Macbook stuck in headphone (optical digital-out port) mode. Plugging and unplugging headphone jack no help.

Stuck in headphone (optical digital-out port) mode. What do I do? Plugging and unplugging headphone jack no help.

Do you see a red light in the headphone jack?? If you do, then the microswitch is stuck and you need to turn it off. Try poking it with a toothpick.
If you don't see a red light, then try resetting the SMC and PRAM and see if these helps. Here are the links.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

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When I unplug Apple headphones from my MacBook Pro sond from internal speakers not work, and system soud preferences displayed: Output: optical digital out port only

When I unplug Apple headphones from my MacBook Pro sond from internal speakers not work, and system soud preferences displayed: Output: optical digital out port only

If you see a red light in the audio output port, then the internal switch is stuck. Insert the earphone plug a few times and see if you can trip the switch. If that fails, insert a cocktail stirrer and the like and jiggle it around inside. If that fails, take it to an Apple store and have the technicians at the genius bar do it for you.
Ciao.

My MacBook Pro has no audio. Sounds preferences showing output is Optical digital-out port. How do I change this to built-in speakers?

My MacBook Pro has no audio. Sounds preferences showing output is Optical digital-out port. How do I change this to built-in speakers?

I experienced this same problem yesterday on my MacBook Pro, still searching for a solution, several other posts here indicate people have been experiencing this since at lease 2007. I have yet to find a clear solution.
It appears that occasionally inserting headphone causes this, it turns on the Optical digital-out port feature (red light glows inside the headphone port) and takes away the internal speakers option. Restarting did not restore it, but for some reason after sitting asleep overnight the sound started working again and the internal speaker option return in the Sound - Output Window, and the Optical Digital-out option went away.
Here is another post with some ideas on this
https://discussions.apple.com/message/4160477#4160477

HT1338 how do I turn off optical digital-out port?

how do I turn off optical digital-out port?

Just want to report that I too, running 10.6.5 on a MacBook Pro, had the mysterious " Audio Out Stuck On Optical Digital-Out Port" problem whereby I was unable to adjust the volume on my built-in speakers and they were permanently "muted" because the operating system was sending the audio signal to a non-existent device that it falsely thought was plugged in to my unused headphone jack hole. I thought at first the problem must necessarily be software-based because the built-in speakers worked fine when playing the start-up chimes. So I uninstalled something called "Soundflower" which does some mysterious shenanigans with commandeering the internal audio signal so that one can make audio recordings of one's computers' sound effects. But uninstalling Soundflower had no effect. So I uninstalled some other audio-related software, also to no avail. Then I zapped the PRAM, to no avail.
Then I decided to try what some people call "the toothpick trick," i.e. poking around in the headphone jack hole to see if something was stuck in there shortcircuiting it, and initiating the false signal to the OS.
Bingo! Success!
Actually, I did a hyper-sophisticated version of the toothpick trick:
First, I own a home "otoscope," one of those doohickeys that doctors use to look into your ear. One can now buy amateur versions of otoscopes for home use, to looks for kids' ear infections, etc. (They only cost $30 or so.) Anyway, using the smallest attachment designed for babies' ears, I was able to look (with illumination) into the headphone jack hole and yessiree there was a big bunch of dust stuck way deep in there.
So then I took not a toothpick but instead a slender dental prong-pick thingie made of stainless steel, and very delicately was able to snag the clot of dust deep in the hole at the bottom on the first try. Quite a wad!
Then I took one of those rubber ear-bulbs, used for cleaning out your ears, and used it as a micro-vacuum-cleaner: Squeeze the rubber bulb til it is as empty as can be, then place the tip of the bulb at the entrance to the headphone jack hole, then suddenly release my grip: it ***** air out of the tiniest spaces! After doing this a few times, I then did the reverse and blew blasts of air into the hole.
After all this, I looked back into the hole with the otoscope, and it was sparkling clean! Not even the tiniest speck of dust in an area that just three minutes earlier was thick with dust.
I then turned my computer back on and...problem solved! The audio worked again like normal, and it was no longer detecting an imaginary "Optical Digital-Out Port" device. The internal speakers once again worked as normal, and the volume could be adjusted.
I guess the problem for me really was dust causing a short-circuit. It might very well be the same for you -- so try cleaning out the headphone jack hole as I did.
I'm writing this detailed description to help anyone else in the future with a similar problem.

HT1338 audio output defaults to optical digital-out port

M audio out defaults to optical digital-out port; I cannot select internal speakers - it is not in the preferences menu

I experienced this same problem yesterday on my MacBook Pro, still searching for a solution, several other posts here indicate people have been experiencing this since at lease 2007. I have yet to find a clear solution.
It appears that occasionally inserting headphone causes this, it turns on the Optical digital-out port feature (red light glows inside the headphone port) and takes away the internal speakers option. Restarting did not restore it, but for some reason after sitting asleep overnight the sound started working again and the internal speaker option return in the Sound - Output Window, and the Optical Digital-out option went away.
Here is another post with some ideas on this
https://discussions.apple.com/message/4160477#4160477

Sound output only has option for Digital Out, no internal speakers, and no headphones.

I recently got a new 2012 Macbook Pro 15" and my sound output is not working correctly. The only option is Digital Out - Optical digital-out port. There is no intenral speakers option, nor is there a headphones option when I put them in. I am running Mountain Lion and unfortunately have tried looking up similar posts with no help. I have attempted to reboot the SMC and perhaps one other trick, but I have not had any luck. If anyone has any idea what I should do or if you need more information to make a diagnosis that would be great! To note, it worked fine when I first got the computer, but when I was messing around trying to hook my computer up to an HDTV (i have a thunderbolt HDMI cable that sends sound as well) I had a couple of problems (I think it was because it was a very old Vizio that did not support the HDMI) and perhaps some of the settings got changed on my computer. Anyways thanks in advance!

