iPad 2 headphone jack not working with some earphones

Question

Level 1

9 points

iPad 2 headphone jack not working with some earphones

Today I plugged my Ultimate Ears earphones into the headphone jack of my new iPad 2, and I only got sound on the left channel. With some wiggling I sometimes get a blip of sound on the right channel as well. I tried 2 other earphones, and 1 of them gave me the same result, the other gave me stereo by default, but drops the right channel when wiggling the plug a little. All three earphones work just fine on my iPhone 4.

I know there's been talk of a new pogo-stick design for the headphone jack on the iPad 2. So I'm wondering, is this a "feature", or is there something wrong with the headphone jack of this iPad?

Thx!

Message was edited by: mobidutch

iPad 2, iOS 4, Earphone jack, Headphone jack

Posted on Mar 13, 2011 5:48 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 12, 2017 8:36 PM in response to shore ham

Thank you, I had a problem with a new headphone jack part that was recently installed on my iPad Air. The music through the headphones was still not clear until I followed your step by step instructions. Now the music coming out of my headphones sounds great!!!!

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Answer 2

Aug 29, 2017 3:18 PM in response to Y3toomany

Thank you so much, I have been having the same problem with headphones only working on one channel. I followed your instructions, and everything is perfect now. I can only assume it was originally set up for one channel, because I certainly never set it that way. Thank you SO MUCH.

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Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Mar 13, 2011 6:17 PM in response to mobidutch

It is just tight when it is new and you aren't pushing in it far enough. There is no "pogo stick" or anything. I use my Ultimate Ears and B&W with my iPad, no problem and all but push it all the way in, you won't hurt it.

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Answer 4

mobidutch Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 13, 2011 8:53 PM in response to deggie

I appreciate your reply, but it is not an issue of the plug needing to be inserted farther. It's in all the way, you can feel it snap into place. And there's no more plug left to go in further. If I plug it in all the way, it will only give me left channel. If I then ever so slightly twist the plug and apply a little bit of lateral pressure, it gives me full stereo. I've tried 5 different earphones now. One of them plugs in OK initially, but looses the right channel as soon as you start wiggling or twisting the plug a bit.

Definitely not an issue with my "insertion technique". There's something wrong with this jack. Guess I'll be making a Genius Bar appointment.

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Answer 5

Mar 18, 2011 6:57 AM in response to mobidutch

The answer is plain simple. Apple engineers did not pay attention to the head phone jacks when they were working on losing weight and making the device thinner. The reason why the signature apple head phones don't work is because the jack is not sitting on a angled opening and the top edge prevents the current head phones to make full contact. Hence only the right channel works and you hear sound from only one of the ear pieces.

Pay attention to backward compatibility at least for devices and components that have a little more durability Apple!

BTW this is coming from a user who own one of everything that Steve has ever peddled!

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Answer 6

nsteblay

Level 1

19 points

Mar 18, 2011 5:45 PM in response to mobidutch

I am having the same problem. Strangely enough I am only having the problem with the CNN application. Works fine for Music or TED.

Message was edited by: nsteblay

Message was edited by: nsteblay

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Answer 7

Mar 19, 2011 3:10 PM in response to Hemant Virkar

All of my headphones or headsets work just fine.
I do not know what you are ranting about.

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Answer 8

Apr 5, 2011 9:45 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

Ouch. I just got the new iPad 2 3g Verizon, and my headphones at home make sound in my ears, but still play aloud on the iPad speaker. I bought the Apple headphones and they do the same thing, not matter how hard or far I push them in. I am also a long-time Mac owner so assume they will arrange a fix for some fuming customers soon enough (or not soon enough for my train ride to work tomorrow).
Best,
akg

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Answer 9

Apr 5, 2011 9:50 PM in response to akgilbert

OK, well maybe I am a bozo and spoke too soon. The speakers still play when I am Settings, but turn off and go to headphones when I listen to music or other things on the iPad. Oops.
akg

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Answer 10

May 19, 2011 12:43 PM in response to mobidutch

I'm having the same problem. Left headphone speaker works fine, right side works if I wiggle the jack just right. Irritating to say the least.

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Answer 11

ddh

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2011 12:47 PM in response to mobidutch

Same problem here. I have four pair of headphones. Three I get sound only on one side, and the fourth is the set that came with an old ipod and it works fine (I should note the other three pair work fine on all other devices). I bought a 3.5mm to 3.5mm adaptor which has a smaller casing around it on the male end that plugs into the ipad2, thinking that would allow me to get it all the way inside the device and therefore fix the problem (assuming that was the cause of the problem). The adapter made no difference.

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Answer 12

Lacy527

Level 1

0 points

Jun 8, 2011 10:57 AM in response to mobidutch

I'm having the same kind of problem. I have it on my iPhone 3gs as well. I thought it was the headphones, bought some new ones over the weekend - same thing. Have to wiggle it all around and hold it at a certain angle to make it work. Really annoying when my phone is in my pocket and it cuts out and in all the time. I have a headset on my headphones and that won't work at all no matter if I hold it so i get sound out of obth sides or not. Finally found some old headphones today and they seem to work.

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Answer 13

Nov 10, 2011 9:20 PM in response to mobidutch

I was having the exact same problem, so replaced my iPad twice. There was no way I could have all three Apple products have the same problem. Anyway, there's an app causeing the problem.

Solution:

1)Settings

2)General

3)Reset All Settings

You won't loose any content, just resetting your perferences to stock.

Try this before replacing like I did. Enjoying my iPad right now!

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Answer 14

Dec 28, 2011 2:06 AM in response to brandon707

This worked for us. Thanks Brandon!

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Answer 15

GRChad

Level 1

8 points

Jan 5, 2012 8:22 AM in response to brandon707

Worked for me too! Seemed like an obvious hardware issue.. and then the rest fixed it. brandon707 should get those 10 "right answer" points!

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