Disable audio port

Question

Level 1

10 points

Disable audio port

Last month, I plugged a headset and the head of the headset is broken and stuck inside the audio jack of my macbook pro.

Now the OSX always detects my headset as plugged in and disabled the volume control and I am unable to use my internal speaker anymore.

I sent to the authorised Apple repair store and they claimed that there's no way they can remove it without breaking the motherboard. The only way to fix it is to replace the entire mother board, which cost a lot and sound ridiculous to me. They can't disabled it physically either.

Now I give up using the audio jack, in fact I am using a bluetooth headset as temporarily solution now.

But is there a way for me to disable the audio jack from OSX so that I can use the internal speaker? The internal speaker is working - I switch to Windows in bootcamp and able to use the internal speaker perfectly. So I am guessing OSX can do it as well? It's a mac machine after all.

I read several other posts about using toothpick to remove it, I think it's wont work and the apple authorised repair technician has dissembled the machine and said it couldnt be remove. Option click on the Volume button on the top right corner shows only "Digital Out". Deleting com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist is not working too.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch,Early 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Apr 3, 2016 3:17 AM

Reply

Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Apr 3, 2016 3:29 AM in response to tayshuyih

You have been valid advice regarding the broken jack. To extract it, one may try inserting a thin rod with glue on the end which would require more than just a steady hand. Another option is to employ the services of a precision machinist with the right equipment to get the broken piece out. As you have been advised, the simplest method is to replace the logic board and yes that is expensive.

Since that broken jack is completing a circuit, it may be a question of cutting a wire. I do not know which one.

Ciao.

Reply

Answer 2

tayshuyih Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 3, 2016 3:51 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks for your reply.

Is there a way to disable the audio jack or select internal speaker from software / OSX? When I reboot into Windows under bootcamp, I am able to use the internal speaker without any problem at all! I can choose between internal speaker, headset (broken) from OS setting.

It's rather ridiculous as Windows is able to solve something easily in Mac machine while OSX couldn't. It has to replace the entire logic board due to a audio jack port failure. Imagine now I have to reboot to Windows every time I want to watch a movie 😟 It's a waste as Mac internal speaker sound quality is such a high standard.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 3, 2016 4:36 AM in response to tayshuyih

I am running an ancient version of the OS (Mac OS X 10.6.8), and it is not possible to choose the internal speakers via software if the headphone jack is in use.

However, this may have changed in some later version(s) of the OS. Choose System Preferences > Sound and see if you have the capability to select the internal speakers as the sound output device, even though the headphone jack is "in use."

Good luck.

Reply