Optical Audio out stuck on on a MacBook

Question

Apple have made an interesting headphone port for the MacBook (and some other Intel Mac models). It works like a standard jack:

• nothing plugged in -> audio comes out of built-in speakers
• headphones/external speakers plugged in -> plays through headphones/external speakers

but you can also use a special adapter (which trips a tiny microswitch) to get an optical audio out signal (which you can presumably plug into a nice surround-sound system).

This is all well and good except when, like auto-tracking, it doesn't work, and you are left with nothing to adjust. Users report that they get no sound when they have nothing plugged in and that a red light emanates from the headphone port. If you go to System Preferences -> Sound -> Output, it will say (IIRC) "Optical Out" instead of "Internal Speakers".

The only solution I'm aware of is to try to reset the switch by inserting and removing a set of headphones or a toothpick, perhaps wiggling it inside of the port, and hoping that you luck out and get it.

Are there other ways to fix this problem? Does anyone know where the microswitch is or have a good technique to reset it?

Solution 1

I've used toothpicks or half of a Q-Tip - really, anything non-metallic that will fit - to do a counter-clockwise sweep of the inside of the opening with success. I've seen various reports as to where the switch may be; I typically just sweep until it's fixed. If you have iTunes open and playing or the Sound PreferencePane of System Preferences up you'll be able to tell when you've hit the switch.

Solution 2

I'm going to share my last-resort solution. You may no longer be able to use headphones, but you will get your speakers back.

I've tested this on a 15-inch Macbook Pro 2012 (non-retina). It may or may not work on other models. The Macbook Pro I tested this on was stuck on optical audio after the jack was damaged removing a broken connector.

The solution is to create a short-circuit between these two pins on the logic board (at the right of this image):

How you do this is up to you. I was successful using a small piece of wire and some electrical tape as a short-term solution, and eventually ended up soldering it in.

Do not attempt soldering on your logic board if you do not have experience soldering small electronics. Make sure no other components are shorted. You risk causing even more damage.

Do not hold me responsible if you destroy your logic board.

Comments

[tomjedrz]

iPhone users have reported a similar problem, when the device thinks that headphones are attached even when they are not. The solution is the same .. use a toothpick or paper clip to toggle the switch. Apparently the problem is more acute when using 3rd party headphones.

[Izzy]

This is probably better suited to superuser.com

[Clinton Blackmore]

I felt it was relevant here as, as a Mac admin, I've seen the issue come up several times.

[Kara Marfia]

It's not organized so much around the role of the person as the role of the machine. The idea is to concentrate workstation-specific issues to SU, but it's easy enough to migrate. ;)

[Clinton Blackmore]

+1 excellent idea -- especially the part about having the audio playing while doing it.

[CR47]

While this works I don't always have a something like a toothpick or Q-tip lying around to do this. I put my headphones in at an able and that works.

[fixer1234]

This just repeats what the OP mentioned in the question. It does not add a solution.

[hberg]

Thank you for sharing this solution. I similarly had a semi-destroyed plug after the tip of a TRS plug broke inside the audio jack. Soldering a small piece of wire across these did the trick on a mid-2009 Macbook Pro