the monitor through the DisplayPort. I'm not using the audio port itself to connect to the monitor. But I can see the monitor displayed on Sound/Output and I can select it (see photo). Which is not the case when I connect the speakers directly to the audio port. The speakers don't show on Sound/Output.

     

    Screenshot 2014-12-16 14.05.47.png

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 16, 2014 11:11 AM in response to Marvest
    Level 9 (50,816 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2014 11:11 AM in response to Marvest

    Ah, your not using the audio port then, sorry.

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Dec 16, 2014 12:27 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 12:27 PM in response to Csound1

    I wish there was some app to diagnose hardware components. During this troubleshooting process I did the memory diagnostic test but I didn't find a way to diagnose something else.

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Dec 16, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Marvest
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Marvest

    Just wanted to clarify that I run the Apple Hardware Test. At the beginning it showed "testing memory" and then just "testing in progress". So I assumed it was just testing the memory. But according to the description it tests "computer's hardware components". So I guess it tests everything. By the way the result of the test was "no trouble found".

  • by Marvest,

    Marvest Marvest Jan 2, 2015 10:57 AM in response to Marvest
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 2, 2015 10:57 AM in response to Marvest

    Just wanted to update on the status of my Mini Mac. I took it to the Apple Store and they had to replace the Logic Board. Now is working fine.

  • by Bertram Shure,

    Bertram Shure Bertram Shure Mar 3, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Linc Davis

    #7 fixed my problem!

     

    thanks!!!!