jack issue on ipod Solved/Closed

Question

Hello, I have a 30GB iPod video and for the past week, when I plug in my headphones all the way, only the left earbud works. However, if the jack is not fully inserted, sound works fine in both earbuds (I’ve tried with other headphones).

Thank you in advance and sorry for the spelling.

Carles · Accepted Answer

Hello,
I just solved this problem. It's actually a faulty contact inside the headphone jack of the iPod. This often occurs with these types of connections when the headphone plug is left plugged in all the time. Indeed, the second contact (which provides sound to the right side of the headphones inside the iPod's headphone jack) must make contact with the right pole of the stereo plug. If this contact, which acts like a spring, does not return to its place (precisely because the plug remains constantly in the iPod), the connection does not occur.
So here’s the solution.
You need to carefully use a very thin screwdriver or something similar to gently push this contact at the bottom of the opening. You should feel some resistance which proves that the contact is indeed there; you should then gently bring it back a bit towards the inside of the opening (do this cautiously).
There you go, I hope I was clear and that your problem will be resolved.
Best regards

exadek · Answer

it must be your jack plug that's faulty  it's best to return it for warranty service if it's still under guarantee   --  Human beings in a world of wonders have managed to invent boredom

bidul14 · Answer

Thank you, but actually, it's barely been a month since the warranty expired.

exadek · Answer

Shit if I may say so

I think there's a faulty soldering

It happened to me with my ALTEC LANSING speakers

Fortunately, I’m an electronics technician by trade...

Good luck

--

Human beings in a world of wonders have managed to invent boredom

bidul14 · Answer

In fact, I looked a bit on the internet, and they said it could be related to health, but the contact bomb that they recommend costs 12 euros, and I was wondering if there were other ways.

exadek · Answer

the contact bomb doesn't always work  if another way, find a friend who knows a lot about electronics or even microelectronics... --  Human beings in a world of wonders have managed to invent boredom

loic · Answer

Hello, my iPod video has the same problem as yours; once the headphone is plugged in, only the left side works unless I push it in all the way. If your issue has been resolved, could you please share your solution or any information that might help me? Thank you in advance.

pb · Answer

Hi, I have exactly the same problem as you, have you found a solution since December??? Thanks in advance.

bidul14 · Answer

Eh bien non, mais maintenant mon iPod ne démarre plus du tout. Je crois que c'est un problème de programme, donc j'essaie de réparer ça en priorité.

nikolat · Answer

Hello, I have exactly the same problem: my iPod only works "on one leg" with all the headphones. Which leg inside the connector should I untwist? The first one you see? On the left?

Alex · Answer

Same for me, I'm struggling to fix it. Does anyone else have something, or any details about the process? Thank you

sebastien · Answer

Hi,
I have the same problem as you. If it’s not pushed all the way in, we get both channels. If it's pushed all the way, we only get the left channel.
I tried to fiddle with the blades using a small screwdriver, but without success (to be fair, it’s difficult to see inside properly). By the way, it looks like there are 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom of the conduit.
Has anyone managed to solve their problem?
Thanks

Lucas75 · Answer

I have the solution!!!!! (it worked for me)

After browsing several forums, I believe the problem is that the iPod's jack connection is slightly too deep, which prevents the jack from being fully plugged in.

You just need to gently place a small piece of aluminum foil at the bottom of the connection to allow the plug to connect properly.

Good luck!

dafoin · Answer

I did the same with a small piece of electric wire. The only downside is that the sound is good in both earbuds but in mono and not in stereo. You will notice this with some songs recorded in the 60s where the sound of the guitar, for example, is only on the left channel and you hear nothing... But well, it's better than sound in only one earbud.

Thank you!!!!

theo12 · Answer

Great job with the aluminum foil! I was feeling a bit desperate!
However, now the iPod occasionally pauses the music by itself and I think it's because the male jack is a bit too high with the aluminum foil!
Does anyone know a solution to this problem? Is there a way to disable the "auto-pause" feature on the iPod?
Thanks in advance to everyone for your replies!

ezoka · Answer

Hello, I have the same problem except that the sound is constantly in mono, even when I don't completely plug in the jack. And since I'm quite clumsy, I'm afraid to touch it with a screwdriver. I listen to a lot of old songs from the 70s, so the sound is in mono.
I bought my iPod at Darty, and I was wondering if they could change the jack for me and if they do a good job.

Thank you.

bryce-mb · Answer

It has been a little over a year since I got my 80GB iPod, and today it let me down :' (. Same problem, the right earbud isn't working, but I'm afraid that the aluminum foil method will affect sound quality! Does anyone know how much the repair costs?

