Red light from macbook headphone jack

So, after using external speakers, my sound stopped working...and the audio jack was shining red light. I looked through old threads on this site and saw that there were several different ways to fix the problem (I used a toothpick and it worked..) Only- my volume is now working fine without headphones- but there is still a red light. All the responses I red said that the light would turn off when volume started working....why is my volume working and the light still on?
Does it matter that there is the red light, if my volume is working fine...?
thanks!

meh!
Excuse my lack of tech knowledge- but all I was using the headphone jack for, was for headphones and for connecting my macbook to external speakers. So, I didn't know the port was used for anything....else?
Last thing- I don't remember when I first saw the red light anyway. I was using my computer in the dark and I saw it...and actually thought that (silly me) it was such a convenient thing to have (a shining red light) specifically so we could see where to insert the headphones or whatever if it were dark. (HA!) But then recently my volume has been getting messed up if I leave something in the headphone jack for too long....
If it isn't too much of a problem I wont worry. There are worse things.. thank you!

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No sound on Boot Camp (Windows 8) red light in the headphone jack ?

I have a MacBook Pro 9.2 (i7 3rd gen, HD4000, 750GB, 8GB) and i install Windows 8 Pro 64 bit. I have a issue with my headphone jack only when i use BootCamp i have the latest driver for it (download from bootcamp application OSX). I see that inside of the headphone jack there is a red light i think that it is the optical out of it. I try to reinstall the driver no succes. Now i need help to fix it

The red light means you have jammed the digital audio jack by inserting an analog plug too far. It is not a BootCamp issie--can happen to people without BootCamp. Here is the reason for the problem I posted in another thread:
Background, or "why this happens": the audio-out port on a modern Mac is digital and is held to high dimensional standards. Most headphones have an analog plug not made to such standards. The specific issue is the the "tip-to-stop shoulder" distance on many analog plugs is just a bit longer than on a digital one and jams the "mute" contact inside the port in the muted position. <deleted>'s advice to insert a plug and gently wiggle it in the horizontal plane is exactly on target unless you are under warranty, which would still necessitate a trip to an Apple store for service.
The best action is prevention. When connecting headphones (or external speakers), put on the headphones and have an audio track running BEFORE you insert the plug. Insert the plug slowly, listening for sound on both channels and, when you hear it, STOP INSERTING.
Bottom line is you do NOT want to insert any random plug "to the hilt" until you know it is dimensioned to fit a digital port.
My MacBook Pro has the same jack. I have a pair of decent-quality, name-brand headphones and their plug is not to spec. This picture shows their plug in the port at a position that delivers proper sound and does not let the plug fall out:
Note that the shoulder is about 1/16-inch from contacting the computer case. It is secure in this position.
Every plug is different. I have a pair of El Cheapo external speakers I picked up for US$2 at a yard sale and their plug fits perfectly on my Macs with a digital audio port. Go figure!

Is it dangerous to look at the red light in the headphone jack?

I recently purchased an early 2009 model white MacBook. Today I was installing Windows on it and I noticed a red light coming out of the headphone jack. I thought there must be an LED in there to help you locate it in the dark. I was curious about it so I crouched down next to the computer and looked inside the jack to see what the deal was.
At the time I didn't know that there is such a thing as an optical audio jack. Obviously I now know that's what the red light was all about. Now I'm wondering if looking at that light could have injured my eyes. Is it a laser, an LED, or something else? Does anyone know how dangerous it is to look at that light? I looked directly at it from close range for perhaps 3-10 seconds, with eyeglasses on. I don't remember it seeming uncomfortable to look at.

