I Put a CD in My Macbook & Now it Doesn't Come Out

Laptop CD drives are often considerably more delicate than their tower-based counterparts because of the small space they are crammed into. The MacBook's CD drive is different from that of many laptops because it is a simple slot in the side of the frame rather than a pop-out reader. This saves space, but creates an issue if a CD gets stuck inside. Luckily there are a number of ways to attempt to eject a CD.

Eject Key

This might seem like an obvious choice, but if simply pressing the eject key doesn't work, try pressing and holding it for about three to five seconds. This is the key in the upper-right corner of your keyboard with a small rectangle and an arrow pointing up. You'll know if the eject command has been registered if the ejection symbol is displayed on your screen in a similar style to the volume control.

Trash the Icon

When a disc is in your CD drive, an icon of that disc will be displayed on your computer's desktop. Click and drag that icon into the "Trash" icon in your dock. This works similarly to the ejection command, but if your eject key just isn't doing it, this is more straightforward.

Restart and Eject

The eject key can also be used when your computer is booting up before the operating system has completely started. Restart your computer, then when you hear the startup chime, press and hold the eject key. Hold this key until either the CD comes out or you see the login screen. If you see the login screen and the CD hasn't come out, this step hasn't worked, but don't release the key after just a few seconds.

Hold the Mouse

Another boot-up method, this one uses the trackpad button instead of a key. Boot up again, then immediately after hearing the startup chime again, press and hold the trackpad button. Again, you'll want to hold this until either the CD comes out or you see the login screen.

Still Stuck

If none of these methods work, your CD may be physically jammed inside the drive. There are many methods that supposedly help remove a jammed CD, but attempting to physically handle your CD drive or the laptop frame could cause further damage. If you're worried that the disc is stuck inside, your best option is to take it to an Apple store or computer repair shop to see what can be done.