The Mac operating system is known for its efficiency and reliable performance. However, even the most technologically advanced devices can sometimes experience problems. One such issue is when a disc gets stuck in the optical drive of a Mac computer, preventing it from ejecting. This can be frustrating, but do not worry, as there are ways to force eject a disc on Mac. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to do just that.
Steps to Force Eject a Disc on Mac
Step 1: Quit any Application
Before attempting to forcibly eject the disc, make sure to close any applications that might be using the disc. This step can reduce the risk of data loss or disk damage.
Step 2: Locate the Disc
Identify the location of the disc by opening the Finder window and check if the disc is visible in the sidebar.
Step 3: Try Ejecting the Disc
Click the eject button located next to the disc name in the finder window. If it works, you’re good to go. However, if it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Restart Your Mac
Sometimes, restarting your Mac can solve the disc ejection issue. After restarting, try the eject button again.
Step 5: Force Quit Finder
If restarting your Mac doesn’t work, force quitting Finder can be helpful. Hold the Option key, right-click on Finder icon in the Dock, and select “Relaunch.”
Step 6: Eject Disc Using Terminal
Launch Terminal from Applications > Utilities > Terminal. Then, type the following command without the quotes: “drutil eject.”
Step 7: Use Disk Utility
Launch Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Then, select the disc in the sidebar and click on Eject.
Step 8: Eject Disc from Boot Screen
Restart your Mac while holding down the “Option” key and wait for the start-up manager screen to appear. Select the disc and click the eject button.
Step 9: Use Terminal Command
Open Terminal and type “diskutil eject /dev/cdrom” without quotes. Keep in mind to replace cdrom with the appropriate name for your disc drive.
Step 10: Use Paperclip Trick
Straighten a paperclip and insert it into the small hole that’s often found next to the disc drive to force eject the disc.
Step 11: Use Third-Party App
If all else fails, you can try to use third-party apps like Disk Drill, CleanMyMac, or Drive Genius to force eject the disc.
Step 12: Contact Professional Support
As a last resort, consult with a professional technician or seek assistance from Apple Support.
Explanation
If you’re unable to eject a disc on your Mac, it may be caused by different factors such as the failure of the optical drive, corrupt or incompatible contents on the disc, or software issues. Following the steps outlined above can help you force eject a disc on Mac. However, when attempting to force eject a disc, it can be risky and may damage the disc or the computer. Therefore, it is highly recommended to proceed with caution and follow the steps one by one.
Tips and Tricks
1. Be Gentle
When attempting to eject a disc forcibly, it’s important to be gentle and avoid using too much force, as it could cause damage to the disc or the computer.
2. Use Brute Force as Last Resort
Brute forcing the disc by using excessive physical force to remove it should be avoided as it could lead to irreparable damage to the disc or the computer.
3. Restart Your Mac Regularly
Regularly restarting your Mac can help prevent a disc from getting stuck in the optical drive and avoid other software issues.
4. Check Disc Compatibility
Checking the compatibility of the disc with your Mac can help reduce the risk of it getting stuck in the optical drive.
5. Use High-Quality Discs
Using high-quality discs can help avoid the risk of data loss and avoid getting stuck in the optical drive.
6. Keep Your Optical Drive Clean
Regularly cleaning your optical drive can help prevent build-up of dust, debris, or dirt that can cause the disc to get stuck.
7. Seek Professional Assistance
If all else fails, it’s best to seek professional assistance from a technician or Apple Support to avoid causing damage to the computer or the disc.
8. Update Your Mac Regularly
Keeping your Mac up to date can help avoid software-related issues that might cause problems in ejecting a disc.
9. Avoid Multi-tasking When Using a Disc
Avoiding multi-tasking while using a disc can reduce the risk of data loss or a failed attempt at ejecting a disc.
10. Use a Disc on a Flat Surface
Using a disc on a flat surface can help maintain the stability of the disc and avoid it getting stuck in the optical drive.
In conclusion, while getting a disc stuck in your Mac’s optical drive can be frustrating, there are several solutions to force eject a disc on Mac. It is essential to take the necessary precautionary measures and follow the steps outlined above carefully. If you’re unable to eject the stuck disc, consulting with professionals or seeking assistance from Apple Support is recommended.
Advantages and Disadvantages of How to Force Eject a Disc on Mac
Knowing how to force eject a disc on Mac can come in handy in cases where you have a stuck disc that refuses to come out. However, it’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this method so that you can use it properly.
Advantages
- Allows you to eject stuck discs: When a disc is stuck in your Mac, using the force eject method can help you remove it without causing any damage to the disc or your Mac. This is especially helpful when trying to rescue important data stored on the disc.
- Easy to perform: The steps involved in force ejecting a disc on Mac are quite simple to follow, and you can do it in a matter of minutes if you know what you are doing.
- Can save you time and money: If you have a disc stuck in your Mac and you don’t know how to get it out, you may end up taking your Mac to a technician or spending money on tools to remove it. Knowing how to force eject a disc can save you time and money in such situations.
- Can help prevent damage to your Mac: If you try to forcefully remove a disc by pulling it out, you risk damaging your Mac’s hardware components. Using the force eject method can help prevent this from happening.
- Works on all types of discs: Whether it’s a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc, the force eject method works on all types of optical discs.
- Doesn’t require any special tools: Unlike some other methods of removing stuck discs, the force eject method doesn’t require any special tools or equipment. All you need is your Mac’s keyboard.
- Can be done remotely: If you use a remote access tool to connect to your Mac, you can perform the force eject method from another computer or device without having physical access to your Mac.
- Can be done even if your Mac is frozen: If your Mac is frozen and you can’t perform any other tasks, you can still force eject a disc by following the appropriate steps.
