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MacBook Pro optical out won't turn off
- Thread starter ldambergs
- Start date
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This has just started happening to me on my early '09 MBP. Today was probably the 3rd time and I just noticed the digital out light source being on. Mine happens when I plug in a set of external speakers on my desk. Super bummed that I am going to have to be prepared to jam a toothpick into my $1800 laptop. Thanks Apple. 
Wrong. That is what Apple is probably telling you when you bring it in. I can assure you that I couldn't be more gentle when inserting/removing my ext. audio plug (which is by all means the proper plug). And based on the number of folks experiencing this it is safe to say its either a faulty production run of the jack or just a bad design in-and-of itself.
Wrong. That is what Apple is probably telling you when you bring it in. I can assure you that I couldn't be more gentle when inserting/removing my ext. audio plug (which is by all means the proper plug). And based on the number of folks experiencing this it is safe to say its either a faulty production run of the jack or just a bad design in-and-of itself.
this just started happening to me on my mid-2009 mbp 17". i'm not hard on this thing at all. kind of disappointed.
how much actually is a replacement board?
how much actually is a replacement board?
Years ago when a $2 jack failed a repair tech would replace the $2 jack.
I know the reason for replacing the entire $450 board is because replacing the jack requires more skill and Apple does not have enough techs who can work at that level. But there must still be some real repair shops around. Swapping out the jack is a 5 minute job and is not total rocket science.
In the late 1970's I was a college student at UCLA and I worked a few hours a week in a lab fixing small computers. (intel 8080 and Z80 based in those days) We had a 'scope and other test gear and did replacements at the component level. I was just an average engineering student, no degree (yet) and the job was not hard. Back then no one would think about tossing out a entire logic board because a $2 part on it was bad. Even today students are happy to work if you offer only $12/hr.
this happened (2-3rd time - though only bothrered me recently as lasted one day)
booked appointment at applestore (yay new 3.5jack )
then after plugging / unplugging ext. hifi jack - it worked again,
so just stick a 3.5 plug in there and should work eventuallly - i noticed the red dig optical out as well.
booked appointment at applestore (yay new 3.5jack )
then after plugging / unplugging ext. hifi jack - it worked again,
so just stick a 3.5 plug in there and should work eventuallly - i noticed the red dig optical out as well.
Another option
Something else to try, because this same thing happened to me a few years back on a brand new Mac Book. The problem was caused by me shutting down the computer with the headphones in the jack. Once the computer was off, I had unplugged the headphones. The next time I started up the computer, the red light was on and I had no audio. I had tried inserting the plug several times in hopes of triggering the little switch, but that seemed random and prone to causing more frustration. I decided to work backwards and think of things that might have caused it. Finally stumbled onto this one...while the computer was on, I inserted the headphone jack. I then shut the computer down with the headphones plugged in. Still keeping the headphones plugged in, I powered the computer back on. Once I got to the login screen (just a good spot to know that all of your hardware has probably been initialized), I was able to unplug the headphones and have audio restored. I should also mention that I was able to reproduce the problem and fix it with the same solution several times.
Granted, this would not explain the switch getting stuck due to dirt or grime or it getting bent or jammed due to improper use. That stuff can happen. However, before you go jamming a toothpick (or even a q-tip) into your headphone jack...or simply inserting the jack over and over in hopes that it will magically start working again...give this a shot. It'll take you very little time to try, and if it doesn't work...it's one more thing you can cross off the list before resorting to one of the other methods.
Thought I would share.
Something else to try, because this same thing happened to me a few years back on a brand new Mac Book. The problem was caused by me shutting down the computer with the headphones in the jack. Once the computer was off, I had unplugged the headphones. The next time I started up the computer, the red light was on and I had no audio. I had tried inserting the plug several times in hopes of triggering the little switch, but that seemed random and prone to causing more frustration. I decided to work backwards and think of things that might have caused it. Finally stumbled onto this one...while the computer was on, I inserted the headphone jack. I then shut the computer down with the headphones plugged in. Still keeping the headphones plugged in, I powered the computer back on. Once I got to the login screen (just a good spot to know that all of your hardware has probably been initialized), I was able to unplug the headphones and have audio restored. I should also mention that I was able to reproduce the problem and fix it with the same solution several times.