Hi,
That is good news! For some reason I only experienced that for a little while before it straightened out itself. But I know that was driving a lot of people crazy. Thanks for pointing out that 10.6.2 did the trick.

TS5150 Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

Yes if the media has such an audio track available it can do so.
There is a setting for audio and video allowing DD output to be set for Auto (on/off if connected HDMI device can decode DD), On or Off.
AC

M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 monitors with imac optical digital out

I'm looking to purchase these monitors for my imac or ones very similar to them and was wondering how I go about hooking them up to the imac. I've read that I would have to use a mini-TOSLink cable to use the optical digital out, but how do I go from that to the RCA on the back of the monitors? Do they make a mini-TOSLink cable to RCA cable? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

aberrant_soul wrote:
I've read that I would have to use a mini-TOSLink cable to use the optical digital out,
but how do I go from that to the RCA on the back of the monitors?
No, the AV 40 inputs are line-level analog RCA; they 'don't understand' digital audio,
and the conversion requires more than a cable -- you'd need an D-to-A converter.
You could run an analog signal to the monitors with just a cheap miniplug-to-RCA
(analog) adaptor from Radio Shack; but if you want to use the iMac's digital output,
you'll need some sort of external digital-to-analog conversion hardware.
I don't know of any inexpensive stand-alone TOSLINK-to-analog converters, but
there are many USB-to-audio products that would allow you to feed digital audio
from the iMac to the AV 40's -- but through a USB port, rather than TOSLINK.
Search for "USB audio" on amazon.com and/or newegg.com.
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HOW TO GET MY IPHONE 4S OUT OF BEING STUCK IN HEADPHONES MODE? I TRIED BLOWING IT, I TRIED SUCKING IT AND I TRIED THE QU TIP, ALSO FREEZING AND PLUGGING AND UNPLUGGING THE HEADPHONES. I ALSO RESTORED IT AND PUT IT IN DFU MODE AND STILL NOTHING.

How do i get my iphone 4s out of being stuck in headphones mode. When i dont even have headphones plugged in, it says headphones ringer. I've tried blowing and sucking in the jack, didnt work. I tried using a blowdrier in the jack, didn't work. I also tried putting it in the freezer while in a plastic bag, trying to clean it with a qu tip, and plugging and unplugging the headphones more than 100 times, still nothing and i also restored, reset, and put my iphone in DFU mode, and still nothing seems to work. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY OTHER WAY I NEED HELP PLEASEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! ANYONE ANY OTHER WAYS TO FIX IT?!?!??!? That would be very helpful

I had the same problem. I squirted a drop of WD40 in the headphone hole and then used a plastic dental toothpick and twisted it around in the hole. It amazingly worked.
Good luck

I am aware that iMacs do not support Blu-ray. However could I use am a Blu-ray player connected via the audio/optical digital in port to watch Blu-ray on my iMac screen ?

I am aware that iMacs donot support Blu-ray. However, could I use a blu-ray player connected via the audio/optical digital in port to watch blu-ray on my iMac screen ?

You could connect a FireWire Blu-Ray drive and use non-Apple player software.
<http://eshop.macsales.com/search/external+blu+ray>
<http://www.macblurayplayer.com>
<http://www.macblurayplayer.com/download.htm>
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Audigy 2 ZS - Headphones work, Digital Out does not

Just install an Audigy 2 ZS. Bought a miniplug-RCA plug adaptor to connect it to my digital coax cable into my Onkyo receiver. Headphones show that sound it working. Onkyo shows no PCM signal received. I know it works because my last computer used the same amp and same cable. Is there something in the software I'm doing wrong? I'm tried switching the frequency rate, the digital out only, 2 speaker and 4 speaker settings. What am I doing wrong?
John

SoonerFann,
One thing to consider is that the digital out on the back of the Audigy 2 ZS is not an actual SPDIF out. It uses the DIN interface which is similar in form, but has a different rating on the voltage of the connection. Most receivers will still work with it, but some will not. This is most likely why it is not showing PCM on the receiver. If you have the platinum dri've, there is a true SPDIF on it but we cannot guarantee that it will work with a receiver using the DIN on the Audigy 2 ZS.
Jeremy
P.S.
You know, I am located just down the highway from your college of choice. It happens to be the heart of "Orange Country" but still is cool to see someone who is a fan of the "other school" on the forums.

Optical digital-in port

this one's probably a bit obscure ... i've been trying to connect my dat (digital audio tape) machine to my mac pro via the optical digital-in port without any success. i'm connecting using a TOSlink digital audio cable connecting the digital output of the dat to the digital input of the mac pro. under sound in system preferences i select optical digital-in port and i would think i should see some level on the input level meter. i have verified that the output from the dat machine is good. anyone have any experience with this? thanks.

Hi,
Just curious, but how did you verify what is coming through the actual toslink cable from the dat?

Help. I have a Google Hangout in 40mins and my sound seems to have vanished. I went to Sys Prefs and it came up with Digital Out....and the Internal Speakers option is no longer there. How do I reboot, or fix this please?

help. I have a Google Hangout in 40mins and my sound seems to have vanished. I went to Sys Prefs and it came up with Digital Out....and the Internal Speakers option is no longer there. How do I reboot, or fix this please?

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. If not, the machine needs to be serviced. 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.

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Macbook stuck in headphone (optical digital-out port) mode. Plugging and unplugging headphone jack no help.

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