Apple Computers: Troubleshooting the slot-loading SuperDrive

Summary

MacBook, MacBook Pro1, iMac, and some Mac mini1 computers have a built-in slot-loading optical disc drive called a SuperDrive. Apple Computers without a built in optical drive can connect to the external Apple USB SuperDrive or MacBook Air SuperDrive. Slot-loading means the disc is drawn directly into the optical drive rather than being put onto a tray.

If you are having an issue with your SuperDrive, follow the steps below to troubleshoot the issue.

Products Affected

Mac desktops, Mac notebooks

Check your disc
Before troubleshooting, first confirm the discs you are using will work with your computer. Inserting a non-standard sized or shaped disc into a drive that is not designed to accommodate it may damage the drive. Use of such discs is not supported and any damage caused will not be covered under your Apple warranty or applicable extended service contract. The slot loading drives used in Apple computers work with only standard 120 mm round discs.

Standard 120 mm round disc:

Example non-standard sized or shaped discs that are not supported:



 

Troubleshooting
Below are several possible symptoms you may see. Follow the steps for the appropriate symptom to figure out whether the issue stems from the drive or the media. Be sure to inspect discs before use to ensure they are not cracked, scratched, or otherwise damaged Inspection should include the inner ring of the disc which should be smooth and burr free. A disc with physical defects may become stuck in or cause damage to the drive.

The drive doesn't accept discs

  1. Be sure to check your disc to make sure it is flat. You can check this by putting the disc upside-down on a flat surface. If the disc is bowed up on any side or in the center, do not use the disc as it may get stuck in the drive.
  2. Make sure you are inserting the disc far enough for the drive mechanism to activate. Discs must be inserted at least three-quarters of the way into the drive, and often nearly all the way in, before the drive will pull them in.
  3. Make sure the disc is completely inserted in the drive. The disc-insert cycle runs the motor for about 6 seconds. If, for whatever reason, a disc is not completely inserted, the drive will reverse and push the disc back out of the drive.
  4. Since the entry slot can be tight at first, give the drive 1 or 2 seconds to accept the disc and pull it in on its own. If the drive struggles with injecting discs or injects them part-way then stops, inserting a disc multiple times should correct the issue.
  5. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
  6. Do not use discs that have anything attached to them or dangling from them (such as "sweeper" or cleaning discs).
  7. If the drive repeatedly does not insert media fully, or accept media at all, please contact Apple, contact an Apple-Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service.

The drive accepts discs but they do not mount or are automatically ejected

  1. Check the disc's surface for scratches and dirt, since these things can prevent the disc from appearing on the desktop.
  2. The MacBook Air SuperDrive is designed to be used with MacBook Air and Mac mini computers that do not have a built-in optical drive. For best results, connect the MacBook Air SuperDrive directly to the computer's USB port instead a USB hub.
  3. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
  4. Ensure your drive can read the specific type of disc being used. The System Profiler or System Information may provide additional information regarding what media your computer supports.
    • Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or earlier: Open Apple System Profiler by choosing "About this Mac" from the Apple () menu. Then, click More Info.
    • OS X 10.7 Lion or later: Open System Information by choosing "About this Mac" from the Apple () menu. Then, click System Report.
  5. If the disc continues to not be recognized, contact Apple, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service.

The drive doesn't eject discs or discs eject slowly

  1. If the drive ejects discs slowly or appears to be struggling, insert and eject a single disc several times.
  2. If the drive does not eject discs using the F12 or eject key on the keyboard.
  3. If the disc will not eject try dragging the disc icon to the trash.
  4. If the disc will still not eject, holding down the trackpad or mouse button after restarting the computer should also eject a disc.
  5. If the disc continues not to eject, reset the System Management Controller (SMC) and try steps 1-4 again.
  6. If the disc still does not eject, for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service please contact Apple, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store.

The drive is noisy or vibrates

  1. Read more about Noises from the optical drive, and compare the sample files provided to the noises you are experiencing. Due to the way optical drives function, some noise and vibration is expected.
  2. If after reviewing the article in step 1, the drive appears to be noisy beyond the samples provided when you insert or eject discs, try inserting and ejecting a disc several times to correct the issue.
  3. Try other discs to see if the issue can be isolated to a single disc, or type of disc, as opposed to the drive itself. If a disc is weighted unevenly, such as discs that have a labels or stickers, it can cause additional noise and vibration when spinning up in the drive.
  4. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
  5. Vibrations due to the optical drive being in use may be exacerbated by using the system on a surface that is not hard and level. Make sure all the plastic feet on your computer are present as this could create an uneven surface.
  6. Be aware that the drive should only operate horizontally, and noise may increase if you try to use it at an angle. Picking up or moving the machine while a disc is being read may result in the disc becoming unbalanced. Any damage sustained to the drive or the disc as a result of operating it in this manner is not covered by the products warranty.
  7. While a certain amount of noise and vibration is expected, if you believe the noise or the vibrations being generated by the drive are not normal, please contact Apple, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service.

The drive scratches media

If media is getting scratched after being used in the drive please contact Apple, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service.

Apple USB SuperDrive or MacBook Air SuperDrive

  1. Make sure the SuperDrive is lying flat on a surface with the silver top facing upward, as in this image

  1. You can use the SuperDrive while it's connected to the back of the Apple LED Cinema Display (24-inch, Late 2008), Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch), or Apple Thunderbolt Display. 

Note: Because the USB port on external displays may not be powered at startup, connect the drive directly to the USB ports on your MacBook Air or Mac mini when you need to use it as a startup device. Reconnect the drive directly to the LED Cinema Display when you no longer need to start the computer from the SuperDrive.

  1. The SuperDrive is designed exclusively for use with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini's that do not have a built-in optical drive. The SuperDrive must be directly plugged into the computer's USB port, and cannot be used if connected to a USB hub.
  2. If you are experiencing an issue using the SuperDrive with Microsoft Windows, try starting the computer with the SuperDrive already plugged in.

 

Additional Information

  • You can use a SuperDrive with MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) and MacBook Pro (13-inch, Retina, late 2012 and later) computers. Note that there is no eject button on these models to eject a disc. In order to eject you can Control-click or right-click on the disc icon and choose Eject from the menu that appears.
  • You can tell the difference between the Apple USB SuperDrive and MacBook Air SuperDrive by the length of the USB cable. The Apple USB SuperDrive has a longer USB cable. 
  • 1Mac mini Server (Mid 2010), Mac mini (Mid 2011), MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), and MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012 and later) computers do not include a SuperDrive.
  • For computers that did not ship with an optical drive and do not have the Apple USB SuperDrive, you can use CD or DVD sharing to access a CD or DVD in another computer's optical drive.
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