Granted, this would not explain the switch getting stuck due to dirt or grime or it getting bent or jammed due to improper use. That stuff can happen. However, before you go jamming a toothpick (or even a q-tip) into your headphone jack...or simply inserting the jack over and over in hopes that it will magically start working again...give this a shot. It'll take you very little time to try, and if it doesn't work...it's one more thing you can cross off the list before resorting to one of the other methods.
Thought I would share.
Yet another option....
Tooth picks, bobby pins and paper clips with tape didn't work for me. After poking several foreign objects in the head phone jack for a week on and off I ended up finding out by accident that a head phone jack plugged in half way also brings back my external speakers. So I took an old pair of Ipod head phones and made the jack as short as possible. I am not crazy about a 1/4" end of the jack hanging out the side of a $2,500 MB Pro but no apple care, so this will suffice for now.
Tooth picks, bobby pins and paper clips with tape didn't work for me. After poking several foreign objects in the head phone jack for a week on and off I ended up finding out by accident that a head phone jack plugged in half way also brings back my external speakers. So I took an old pair of Ipod head phones and made the jack as short as possible. I am not crazy about a 1/4" end of the jack hanging out the side of a $2,500 MB Pro but no apple care, so this will suffice for now.
Cotton Swab in lieu of toothpick
While I couldn't believe what I was reading, I decided to try a cotton swab (wooden stick with cotton top). I inserted it once, twisted, pulled out and found the cotton filled with black sooty looking dirt. A second try instantly changed my toolbar icon from opaque to the usable, adjustable tool that I used to have. What a fix!!!
Whoever identified this problem as a hardware problem and thought of the toothpick fix is a genius.
Thanks
While I couldn't believe what I was reading, I decided to try a cotton swab (wooden stick with cotton top). I inserted it once, twisted, pulled out and found the cotton filled with black sooty looking dirt. A second try instantly changed my toolbar icon from opaque to the usable, adjustable tool that I used to have. What a fix!!!
Whoever identified this problem as a hardware problem and thought of the toothpick fix is a genius.
Thanks
Don't believe everything apple tell you
No matter how good Apple as a company is sometimes their staff know ZILCH. I had this very common problem & let's face it, Apple do read these Forums & they do know of this problem but haven't bothered to fix it nor, more importantly tell their staff what to do. I expect it's a bit embarrassing to tell staff that they should tell customers to stick toothpicks (in my case a de- cottoned cotton bud in A wiggle it around. So much for brilliant apple technology. In any even what the heck is a switch doing inside the hole in the first place.
i took my macbook into an apple store & the guy was as useful as a chocolate tea pot. He said he'd never heard of this issue DUH! He said I may need a new board! Thank God for the internet & forums like this. Some people have being saying it's a software issue & a certain file needs to be deleted- (~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist)
I'm not a geek but another posting said "In fact you need to go to Home/Library/Preferences and delete the file" I suppose this is the same. As I said I'm not a computer wizz so I do wish that people would assume that we know NOTHING . I couldn't find this file! Easy full steps would be much appreciated. Pasting both into Finder produced nothing but obviously I may not have been doing something wrong.
If you can solve the problem with a toothpick or cotton bud then it cannot be either a software or board problem. I know it's scaring stabbing stuff into your Mac but this just saved me £200 +.
LESSON- Don't believe what Apple tell you. Take everything with a pinch of salt!
No matter how good Apple as a company is sometimes their staff know ZILCH. I had this very common problem & let's face it, Apple do read these Forums & they do know of this problem but haven't bothered to fix it nor, more importantly tell their staff what to do. I expect it's a bit embarrassing to tell staff that they should tell customers to stick toothpicks (in my case a de- cottoned cotton bud in A wiggle it around. So much for brilliant apple technology. In any even what the heck is a switch doing inside the hole in the first place.
i took my macbook into an apple store & the guy was as useful as a chocolate tea pot. He said he'd never heard of this issue DUH! He said I may need a new board! Thank God for the internet & forums like this. Some people have being saying it's a software issue & a certain file needs to be deleted- (~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist)
I'm not a geek but another posting said "In fact you need to go to Home/Library/Preferences and delete the file" I suppose this is the same. As I said I'm not a computer wizz so I do wish that people would assume that we know NOTHING . I couldn't find this file! Easy full steps would be much appreciated. Pasting both into Finder produced nothing but obviously I may not have been doing something wrong.
