apanster

Q: Broken headphone jack! 3.5mm dillemma. Help. Please.

Hi.

So my headphone jack has broken off clean into two pieces.

The trouble is the 3.5mm jack protuberant is now stuck inside my iTouch and due to the amazing self-locking mechanism of earphone/headphone ends, it will not come out, whatever I do.

Tweezers have not helped, neither has a small magnet.

I'm glad I gave up on the magnet for I have now come to know that the hdd is right next to the earphone socket.

Anyway, I need help.

How do I get that broken-piece out of the socket?!

 

Please. Help.

Many thanks, in advance.

 

- AP.

iPod touch, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Aug 1, 2012 5:53 AM

Close

Q: Broken headphone jack! 3.5mm dillemma. Help. Please.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 4 last Next
  • by meloakes,

    meloakes meloakes Aug 5, 2013 6:18 PM in response to apanster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2013 6:18 PM in response to apanster

    If you have the remaining portion of the mini plug, as I did, then coat the piece with oil or liquid soap. Next get small tube of gel super glue. With toothpick put tiny portion of super glue inside the tip of broken tip. Not too much or you will glue plug to jack. Soap should keep this from happening. Insert plug and press hard for several minutes. Now pull the plug out. Voila, out came the broken piece.

  • by Camus Live Art,

    Camus Live Art Camus Live Art Aug 8, 2013 6:10 AM in response to moorem85
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 8, 2013 6:10 AM in response to moorem85

    moorem85Thumbtack advice TOTALLY WORKED!

     

    I was avoiding using glue and paying for this fix...

     

    The jack has a ring of plastic that the thumbtack just borrowed into and I was able to slowly pull it out

     

    Safest bet yet

  • by Scootsk,

    Scootsk Scootsk Aug 11, 2013 12:07 PM in response to moorem85
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 11, 2013 12:07 PM in response to moorem85

    Used the bent thumbtack, worked like a charm.  All other remedies failed, although, I did not have access to a antenna tube. Thank you moorem85!

  • by maxeos,

    maxeos maxeos Aug 19, 2013 6:07 AM in response to moorem85
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2013 6:07 AM in response to moorem85

    The thumbtack solved it!

     

    I had low expectations, as I thought that I would be required to hook into metal with a metal thumbtack...

     

    Hardest part was bending the thumbtack.

     

    Thanks for making my day so much better!

  • by higginsf,

    higginsf higginsf Aug 22, 2013 9:34 PM in response to moorem85
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 22, 2013 9:34 PM in response to moorem85

    moorem85, you're a genius.  Such a simple solution and it works!  I took the same type of push pin and bent the tip by squeezing the pin (from tip to top) in a pair of plyers.  - took two seconds.  Snagged the plastic of the embedded tip a couple of times, and pulled - nothing seemed to happen, until I turned the iPad mini upside down.

     

    Guess what drops out? the tiny broken tip of the headphone jack.  This solution works, doesn't seem to endanger the device and price is the cost of a push pin.  Moorem85, you win the McGyver contest.  Thanks a bunch!

  • by Edmontonapple,

    Edmontonapple Edmontonapple Aug 25, 2013 4:13 PM in response to apanster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2013 4:13 PM in response to apanster

    I did the same thing and it was easy to remove.  Do not use glue it will not work and if the glue seeps down into the chamber it may make it harder to remove.  I used a small wall hook ( one that will screw into a wall).  I gently twisted the screw a few turns into the broken jack and out it came.  You do not have to screw it in very far for it to work.  You could also use a small screw and screwdriver but i found the hook was easier to manipulate and turn.  It took all of about 15 sec and it was out.  Hope this helps

  • by Petsivas,

    Petsivas Petsivas Sep 10, 2013 6:13 AM in response to apanster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 6:13 AM in response to apanster

    I have successfully managed to pull out the broken piece without glue or anything else but a headphone jack.

    All you need to do is find a headphone/mic jack that you don't need.

    Hold the middle piece and pull out the end piece carefully not to damage the plastic bit that separates the pieces.

    Enter the 2/3rds now jack into the iPad's headphone jack and push it to lock with the broken piece.

    Thats all. I hope i helped.