Thank you both for your replies.
GfulDedFan wrote:
To the best of my knowledge, that light shouldn't be on when the port is empty.
Yes, my understanding is that that light should only ever come on when there is a Toslink mini-plug adapter inserted into it (or at least a regular 3.5mm analog plug). However, like you said, I've seen a number of posts on the internet about that switch that turns on the digital output (red light) getting stuck in the on position (even without having plugged in a Toslink adapter). My understanding is that in my case the light came on because I was in the process of installing Windows and the driver for the audio hardware hadn't been installed yet.
GfulDedFan wrote:
As far as harmful rays, I doubt that it would be harmful because I've read about this audio problem before but never with a cornea damage attached to it.
I did look inside the jack directly at the light. I think it might be the retina that would be at risk if anything, but in any case, I sure hope nothing was damaged.
JoeyR wrote:
The power for the lasers used for digital audio is very low.
Is it a laser?
JoeyR wrote:
Especially if you didn't find it uncomfortably bright.
I don't recall having a reaction that it was uncomfortably bright and then having to force myself to look at it. If it had seemed uncomfortable I don't think I would have continued to look at it.
I don't think I actually became concerned about it until I found out that the light is for digital audio output and wondered if it is a laser. Not that I recommend looking right at a bright LED either. But I wasn't expecting a bright LED either (let alone a laser) -- like I said, my first thought was that there must be an LED inside to make the jack easy to locate in the dark (I was in a darkened room at the time.
JoeyR wrote:
If you've ever, even very briefly, had a low power laser pointer hit your eye, you'd realize it is super bright.
Fortunately I haven't, but someone who did have a laser pointer aimed at their eye told me they noticed it when they felt a burning sensation on their eye.
JoeyR wrote:
Any damage would almost always be nearly immediate. If you haven't had a problem, you're fine.
Do you think any damage would be readily apparent right away, in the form of pronounced discomfort or noticeable vision problem?

No sound on my mac book and a red light in the headphone jack

as in the title,
The sound controls dont work and I have a constant red light out of the earphone jack, with the earphones in all is okay but without ....silence

The red light is the digital in light, that is how it reads the headphone jack. The reason the sound doesn't work is because a switch to turn the speakers back on is stuck (note that if you boot the computer, you will hear the startup tone).
There are several ways to fix this...
Some have found that putting the headphone plug in and out several times (maybe twisting it a little) will work.
Others have used a toothpick to adjust the switch (I don't advise this because the toothpick may break).
Instead of a toothpick, many have used a paperclip (probably best to use an insulated one). I couldn't get this to work, but I would suggest straightening, folding in half, then twisting the paperclip and moving it around in the port.
You can also use a sewing pen/needle.
I have seen all of these methods online, but they didn't work for me. I took a que from this instrucable and cleaned my jack with a dry q-tip. I then cut off most of the end and turned it around inside the port. This worked, but after I put the headphones back in the same problem came up, I just did the same procedure again and it worked again (even after I plugged the headphones back in and took them out).
PS: I woud suggest putting some q-tips and possibly some scissors in your MacBook bag in case the problem arises on the move.

No audio from MacBook headphone jack

For all of you wondering why your headphone jack stopped working and start thinking is hardware related, i've got a solution i wanted to post here.
After the last update i made ,i found out that on system preferences u don't have a headphone output until you plug the earphones, so check that when u plug them the mute checkbox is unchecked since the speakers and headphones volume choices are different from each other, so while in one is working u plug the headphones and then its mute for that one, what makes u think is not working.
Have fun
-ALF
Message was edited by: Alfhie

Kenji Kitahara wrote:
Brand new out of the box, this thing has a faulty headphone out. No sound through headphone, itunes stops, pointer turns into spinning circle. Audio/Midi setup & sound preferences says that it's a "Digital Out" not a "Headphone out". I've been waiting on software updates or whatever, but nothing's happening.
Does it also have a red light coming out of the hole? I hear sometimes the dual headphone jack/mini-optical out gets stuck in digital optical mode. Something about trying an object in the hole to clear it.

Does anyone else notice the light from the headphone jack on their white iPhone 4?

I noticed that whenever i turn on my lockscreen or whenever my iphone's screen is on, you can see light from the audio headphone jack. Anyone else have this problem? ( Iphone 4 white)

Clarification, iPhoneMac is correct. There is light noticible at the bottom of the Headphone Jack.
However, when I responded, I checked the 6 iPhone 4 here and none of them showed this in lit room normal usage. In Dark Room especially with the Screen Brightness turned up you can see a bit of light (glow) at the very bottom of the Jack, if you look right down the barrel.

No sound from MacBook headphone jack until the cable is plugged in and -out

Hey there! If I connect speakers (iPod Hi-Fi) to my shut down MacBook and then start the MacBook, there's no sound neither form the MacBook nor from the speakers.
If I plug out the cable the sound comes from the MacBook as usual, if I plug it in again the Hi-Fi works regularly. How come?