- Prevents data loss: If you have important data stored on a stuck disc and you can’t access it, using the force eject method can help prevent data loss or corruption.
- Doesn’t require any technical knowledge: Even if you are not a tech-savvy person, you can still learn how to force eject a disc on Mac by following the instructions provided.
Disadvantages
- Can cause damage to the disc: If you force eject a disc too forcefully, you risk damaging the disc and rendering it unusable. This can result in permanent data loss if the disc contains important data.
- Can damage your Mac’s hardware: If you use excessive force or apply too much pressure on your Mac’s disc drive, you risk damaging the hardware components and voiding your Mac’s warranty.
- May not work in all cases: While the force eject method is effective in most cases, there are situations where it may not work, especially if the disc is severely damaged or the disc drive is faulty.
- May require several attempts: If the force eject method fails to work on the first attempt, you may have to repeat the steps several times before the disc finally comes out.
- Can be risky for inexperienced users: If you are not familiar with your Mac’s hardware components or are not confident in your ability to use the force eject method, you may end up causing more harm than good. In such cases, it’s best to seek the assistance of a professional technician.
- May cause data corruption: If a disc is stuck in your Mac and you try to force eject it while it’s still being read or written to, you risk corrupting the data on the disc or the file system of your Mac.
- May not be covered by warranty: If you damage your Mac’s hardware components while force ejecting a disc, your warranty may not cover the repairs or replacement.
- Not recommended for long-term use: While the force eject method can be used as a last resort in emergency situations, it’s not recommended to use it frequently as it can cause wear and tear on your Mac’s disc drive.
- Doesn’t work on non-optical discs: If you have a stuck USB drive or external hard drive, the force eject method may not be effective as it only works on optical discs.
- May require additional steps: Depending on the model of your Mac, you may need to follow additional steps or use different keyboard shortcuts to force eject a disc.
Overall, knowing how to force eject a disc on Mac can be useful in certain situations, but it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before attempting it. If you are unsure or uncomfortable with performing the procedure yourself, it’s best to seek the assistance of a professional technician.
FAQ
Q: What is a disc stuck issue on Mac?
A: A disc stuck issue on Mac refers to the situation where a disc fails to eject properly from the optical drive tray.
Q: What causes the disc stuck issue?
A: The disc may be stuck due to various reasons, such as a malfunctioning drive, software conflicts, or damaged discs.
Q: How can I force eject a disc on Mac?
A: There are several ways you can try to force eject a disc on Mac, such as using the keyboard shortcut, terminal command, or using the disk utility.
Q: What is the keyboard shortcut to force eject a disc on Mac?
A: To force eject a disc on Mac, hold down the Command, Option, and Shift keys, then press the Eject button on the keyboard.
Q: How do I force eject a disc using the terminal command?
A: To force eject a disc using the terminal command, open the terminal app and type in drutil eject followed by the name of the disc or drive, then press Enter.
Q: What is the disk utility and how can I use it to force eject a disc?
A: The disk utility is a built-in app on Mac that allows you to manage disk-related issues. To force eject a disc using the disk utility, open the app, select the disk or drive you want to eject, and click on the Eject button.
Q: What should I do if the disc still won’t eject?
A: If none of the above methods work, you can try restarting your Mac while holding down the Trackpad button or using the paper clip method.
Q: What is the paper clip method?
A: The paper clip method involves inserting a straightened paper clip into the small hole near the disc drive to manually eject the disc.
Q: Is it safe to manually eject the disc using the paper clip method?
A: Yes, it is safe to manually eject the disc using the paper clip method as long as you follow the correct procedure and use a non-conductive material.
Q: Can I force eject a disc on Mac using third-party software?
A: Yes, there are several third-party software options available that allow you to force eject a disc on Mac, such as Disk Utility Pro or Cocktail.
Q: What should I do if my Mac’s optical drive is not working properly?
A: If your Mac’s optical drive is not working properly, you can try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) or resetting the PRAM or NVRAM.
Q: Can I remove a disc manually from a non-removable optical drive?
A: No, it is not recommended to manually remove a disc from a non-removable optical drive as it may damage the drive or the disc.
Q: How can I prevent the disc stuck issue on Mac?
A: To prevent the disc stuck issue on Mac, avoid using damaged discs, keep the disc and drive clean, and make sure your software and operating system are up-to-date.
If you’re using a Mac, you may have experienced the frustration of trying to eject a disc only to have it refuse to come out. This can be a common problem, especially if the disc is damaged or if there’s a software issue. Fortunately, there are a few ways to force eject a disc on a Mac. In this article, we’ll take a look at some methods that you can use to get your disc out of your computer.
Method 1: Use the Eject Key
The first method you can try is to use the eject key on your keyboard. To do this, simply press and hold the eject key (located in the upper-right corner of your keyboard) for a few seconds. This should force eject the disc from your Mac. If this doesn’t work, move on to the next method.
Method 2: Use Terminal
Another way to force eject a disc on your Mac is to use Terminal. Here’s how:
- Open Terminal (located in the Utilities folder within your Applications folder).
- Type “drutil eject” and press Enter.
- Your disc should now eject from your Mac.
If for some reason this doesn’t work, you can try the following command in Terminal:
- Type “drutil tray eject” and press Enter.
- Your disc should now eject from your Mac.
If none of these methods work, it’s possible that your disc may be physically stuck in your Mac. In this case, it’s best to take your computer to an Apple Store or authorized repair center to have it serviced.
Conclusion
Ejecting a disc on a Mac shouldn’t be a difficult process, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. By using the methods outlined in this article, you should be able to force eject a disc from your Mac. Just remember to be patient and to try each method in turn if the previous one doesn’t work.
Closing
Thanks for reading! We hope that you found this article helpful in learning how to force eject a disc on your Mac. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Until next time, happy computing!