iPhone stuck in "headphones" mode

Same happens to me and, each time, at the end of long phone calls.
I agree, the problem is heating related.
I cant help but would be nice to figure out if this problem started to happen with some firmware version.

Could be a software bug or something else 🙂

While hardware has to be involved, software may have a contributing role --- or software could be modified so that headphone jack could be disabled at will. It is doubtful that it is purely hardware, as numerous posters have reported that their recently replaced iPhones start doing the same thing very shortly after they are acquired.

Note to moderator: This thread is still marked as "answered" which it most definitely is not. Please modify.

Thanks Keith, very good video, I saw it and felt totally identified with it.

I urge some Apple tech to watch it. There are now reports of this all over the Internet. Some even state that replacement phones from Apple have the same problem, it's a shame! Apple should take care or at least have a look at it and conclude if its their fault or no, or provide some software fix for it (a simple "disable headphone" would at least provide some workaround)

Keith, I do have exactly the same problem with my phone, even after headphone jack/flex replacement, so the heat issue seems to be on the mainboard. I had it with OS 3.0.x and now with 3.1.x.

So as others have said, it's not the battery, and it's not the iphone headphone jack itself. I now have both of mine replaced and still have the problem.

Something is amiss somewhere. I can say I had this problem when I had 3.0 installed, but it's really bad now under 3.1.2

The "q-tip/air/cleaning" solution is a joke, that might work for someone with that situation, but it's certainly not the case for many of us. Apple please help!

Keith,

Nice demo. How long do you get normal function without the additional heat you added to speed up the demonstration?

My experiment tonight, at the suggestion of my Apple expert callback, involved putting my phone back to basic 3.1.2 without any additional apps. While at first it seemed better, after 45 minutes on the phone (hand to ear) it went spontaneously to headphone mode. 60 seconds in the freezer, and we were back to normal. Got another 20 minutes, then back to headphones. 60 second freezer treatment restored normal function of phone for another 12 minutes, when phone reverted to headphone mode again.

At that point, I terminated the experiment, as it is obvious that it is not Apps, or a corrupted backup, that is the problem. It's the heat, baby, though I don't know if there is a direct hardware switch that flips to headphone mode, or if it is software mediated. Apple knows, and I wish they would fix it.

One more note: because of the way this thread originated, we're still getting some of the lint/recently plugged in headphones crowd, like Walter above. Should we open a new thread, titled like " iPhone spontaneously switches to headphone mode" so that crowd can get their answer (clean your jack) and we can work on ours?

Will contact my "expert" this weekend with latest results, and suggest Apple read these, and watch your video.

I too have done many a test with my 3G and determined it is a heat issue. Interestingly enough, when I called support, the tech referenced that this is a problem and had viewed several forum posts and suggested I go to an Apple Store to have it looked at. Unfortunately I don't have a local store so I am out of luck. I will continue to watch this thread in hopes that an answer becomes apparent. I too am out of warranty but believe Apple should issue a recall or make good with replacements. Perhaps a software upgrade could solve the problem, but I doubt it. It is becoming a serious problem when on a business call it randomly goes to headphone mode and the caller can't hear me and I can't hear them.

Well for me it seems to be a heat issue. If I use my Iphone extensively and the back is warm to the touch it will go into headphone mode. If I then leave it for a few minutes, the lockscreen will flash on and that means its back in normal speaker mode. With it charging, it doesn't seem to flash on and it seems to take longer to get out of headphone mode, but I expect that is because charging heats it somewhat. I will try the freezer trick when I get home.

FYI, I've replaced my battery, my headphone jack assembly and cable and the entire front screen assembly, which only leaves the mainboard as the problem. So, aparrently, the heat is coming off the main board and causing the issue.

When you say nothing else worked, how many other things did you try? Did you try a couple of minutes in the freezer, or cold to the back of the phone? If you say "nothing" you must enumerate those attempts, or you confuse some people and add no new info to this problem. You must also indicate which problem you have ---- does it spontaneously go to headphones mode, or does it stick in the mode after headphone use?

Guys,

It would be very interesting if someone launched an app that could make the user capable to switch from headphone mode manually... does anybody know if it is possible?

Message was edited by: cborge14

Thank you soooooooo much!! I had tried everything on here too and was getting so upset that it would be stuck like that forever! And then I tried your method of wiggling back and forth while taking out and it now works!!

You are a star!!! Thank you Hannaht!

x

Apple *****!
I'm a big ex fan of Apple, with more than 8 years purchasing all of their products, even living in Argentina. But for one year, with my 3G Iphone, I can't solve this malfunction hardware problem, and nobody like to help me...
In 8 years I never saw a company like Microsoft in my products, but actually I think they are the same. Customer LOSES ALL THE TIME!!!!!

OK, I've read the solutions, tried ALL of them, but my phone won't ring, it only vibrates. My earphones work fine. I just don't get any sound when the phone "rings." Irritated that my new favorite toy is letting me down.

could you help me also?

my iphone when i call people doesnt ring or make any noise through the ear speaker,
it works on loud speaker and through the headphones! what could be causing this?

Thanks

My ringtone trick failed me for the first time last week after using the phone with my kids for games for heavy use. It did stabilise again after changing the ringtone and been fine since. I have to agree its disturbing and im dubious to buy another phone when this one finally dies....