Headphones Not Working on iPhone: EarPods and Others with Cable

If you’re having trouble hearing well through your iPhone headphones, whether it’s EarPods or other wired ones, don’t worry. In this article we will help you solve these problems, as well as those that are related to a problem so that they are recognized by the iPhone.

Check the physical condition of the EarPods or headphones

You’ve probably already done this, but if not, you should. It is advisable to see almost centimeter by centimeter the headphone cable, including the headphones themselves and the microphone and playback controller if you have one. If you find any particularly bent part or even with the plastic raised, revealing the inner cable, this is possibly the origin of all the problems. In this case, we recommend that you go directly to the last two sections of this article.

Headphones Not Working on iPhone

If you have not found any apparent visual defect, it is not yet ruled out that it is due to a physical failure of the device. In fact, it is quite possible that if you accidentally pulled the headphones, they have fallen or have suffered some other type of accident they may have been damaged internally. Although in this case we recommend that you continue reading to rule out other problems.

EarPods

Try them on multiple devices

A very important clue that will help you verify if headphones or iPhone fail will be to test these first on more devices. If you have another mobile phone nearby, a tablet or any other compatible device, it is recommended that you connect your headphones and try to play any type of sound to see if the failure that gives you on the iPhone is also present there.

If only one earphone is failing

Listening to music, videos or any other sound only through one earphone even having two is one of the strangest and even unpleasant sensations that can be. Especially if this is unintended and you want to listen on both channels. Here again we recommend you carry out a visual inspection, in this case of the hearing aid in question that is giving you problems. It may even be that the failure is not complete, but that sound is heard, but at a lower volume. It is also important that you make sure that all the pieces are in place and the headset button has not been lifted.

Auriculares fallos

Distorted sound is also a problem

We mentioned in the previous point the fact that a single hearing aid did not work or emitted lower sound. Well, as you may have suspected, it is not normal for the sound to come out distorted on one or both channels. If you are in this case and it is very frequent and even continuous, you will have no choice but to accept that the headphones are damaged.

Microphone and volume controller failure?

Many headphones, including EarPods, have a kind of capsule in one of their cables in which there are generally buttons to increase the volume and / or control playback. Also in this place is the microphone of the headphones. It is not an element of simple decoration and a failure at this point can cause the entire headphones to fail.

Check that all the buttons are working properly, as well as the microphone. You can try to record a voice note for the latter and later listen to it. If again you find no problem here, you will have to continue reading. If you do find it, we recommend that you read the last two sections of this article.

Micrófono auriculares EarPods Apple iPhone

Check the Lightning or Jack connector of the iPhone

In the iPhone 6s and earlier there is a 3.5 mm jack that is used to connect headphones. In iPhone 7 and later these are connected through the Lightning charging connector. Whatever your case, check these connectors carefully. They can be the cause of the failure and in many cases you have a simple solution: clean them.

These components are a gateway to dust, so it is inevitable that even being careful a small lint or the like may have crept in. Of course, it is not worth cleaning it in any way and much less with pointed devices. It is also not recommended at all to use any type of liquid. The correct way is with a small soft-bristle toothbrush or, failing that, a lint-free swab . The reason for the latter is obvious, since it would be absurd to try to clean the connector and end up making it more dirty by leaving traces of lint.

lightning

What if the problem is with the software?

It is not usual for the fault to reside in the iPhone software, but it is not rulable either. The most advisable thing we can say in this regard is that you update iOS to the latest version available in Settings> General> Software update. If you have done it and it is not solved or there is not even a more recent version, you will only have to restore the iPhone from the factory . Depending on the problem, this is less recommended. You have to take into account the failure of the headphones. If it happens to you with others and on a regular basis, you have ruled out that it is the connector and for some reason you suspect that it is the software, you will have to format the device. In any other case, it would be an absurd action if we consider that it will surely be the headphones themselves that fail.

If they are third-party headphones

If your headphones are from a brand other than Apple, you should check with the brand or seller what you should do. If you bought them recently, you may be able to return them, but also if they have a guarantee . If the failure was not caused by misuse or accidental damage, the seller should take responsibility and provide you with a replacement. If the headphones are no longer guaranteed, you will have no choice but to write them off and buy new ones.

Replacement in an Apple Store

Icono Soporte de Apple

In the event that the problem is with EarPods, official Apple headphones, you can go to a company store or its online technical support to comment on your case. Sometimes even without warranty they will be able to offer you a free solution in the form of a replacement. And it is important to clarify that these types of accessories are not repaired as such, but they are used to give you completely new and functional ones. You can manage this issue from the Apple support website or from the Support application available on iOS and iPadOS.