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

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

iPhone 4, Windows XP

Posted on Aug 10, 2012 2:48 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 1, 2017 4:18 PM

made a video tutorial

FIX headphone iphone - YouTube


If nothing works, such as q-tip trick, un-plug in and plug in of the headphone, bluetooth speaker trick, the Setting/General/Accessibility/incoming calls (audio routing for newer software)/set speaker, then headset, turning on shazam, activiate siri...etc. TRY THIS, 1) have someone call you, 2) turn on to speaker mode, 3)turn off the speaker, 4) plug in your headphone, 5) un-plug headphone. This should work!


So I had this issue and did ALL the tricks on youtube. ALL of them DID NOT work. But this did work. You can follow all the steps he did but what I did was a bit more basic. I went to Setting/General/Accessibility/audio routing -set speaker.

Then I used gmail to call myself but I'm sure you can have someone just call you. It should answer in speaker mode. (Having someone call YOU is important because I called someone and this did not work.)

When you answer the phone and its on speaker mode hit the home button and go to podcasts or Spotify or anything that play sounds(I used podcast) then while the phone is still on the call in speaker mode play something and you should hear it on the speaker simutaniously as the phone call. then while its playing the audio hang up on the phone call.

This was the only thing that worked. I was so excited that I actually signed up for an account after 10 years with an iPhone just to post this.

Hope this helps.

192 replies

Jan 2, 2016 6:34 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

II'll just share my ultimate solution. I too also noticed the little detent balls inside (1 on one side near the rim, and two in a row slightly deeper in on the other side of the jack interior. (A headlamp is very useful when inspecting the inside of this jack.) anyway, I tried exercising the spring-loaded detent balls but found it to have no effect. One ball did appear not to be protruding as much, but nothing I did to manipulate it with the paper clip had an effect. I figured there must be something in the recess with one of the detent balls, but was not coming out by simply pushing on them with the paper clip. So...


1) I turned off the phone to reduce the possibility of damaging it while doing the next step.

2) I used an air compressor (120 psi) with an air gun that had a needle inflator (the kind used to inflate basketballs and soccer balls) on it. these needle inflators always have the air outlet hole on the side of the needle, not the tip. So I simply shoved that into the headphone jack opening, all the way in, and moved it around a fair bit while activating the air gun to blow air all around inside the jack interior, focusing the air outlet on the needle to especially blow on each of the detent balls.

3) I turned the phone back on to test it and it once again worked properly, accurately registering that no headphones were attached, and properly playing my voicemails through the handset speaker. Success!


Hopefully this helps someone else.

Jan 2, 2016 6:43 PM in response to Maccadole

Mine was also due to the phone falling on hardpack snow. Crazy that it continues to plague the jack/phone hours afterward, as it does seem to be simply some residual moisture that is the culprit. You'd think it would spontaneously dry on its own within a short amount of time (say, an hour)...but nope! As posted previously I was able to dry/fix it using an air compressor with a needle inflator attached.

Jan 2, 2016 6:56 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

You are going to have to reset your iphone so please follow the following steps:

Plug your iphone into a computer ( most likely a macbook of any kind)

1. Hold down the home and sleep button at the same time.

2. When you see the apple logo keep holding in till you see the itunes logo and let go.

3. Then follow the directions on your computer to reset your iphone


Good Luck, Let me know if this helped you!!!

Mar 6, 2016 6:07 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

No luck for me. I just replaced the kit "jack port + silent mode + volume +/-" and almost everything is ok, but the minijack port appears to be damaged and I got no sound. I tryed everything in this topic, but nothing was useful for fixing it.

The only thing I can do is to try to change the product or buy another and install againg (it only was 1€ + mail costs)

Aug 4, 2016 2:48 AM in response to kristinfromsummit

Although this is long to read you'll thank me later

First of all i tried all the methods that had worked for people on here...and nothing worked to my frustration.

I then rang my mum too tell her is she called me i might not hear it because my iPhone is playing up and not ringing out loud. I rang my mum with my headphones in (only way i could use my phone), while i was on the phone i noticed the "loud speaker" button, and pressed it. And my iPhone took the call on loud speaker! I then unplugged my headphones and turned off loud speaker and IT WORKED AGAIN!

So to break it up.....

-Ring someone with your headphones in

-put the call on loud speaker

- unplug your headphones

-take the call off loud speaker

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

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