iphone thinks headphones are plugged in even when not - how to fix

I have had this problem for more than a week. I tried sticking things inside the headphone jack, blowing compressed air, blow drier, etc. But understanding the problem, helped me find a solution. The iPhone headphone jack has these small metal balls that stick out, inside of the jack. When you put your headphones in, the iPhone goes into headphone mode. I assume that something got out of line and one of these small balls was unable to push out when I removed my headphones. For this reason, sticking a pin into the jack or a soft paper towel, will not dislodge the small ball. My solution? A paper clip with 2 sides pressed closely together. I jammed the paperclip into the jack and turned it around several times to dislodge the ball. It sounds worse than it is and the headphone jack can take some abuse. This worked immediately, even after all of the other solutions failed.

Let me know if this helps.

I just now fixed it with the tip of a q-tip. I removed most of the fuzzy stuff and stuck the tip in the head phone jack, moving it up and down (farily forcefully) a few times. Bingo! Thanks for the tips!

I got my iPhone wet and I soon realised the speaker wasn't working (it said I had headphones plugged in) but then I tried the paper clip and tissue technique and worked like a charm :) such a relief! Thanks

I am having the exact same problem. Q-tips, paperclips, air, bobby pins, unplugging and plugging in headphones, reset and restore- nothing is working for me. Is anyone else having Siri activate when they plug in the headphones?

Ok, when I read this I laughed. Then I tried it and laughed my *ss off at myself for "falling for it". Then I realized I didn't form a good seal when trying it. Then I tried again, AND IT WORKED! I laughed so freaking hard! It sounds ridiculous and I felt like a dork doing it but it really worked!

edited to add: This is regards to this advice:

"This happened to me. I read on another site that if you suck really hard on the headphone port it would fix it. I tried it, and it worked instantly!" by KBlomquist

I tried the paperclip, the Q-tip and the sucking on the port directly. After reading this, I tried again and sucked harder (laughing to myself at how that would sound if I actually said it), and yup...worked. Just Suck!!! It's the only way...

laserone Sep 2, 2013 4:21 PM
in response to KBlomquist

Ok, when I read this I laughed. Then I tried it and laughed my *ss off at myself for "falling for it". Then I realized I didn't form a good seal when trying it. Then I tried again, AND IT WORKED! I laughed so freaking hard! It sounds ridiculous and I felt like a dork doing it but it really worked!

edited to add: This is regards to this advice:

"This happened to me. I read on another site that if you suck really hard on the headphone port it would fix it. I tried it, and it worked instantly!" by KBlomquist

Take a look at this article

iPhone: Can't hear through the reciever or speakers TS1630

This worked for me too! I dropped my iphone in a puddle, though it didn't appear to have gotten that wet. The tissue down the headphone jack worked great. FYI - it was about 3 hours between when the phone got wet and when I attempted to dry the jack. Thanks.

I spilled a drink on my iPhone 5 and a little water got into the headphone jack. I dried it out with a piece of tightly rolled paper towel and then came on here and saw the paperclip tip. Worked like a charm! Thanks paperclip dude! 😁

I tried sucking on the headphone jack several times. I was about to give up, but I decided to try it once more, and it worked! ☺ I had dropped my iPhone in a puddle, deep enough to fully submerge it. I am amazed how robust these things are. Well done, Apple! Even so, my iPhone never leaves the house again without its Otter Box.

The mostly stripped Q-tiip worked for me where nothing else did. I was in a downpour and the headphone jack end was uppermost in my outside pouch, so even with the umbrella that must have done it in. A friend just told me, though, that evidence of exposure to moisture in your iPhone invalidates your warranty, even for unrelated problems. So I guess that's it for free fixes.

Same happened to me after my daughter threw my phone in literally a teaspoon of milk in her cereal bowl.

Sucked on the headphone jack (not a pleasant sight)

Stripped an ear bud (q-tip) this helped but didn't resolve the problem.

Activated my music so I would know when it worked, rolled up some kitchen roll and bingo! Thank you. This just saved me a trip to the apple store.

I tried Q-tip, paper clip, blowing, slight banging, etc. and nothing. The only thing that worked for me was sucking the headphone jack and it worked instantly!!! Great tips - and saved me a lot of time from visiting the Genius Bar.

The partially-denuded Q-tip did the trick for me after nothing else worked. I realized that a small amount of water must have gotten into the headphone jack when I was out in a driving rainstorm earlier that day. Even though I had an umbrella and my iPhone was in my purse, it was in an outer pocket that obviously was exposed to some moisture.

A similarly low-tech solution fixed my wireless mouse, which kept losing its connection after I changed batteries. Apparently slipping a piece of paper between the batteries as well as laying on on top before closing the lid keeps the batteries from moving; the commenter said that all batteries are not the same size and if you buy slightly smaller ones it causes this issue. I love these low-tech solutions to high-tech problems!

I tried everything

but last night i knew a drop ( yes a drop) of water had probably entered my earpiece.

i dint have a hairdryer so i held my phne oveer my lighter..

and it WORKED....

was about to reset my phone..

Guys... its moisture.. try the hairdyer or some warm air generating thing.. (like a lighter)

but dont hold it for too long..

i held my phone over fire for like 10 sec... phones earpice plcae got real hot..

hold it for 1-2 sec..increase yourvolume to see if its still in headphone mode..