If you can solve the problem with a toothpick or cotton bud then it cannot be either a software or board problem. I know it's scaring stabbing stuff into your Mac but this just saved me £200 +.
LESSON- Don't believe what Apple tell you. Take everything with a pinch of salt!
Broken toothpick fix...
I tried the toothpick fix and no matter how many times I poked and prodded, nothing happened. I bent the end of it some and tried that - still nothing. But then I broke off the bent end, leaving a slightly rough flat end. Tried that a few times, heard a flash of audio, then nothing, but on the third attempt it worked like a charm.
I tried the toothpick fix and no matter how many times I poked and prodded, nothing happened. I bent the end of it some and tried that - still nothing. But then I broke off the bent end, leaving a slightly rough flat end. Tried that a few times, heard a flash of audio, then nothing, but on the third attempt it worked like a charm.
It is true that sometime you will get a tech or a specialist at the Apple store that is new or thinks he/she knows the world, but for the most part they do want to help. All the techs I was leading were very good at listening and empathizing ... they also read through these forums and others to stay up on what is going on. No one can really know it all but those that dont need to understand that they dont and humble themselves to finding an answer.
With that said, Apple cannot give you direction outside of a very strict set of rules... what is customer installable or customer fixable. Telling a customer to stick anything other than whats made to go in said hole would bring on a whole other set of issues and potential lawsuits. Thanks to the Lawyers...
They really do have to be very careful about advising customers. Those that dont follow that, get written up and then fired if it keeps happening.
With that said, Apple cannot give you direction outside of a very strict set of rules... what is customer installable or customer fixable. Telling a customer to stick anything other than whats made to go in said hole would bring on a whole other set of issues and potential lawsuits. Thanks to the Lawyers...
They really do have to be very careful about advising customers. Those that dont follow that, get written up and then fired if it keeps happening.
Fix
Problem caused by the stwitch getting stuck. This is a mixture of grease and dust.
Best fix is to get as much dust out using a cotton bud dry. Then spray a little WD40 on to the end of the bud (with the computer off) and repreat the process. This wil help to deal with some of the grease. Next spray a little WD40 directly into the hole and leave for a minute. Clean with a new cotton bud. This will have dealt with most of the dirt but any grease in the switch itself is still going to cause sticking.
Spray into the hole again and insert and retract a headphone ack about 30 times. You can also try spraying a little WD40 on the end of the jack and keep repeating doing it about 50 times. This will allow some of the il to work its way into the swtich mechanism, freeing it up.
Leave the computer for about 10 minutes to allow the WD40 to evaporate. Then turn the machine on. you should find the device working properly.
It is a good idea to spray some WD40 on an old headphone jack and to repeat the process every couple of months. The Apple design is quite bad. if you already have sticking switches it will keep recurring.
WD40 will not hurt your electronics but it is a good idea to use it sparingly and to avoid getting it on the casing as much as possible because it can feel a bit oily. Good luck.........
It worked for me. Do at your own risk.
Problem caused by the stwitch getting stuck. This is a mixture of grease and dust.
Best fix is to get as much dust out using a cotton bud dry. Then spray a little WD40 on to the end of the bud (with the computer off) and repreat the process. This wil help to deal with some of the grease. Next spray a little WD40 directly into the hole and leave for a minute. Clean with a new cotton bud. This will have dealt with most of the dirt but any grease in the switch itself is still going to cause sticking.
Spray into the hole again and insert and retract a headphone ack about 30 times. You can also try spraying a little WD40 on the end of the jack and keep repeating doing it about 50 times. This will allow some of the il to work its way into the swtich mechanism, freeing it up.
Leave the computer for about 10 minutes to allow the WD40 to evaporate. Then turn the machine on. you should find the device working properly.
It is a good idea to spray some WD40 on an old headphone jack and to repeat the process every couple of months. The Apple design is quite bad. if you already have sticking switches it will keep recurring.