Hi,
The HDMI sound may disable the other sound therefore you need to disable HDMI sound (remember put back if you wish to use it). Please check this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlYXiTK05nM
For example, in my machine I can just disable HDMI sound from this area:
Regards.
BH
**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

Why is there a red light in my headphone jack

The speakers arent working and this light is on inside the jack

Open your Utilities folder and launch Audio MIDI Setup. Something there may be conflicting with your sound output. Unfortunately I do not have any MIDI devices so you will have to muddle through to find out what it is. Try selecting "built in speakers" on the left, or "configure speakers" on the lower right.
This is what mine looks like:

Red light from headphone jack--- no speaker volume

I am sure that I have done something wrong
but I no longer have any external sound or control of sound for that matter
and there is often a red light shooting from my headphone jack.
what must I do to regain control of my sounds.
thanks
1.67 g4 powerbook hi res Mac OS X (10.4.6)

The red light from your headphone jack is probably from the 'optical digital output'.
I don't know that model of PB but does enabling the digital out turn the headphone out off? Check in the sound control panel.
Phil

Red light from headphone socket

Can anyone explain why I can't hear audio and there's a red light from my headphone socket? Thanks.

It's been relatively common for the digital/analog switch inside the port to become stuck in the digital position. It's annoying, but can usually be unstuck either by repeatedly plugging in, jiggling around and unplugging a standard plug as Murat suggests, or by inserting something nonconductive (a wooden toothpick, or a Q-tip stem with the tip cut off it) and wiggling that around. Just keep trying — eventually it will probably work.

No sound, stuck on digital audio output, red LED only sometimes, headphone jack doesn't "grab" male end

Borrowing my boyfriend's computer after my own Macbook died, he had given up on the audio on his Macbook Pro as a logic board issue but I think it might be fixable.
System prefs for audio is stuck on digital output. The red LED from the headphone jack only shines sometimes (rarely, actually, but the digital output/no sound persists). No appearance of dust in the jack. What concerns me most is that the headphone male end doesn't "sit right" in the jack: rather than plugging in securely, it pops right back out.
I have a hunch this is similar to that little switch problem a lot of people deal with in the headphone jack, but the fact that the headphones won't plug in seems different. I've tried pulling the jack in and out and wiggling--no sound change, but the LED turns off and on sometimes. Any other ideas? Thank you all.

Possibly create a new user profile to test if it is a software issue. If it still has problems once tested on another profile it is most likely a hardware fault, and the only option is to take it to Apple. Honestly though it sounds more hardware related due to the power outage impacting it's performance instead of a program. Good luck buddy.

Audio muted/disabled- red light coming out of jack????

what the heck? anyone know what's going on here? red light in my headphone jack and volume control non-operational. reset the PRAM to get speakers working for a moment before problem returned. works fine when headphones in, but not without.
and the red light shining out... what IS that?

Hey all-
I've worked on laptops before and didn't feel comfortable sticking a metal clip into it. I did snap the end off a Q-tip and wiggled the cardboard ever so gingerly and it went off. BUT later in the week the same problem occurred. I've got an appointment with Apple tomorrow and will keep you up to date on the "official word" with this problem. I'm still in the year warranty period (refurbished pruchased, year up in November) so they should replace anything that is failing this soon in the game.
Have a co-worker that just had a new MBP's video fail after less than a month of use---Apple replaced the whole machine, but only because it was in the first 30 days of purchase. Doubt they'll make me the same kind of offer. Still sorta miffed to have problems with my newest machine. Never had to get AppleCare, but think I'll have to with this guy... hope it's not IceBook Logic board blues for these first Intel offerings.

When on windows xp red light from headphone jack and low sound

I put windows xp sp3 on my computer about a week ago. There is a red light that comes from the headphones jack that is always on. The sound is only audible at full, it is extremely low. I don't understand this problem. It only happens when Im on windows (T_T I like to play sims). Does anyone have any information, or helpful suggestions about this? Thank you.

I think this was covered in the update for bootcamp.

My macbook pro is stuck on mute and there is no light coming from the headphone jack. any ideas?

my macbook pro is stuck on mute and there is no light coming from the headphone jack. any ideas?

Try a PRAM reset:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Ciao.

How can I remove the background sound from the headphone jack for my MacBoo

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At first thought that the headphone jack (3.5 mm Headphone:
Connection: 1/8-Inch Jack) or wiere have problem, but tried 3 different cables, but that does change enything, the problem remains.
When I added iPhonu3GS playing - the background sound were not, then everything is OK!
How can I remove the background sound from the headphone jack for my MacBook Air 13?

There is no way to bring that up unless you have it typed in a document. You can use My Support Profile to find a list of serial numbers that have been purchased or registered with your Apple ID.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2526?viewlocale=en_US
17" 2.2GHz i7 Quad-Core MacBook Pro  8G RAM  750G HD  240G Vertex 3 SSD Boot HD 

Red light from macbook headphone jack

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