Few things are more fundamental than your headphones. You use them for calls, streaming videos and music, activating Siri, and more. Are your iPhone headphones not working? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll help you diagnose any issues you might be having so you can get back to making the most out of your iPhone.
Few things are more fundamental than your headphones. You use them for calls, streaming videos and music, activating Siri, and more. Are your iPhone headphones not working? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll help you diagnose any issues you might be having so you can get back to making the most out of your iPhone.
Quick Tips to Fix Your Headphones
Some of them may sound obvious, but it’s easy to accidentally forget that your sound is turned to mute or something like that. It’s worth trying all these quick steps before diving into lengthier repair strategies.
- Check to make sure your volume is turned up enough
- Are your iPhone headphones properly connected?
- Do the headphones work on other devices?
- Do you see a headphone icon in your command center?
- Is your iPhone headphone port or Bluetooth operational?
- Try restarting your iPhone.
Even if you couldn’t get your headphones working from these steps, the answers to these questions will help you diagnose what caused your iPhone headphones not to work.
Newer iPhone Headphones
What iPhone model you will have will determine the types of problems you may be facing. From the release of the iPhone 7 in 2016, Apple no longer included headphones jacks on iPhone. Instead, everything now goes through the lightning port.
If you use the headphones that came with your iPhone and you’re unable to hear anything, you should test your lightning port. If it’s still charging your phone as usual, then you likely issues in your headphones. Most likely, you have internal damage that’s not worth repairing.
Older iPhone Headphones
- Check for dirt or debris in your iPhone headphone port. Try gently remove it with a microfiber cloth.
- Check your headphone cable, connector, remote, and earbuds for damage.
- Look for debris on the meshes in each earbud. To remove debris, gently brush all openings with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Firmly plug your headphones back in. You may need to remove your case to get a reliable connection.
How to Clean a Headphone Jack
Many people keep their phones in their pockets. Over time, lint, debris, and other gunk can build up blocking the connection between the headphones and the jack. If you suspect this issue. Here’s what you should do:
- Check the headphone jack for lint. You may need to shine a flashlight into it to get a proper look.
- If you see lint, gently shoot compressed air into the jack. You can blow into it but try not too as the moisture in our breath. This may be enough to dislodge any lint.
- If debris is packed tightly, use a paperclip (the same size you’d use to open your SIM tray) and gently remove the lint.
- Check the connection. If it’s still not working, you may have a software issue.
AirPods/Bluetooth iPhone Headphones Not Working
Bluetooth headphones like Apple’s AirPods solve some of the most annoying headphones issues. You don’t have to worry about headphone jacks and broken cables.
However, damage and wear over time can cause issues. Usually, damage to the Bluetooth receiver will cause you to be no longer able to receive audio. Or the audio quality may be poor or choppy.
To troubleshoot this issue, first, check your headphones with other devices. You may also want to delete and pair your headphones again.
Check for Firmware Updates
Before resetting your AirPods, you should check if a software update is available. Usually, you can fix issues and enjoy performance enhancements through them.
The easiest way to update is by connecting your AirPods to an outlet. Then pair them to an iOS device. Next:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select About.
- Press AirPods.
- Locate the number next to Firmware Version.
The newest update should start automatically within a few seconds. If nothing happens, this means you AirPods already have the most recent update.
How to Reset AirPods
Resetting AirPod can fix a range of different connections and software errors. To do this:
- Put Your AirPods in the charging case
- Hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the orange LED flashes
- Open the case next to your iPhone and wait for AirPods to reconnect
iCloud will then sync the connection to all your other iOS devices. If you’re using a non-Apple device, you’ll have to pair manually like any other Bluetooth device.
When is it time to buy new iPhone headphones?
The amount of time your iPhone headphone lasts depends on how well you treat them. If you use a case, clean them regularly, and avoid throwing into the bottom of a backpack, headphones can last a decade or more.
Realistically, most people don’t use their headphones like that. If you’ve had your iPhone headphones for a year or more and your starting to experience these issues, then they likely need to be replaced.
If your iPhone is still under AppleCare, you may be able to get a discounted or free new pair of headphones if they’ve failed due to a manufacturing error. However, unless you have AirPods, it may not be worth it to take them to the Apple Store or send them to Apple.
If you want to purchase new headphones, look to brands like Skullcandy, which makes decent quality wireless headphones for less than $15. Or check out the refurbished section on retailers like Amazon. You can even find great deals on all types of Apple headphones.
Cruise over to the Buyback Boss Blog to learn more iPhone repair tips and tricks. If your experiencing issues with your iPhone being stuck in headphone mode, we can help you. We have more on fixing Bluetooth issues as well. Whatever you need, you can find it on our blog!
