You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

headphones not recognized

Hello;


Recently after working for years, my headphones plugged into my Mac are not recognized after being unplugged and plugged back in..

If I do a reboot/restart my headphones are recognized and show up in sound preferences until I again unplug them.

I reset the Pram, no differences. I did a shutdown then power on, no difference.

Any thoughts or advice.


thanks


Neil


Parallels, macOS 10.12

Posted on Nov 22, 2021 7:36 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 22, 2021 7:58 AM

Tuco09 wrote:

Hello;

Recently after working for years, my headphones plugged into my Mac are not recognized after being unplugged and plugged back in..
If I do a reboot/restart my headphones are recognized and show up in sound preferences until I again unplug them.
I reset the Pram, no differences. I did a shutdown then power on, no difference.
Any thoughts or advice.

Parallels, macOS 10.12



What exact Mac is this...?

What exact macOS are you currently running?


You can try both on an Intel Mac—

Try resetting the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295


Try resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

(get at least two-three rounds of the chimes when holding the NRAM Reset)



if no resolve try a safeboot and test. Reboot as normal and test

SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 22, 2021 7:58 AM in response to Tuco09

Tuco09 wrote:

Hello;

Recently after working for years, my headphones plugged into my Mac are not recognized after being unplugged and plugged back in..
If I do a reboot/restart my headphones are recognized and show up in sound preferences until I again unplug them.
I reset the Pram, no differences. I did a shutdown then power on, no difference.
Any thoughts or advice.

Parallels, macOS 10.12



What exact Mac is this...?

What exact macOS are you currently running?


You can try both on an Intel Mac—

Try resetting the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295


Try resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

(get at least two-three rounds of the chimes when holding the NRAM Reset)



if no resolve try a safeboot and test. Reboot as normal and test

SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Nov 23, 2021 4:56 PM in response to Tuco09

Tuco09 wrote:

Good Day;
I reset the SMC and the PRAM. There was no difference.
I tried a safe boot. After about 3 minutes with nothing appearing to happen I shut down. Upon trying to restart I kept hearing a single beep, which I think meant no memory installed. I tried to restart a few times with the same beep sound. I ended up doing a SMC reset than a reboot. After a few times of trying this my mac finally booted . This was a 20 minute procedure.

Not sure what I did wrong but for a moment I thought my Mac was toast.

Instead of trying the safe boot again and corrupting my Mac I guess I will live with the reboot to get the headphone option back.
Thanks for your advie and help in any event.



If it is an ongoing issue— you can always take in, In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment


Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/


Outside the USA

https://locate.apple.com/country


You can try running the user Diagnostic...not as definitive as Apple's own AST2 (Apple Service Toolkit) back bench diagnostic, but may kick out an error code.


Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731




If your Mac beeps during startup

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202768


Nov 23, 2021 4:44 PM in response to leroydouglas

Good Day;

I reset the SMC and the PRAM. There was no difference.

I tried a safe boot. After about 3 minutes with nothing appearing to happen I shut down. Upon trying to restart I kept hearing a single beep, which I think meant no memory installed. I tried to restart a few times with the same beep sound. I ended up doing a SMC reset than a reboot. After a few times of trying this my mac finally booted . This was a 20 minute procedure.


Not sure what I did wrong but for a moment I thought my Mac was toast.


Instead of trying the safe boot again and corrupting my Mac I guess I will live with the reboot to get the headphone option back.

Thanks for your advie and help in any event.

headphones not recognized

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.