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

iPhone 4, Windows XP

Posted on Aug 10, 2012 2:48 PM

Top-ranking reply

inklingofperfection

Level 1

50 points

Posted on Feb 28, 2017 3:38 PM

I've been trying to get this issue fixed on my iPhone 6 almost all day. I never use headphones and my phone has never had any water or physical damage. I tried SO MANY things and what finally worked for me was this.. HOLD DOWN THE VOLUME UP AND DOWN BUTTONS AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE STILL HOLDING THESE DO A HARD RESET. SO ALL THE STEPS YOU WILL DO AT THE SAME TIME ARE HOLD DOWN THE VOLUME UP AND DOWN BUTTONS WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE HOME BUTTON AS WELL AS THE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR PHONE. ONCE YOU SEE THE WHITE SCREEN WITH THE APPLE YOU CAN LET GO OF ALL BUTTONS. THIS SHOULD FIX THE ISSUE! I really hope this saves someone a lot of the hassle I've been through!!

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192 replies

Oct 24, 2017 11:00 AM in response to kristinfromsummit

I don't know where this will fit in to this discussion but I had this issue and this is the only thing that worked and it was thanks to someone else on here:

1) plug in headphones and make a call

2) hit "speakerphone" ("ringer" will then show instead of "headphones")

3) unplug the headphones

4) end the call.

Miracle ;D

Gororo

Level 1

4 points

Feb 7, 2018 1:52 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

Yes, like all the rest of the solutions posted, it has to do with moisture. If your headphone jack has a lint, and then even a drop of moisture will compress and turn that lint solid. The key is to get something strong, and clear the debris from your headphone jack.A paperclip, toothpick, or tightly wound paper will be working fine.

Aug 19, 2012 6:10 PM in response to Trumania

Thanks for the link. It worked! 🙂

Nov 11, 2012 5:40 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

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!

zzdawg1

Level 1

5 points

Nov 14, 2012 8:34 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

What I did was I took a Q-tip and got it a little wet ten took off the cotton, pushed the stick end into the jack to the bottom and this worked.

Spy_007

Level 1

9 points

Feb 26, 2013 5:18 AM in response to sfox1288

Similar for me. I just cut a cue tip in half, used the pointy bit to poke around the headphone socket and think I heard a click. Tested the volume and it had returned to ringer.

May 2, 2013 8:56 PM in response to sfox1288

Paper clip guy wins hands down, all other methods will not work. Thank you so much for the help!

Wazeerx

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2017 9:56 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

Plug in and out headphone several times and check
restart your device
clean the Audio jack with a clone soft cloth

Jul 8, 2013 3:07 PM in response to kristinfromsummit

Q-tip with stripped end worked for me on an iPhone 5. Something must have been blocking the mechanical sensor at the bottom of the headphone jack. Nice tip!

Aug 2, 2013 9:12 AM in response to sfox1288

Worked for me! Thanks! 🙂

Aug 14, 2013 4:04 PM in response to KBlomquist

Thank you for your suggestion! I had the exact same problem and was really freaking out about it. I sucked really hard on the headphone jack and it worked!!!! A million thank you's!!!!!!