You plug your headphones into your MacBook, but the sound keeps coming from the speakers. Or you only hear one side, it crackles, or nothing comes out at all. When the headphone jack on your MacBook does not work, the cause is often the headphones, the settings or dirt in the jack. Sometimes the jack itself is broken. This article explains how to find out and what you can do.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam, including connectors that no longer work.
Step 1: is it the headphones?
- Try the headphones on your phone or another device.
- Try other headphones in your MacBook.
- Push the plug firmly all the way in. A phone case or a thick rim on the plug can stop it making proper contact.
Step 2: the sound output
Open System Settings, Sound, Output with the headphones plugged in. Choose External Headphones or Headphones. If another device is selected, such as AirPods or a display, the sound goes there. Also check the balance and volume.
Step 3: headphones with a microphone
A headset with a microphone has a plug with four rings instead of three. It works in the MacBook, but you choose the microphone separately under Sound, Input. If you hear sound but the microphone does not work, that is where to look.
Step 4: dirt in the jack
Lint and dust build up in the jack, so the plug does not make full contact. Look inside with a torch.
- Shut the MacBook down.
- Blow compressed air in short bursts.
- Carefully remove dirt with a wooden toothpick. Use nothing metal and no moisture.
Step 5: software
Restart your MacBook. For advanced users: sudo killall coreaudiod in Terminal restarts the sound system. Also test in safe mode. See safe mode.
Sound keeps coming from the speakers
If the MacBook does not notice you plugging in headphones, it does not recognise the plug. That can be dirt, a plug that does not go in far enough, or a faulty switch in the jack.
Sound keeps going to the headphones
The opposite happens too: without headphones the MacBook "thinks" one is still in, and no sound comes from the speakers. On older MacBooks you sometimes saw a red light in the jack. Plug a plug in and out a few times; the small switch often comes free. Also see no sound from your MacBook.
An alternative
If the jack does not work, you can temporarily use a USB-C to headphone adapter or Bluetooth headphones. See connecting AirPods.
MacBook Pro and high-impedance headphones
The 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro automatically adjusts its output for studio headphones with a high impedance. If such headphones sound quiet on an older MacBook, that is the output, not a fault.
When is it hardware?
- The problem stays with different headphones and after cleaning.
- The plug is loose or wobbles in the jack.
- It started after moisture or after the cable was yanked.
Depending on the model, the jack sits on a separate small board or on the logic board.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We clean the jack, test it and replace it if it is broken. You hear beforehand what it costs. More on our page about MacBook port repair.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I only hear sound on one side?
Often the plug is not fully in, or the headphone cable is damaged. Also check the balance under Sound.
Does an iPhone headset work on a MacBook?
A headset with a normal round plug does. One with a Lightning plug does not.
Can I use a microphone through the jack?
Yes, with a headset with four rings on the plug.