WD40 will not hurt your electronics but it is a good idea to use it sparingly and to avoid getting it on the casing as much as possible because it can feel a bit oily. Good luck.........
It worked for me. Do at your own risk.
having the same issue... anyone try something else besides sticking a freaking toothpick in it?
There is definitely something wrong with my mbp.... Log & transfer in FCP takes hours for a simple clip and now this....
Work needs to be over soon so I can send it off for a fix.
There is definitely something wrong with my mbp.... Log & transfer in FCP takes hours for a simple clip and now this....
Work needs to be over soon so I can send it off for a fix.
I had almost the opposite problem with my five-year-old Macbook. The light coming out of the optical out apparently had become too faint to even be recognized by my external DAC. Fortunately, the solution presented in this thread worked just as well for my problem, except I additionally used a bit of Isopropyl alcohol, which made it much easier to clean out the port. There was quite a bit of dirt stuck in it...
My audio jack has grown progressively worse.
At first I could blow into the port to disable the digital audio mode (people looked oddly at me for some reason). Then the toothpick worked fine for awhile. When that stopped working I tried using a speaker pin to fix it, but that seldom works for me.
Today I had to combine my methods. I used a straw-like coffee stir and inserted it into the audio jack. That did not work. So I blew into the coffee stir and the digital audio mode immediately turned off.
Not sure what I'll need to do if the port becomes still more difficult . . .
At first I could blow into the port to disable the digital audio mode (people looked oddly at me for some reason). Then the toothpick worked fine for awhile. When that stopped working I tried using a speaker pin to fix it, but that seldom works for me.
Today I had to combine my methods. I used a straw-like coffee stir and inserted it into the audio jack. That did not work. So I blew into the coffee stir and the digital audio mode immediately turned off.
Not sure what I'll need to do if the port becomes still more difficult . . .
It's the reverse happening to me!
Alright...i've been a victim to the same red light phenomenon on a MBP bought in mid 2009...
Internal speaker not working, red light beaming out of the audio port, ext. speaker working fabulously... following up on the forums and the net, i too went the "prodding stuff into your macbook" way...
so i took a safety-pin, inserted it into the audio port,.. a small ball-like something was protruding out of the side of the audio port at around 3 'o clock. I found that upon touching this round object at a particular angle, the light disappeared, and the sound returned. so i kept on prodding at it...till the light finally disappeared and the sound returned to my sheer happiness!
But the next instant, i plugged in my ext.speakers and they weren't working! With the ext. speakers plugged in, the volume controls are locked and greyed out and the sound preferences display 'digital-out' as the output....and with the ext. speakers not plugged in, everything works normally!
i'm miffed at this whole thing... what do i do?...my apple care's expired as well!
Alright...i've been a victim to the same red light phenomenon on a MBP bought in mid 2009...
Internal speaker not working, red light beaming out of the audio port, ext. speaker working fabulously... following up on the forums and the net, i too went the "prodding stuff into your macbook" way...
so i took a safety-pin, inserted it into the audio port,.. a small ball-like something was protruding out of the side of the audio port at around 3 'o clock. I found that upon touching this round object at a particular angle, the light disappeared, and the sound returned. so i kept on prodding at it...till the light finally disappeared and the sound returned to my sheer happiness!
But the next instant, i plugged in my ext.speakers and they weren't working! With the ext. speakers plugged in, the volume controls are locked and greyed out and the sound preferences display 'digital-out' as the output....and with the ext. speakers not plugged in, everything works normally!
i'm miffed at this whole thing... what do i do?...my apple care's expired as well!
I was reading some other threads on this topic, and it seems like this was caused, in my case, by using iPhone 4S headphones. I think the plug is very slightly longer than a normal 1/8" plug.
After inserting various objects of different sizes into the hole, and trying different motions without finding the right spot, I finally stuck the iPhone connector back in, and pulled it out slowly and gently. This made the computer happy again, and we're getting along better than ever.
After inserting various objects of different sizes into the hole, and trying different motions without finding the right spot, I finally stuck the iPhone connector back in, and pulled it out slowly and gently. This made the computer happy again, and we're getting along better than ever.