  • by Bsjajj,

    Bsjajj Bsjajj Sep 29, 2013 4:06 PM in response to mlgk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2013 4:06 PM in response to mlgk

    Hi, I am having the same issue you mentioned with no luck of getting the stuck piece of my headphone out of the jack....I also ordered the same syba accessory you did....could you tell me if you've recieved yours yet and if you have did it work? thanks!

  • by mlgk,

    mlgk mlgk Sep 29, 2013 4:49 PM in response to Bsjajj
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2013 4:49 PM in response to Bsjajj

    I am so sorry. The syba accessory did not work, only bluetooth to a speaker.The other solutions in this discussion might have worked for me had I not let a jeweler touch it with his small drill.

  • by Bsjajj,

    Bsjajj Bsjajj Sep 29, 2013 6:49 PM in response to mlgk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2013 6:49 PM in response to mlgk

    So I don't buy the wrong speakers could you tell me what brand/model bluetooth speakers you used that worked? Thanks!

  • by GiantAntEater,

    GiantAntEater GiantAntEater Oct 3, 2013 1:47 AM in response to astraphell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2013 1:47 AM in response to astraphell

    Hi

     

    Just joined to say thanks for this! I was getting no sound from my Macbook & could feel there was something stuck in the socket. I pushed in the refill from a cheap ballpoint(cylinder first) & it magically pulled out the end of a headphone jack! Saved me a lot of bother, thanks!

  • by TamO.,

    TamO. TamO. Oct 4, 2013 10:44 AM in response to apanster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2013 10:44 AM in response to apanster

    Hi. Thanks for the suggestions! I couldn't find a pen that would fit so I used a cocktail straw! It thinner so it can grip tighter pieces. As you push in feel that it's getting tough to pull back out... Then twist several times so the straw can go around the stuck piece. It took me 3 tries and I finally pulled it out... Upside down can help but just even holding it sideways helped pull it forward and out. 1 hour of freaking out n I got it out! Thanks.

  • by Kittencakes13,

    Kittencakes13 Kittencakes13 Oct 13, 2013 11:29 AM in response to apanster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2013 11:29 AM in response to apanster

    Here's an easy way to get it out no matter what device you have or what's stuck in it. I took a paper clip and heated the end of it. Next I put it into the jack and let it melt to the plastic then I pulled it out and bam! Problem solved!

  • by zaki86,

    zaki86 zaki86 Nov 7, 2013 4:21 AM in response to apanster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2013 4:21 AM in response to apanster

    Hi All

     

    I too am one of those unfortunate macbook users who got their headphone cable stuck inside the headphone jack. My macbook slid out of my hand as I lifted it up while it was connected to my stereo and the cable snapped off inside. I tried all the super glue tricks and super thin tweezers. Nothing worked. I was pretty devastated.

     

    I even went to the Apple store and wasted 1 hour of my time waiting to get served (with an appointment) only to be told that the Genius guys would need the macbook for 3-5 days to have a look if they could fix it, but that more than likely the logic board would need to be replaced at a cost of $600-800. I laughed and said thanks but not thanks.

     

    Don't waste your time or money on either of the above. 

     

    What you need is an external mini USB audio interface that plugs into your USB and your sound is automatically diverted through the interface. You can then plug in your headphones directly into the interface to hear sound, or you can plug in an audio cable from your stereo so that the sound can come out of your speakers.

     

    THE SOLUTION

    I got the BEHRINGER U-CONTROL UCA202 for about $40. It took me a while to find a place that sold it, but I eventually found it in a music shop. It's a small unit and a small price to pay for being able to play music out of your macbook or laptop again.

     

    This is what it looks like: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-u-control-uca202-usb-audio-in terface

     

    The downside is that you are always carrying out the small interface with you... but I'm ok with that.

     

    Good luck and I hope this helps !

  • by MdbkEl,

    MdbkEl MdbkEl Nov 11, 2013 2:26 PM in response to manoj karnati
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2013 2:26 PM in response to manoj karnati

    Thank you for the suggestion of using a ball point pen refill (I used a Bic round stick grip fine), it removed the pesky piece that was stuck.  I didn't need to alter the the pen refill in any way, I just pushed the non-writing end into the port, twisted a couple of times and the piece came out. Thank you!

Previous Page 2 of 4 last Next