Thanks in advance.

Sp4Ro · Answer

Between €150 and €180, and it's not a repair, it's an exchange.

Volt4ge · Answer

WELL DONE LUCAS75!!
For a week, my iPod only worked with one earbud with all the earbuds I tried (even brand new ones), and I tried putting a small piece of aluminum foil in the headphone jack and it works great, well done, thank you for this "old-school" method ;D

légume · Answer

I love vegetables and hams but I have a place to put my clothesline in my basement

Sp4Ro · Answer

Personally, I tried for an hour with the screwdriver but failed, so out of desperation, I put a piece of aluminum (already tried it on my Shuffle and it failed) and to my surprise, it works. It's makeshift, sure, but better than nothing, right?   Well, fuck Apple (it's rare that I say that).

tite-moa60 · Answer

Hi so I tried the Lucas method, which works, except that I can only hear the bass and sounds of the song, while I can only hear the singer from a distance!!? what could that come from ... thank you for responding

guig · Answer

Hello, I also have a sound problem with my iPod touch. When I listen to music, it pauses by itself about every 20 seconds!!!!!  What can I do???  I have already changed the headphones, but nothing changes :( thank you

Caro · Answer

There is no risk if you put aluminum foil?? A loose connection or something like that?

KamikazZ94 · Answer

LuCAS I love you thank you very much for your little aluminum thing <3    I'm reliving the joy of listening to iPod in both ears :D

Alex · Answer

I had already tried this trick with aluminum foil before; but you have to be careful because it damages the iPod even more. Indeed, it pushes the spring even further in. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it anyway. The foil will obviously have a distorting effect on the sound, unless you use gold instead of foil...

KamikazZ94 · Answer

I’m so mad, the music stops and starts whenever it wants... What to do?

AadvitaA · Answer

Thanks for the info about the aluminum ball, it works perfectly... Just be careful when placing it so that it doesn't roll to one side and thus doesn't fill the entire bottom ;)

bumsm · Answer

The problem with this aluminum ball is that yes, it works, the sound comes back in the headphones, but in mono, and not even in mono because in mono you would hear all the sounds of the music in each earphone, but here (for example, I have a music band and we recorded a drum and a guitar on one track), and normally in stereo you should have one ear with the guitar and one ear with the drums (I am talking specifically about my recording, it doesn’t happen everywhere), and in mono in each earphone guitar + drums, but here with the aluminum ball, we only have the guitar in each earphone, so since almost all music is in stereo, but we don't necessarily hear it, it is better to change the jack port, it costs €30 and the repair you can do yourself, it's very simple. I'm going to do that myself.

kloridrik · Answer

For everyone who still has this problem... I had the same issue (I definitely thought I was the only one)... the method of using aluminum foil and mono sound didn't seem great in the long run, so I armed myself with the smallest screwdriver I had... after a few minutes of hesitation, I tried to lift the tabs... And it works! Admittedly, the maneuver is more a matter of luck and trial and error than true dexterity. But it worked perfectly for me. Just so you know, there are 3 tabs (when you hold the iPod screen facing you, 1 tab on the left, one on the right a bit deeper, and a third one even deeper and on the left. It's obviously the one all the way in the left that you need to "lift")... all this to say that it's not impossible! And long live stereo sound ;)

Loopkin · Answer

I confirm, it works. We can also use a needle. However, Apple really messed up this time...

bumsm · Answer

I think it's at least €150.

KamikazZ94 · Answer

I tried the technique with the needle but I can't do it... can you give me more details on how to do it and the placement of the famous "tabs"... thanks :D

Epokito · Answer

Hello, I wrapped my jack in aluminum and plugged it into my iPod. I can now listen to Astronomy Domine by Pink Floyd without getting bored!!!

Blablabsla · Answer

It doesn't work! Because of you, my sound doesn't work anymore, BRAVO.

gau · Answer

No one went to complain to the Apple Store!??? Because I went there but they don't want to listen since I haven't been under warranty for a few months. But I can't believe the number of people who have this problem; it's definitely a design flaw!!!! Has anyone ever tried sending a letter??? It drives me crazy to pay for a player at that price, only for it to serve as a hard drive.

PPCAB · Answer

SUPER INDEED WELL DONE LUCAS! EVEN THOUGH THE ALUMINUM TIP IS FRAGILE, IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT... OTHERWISE, DON'T HESITATE TO DISMANTLE THE MACHINE AND REPLACE THE JACK FOR 30 EUROS ON BRICOMAC IT'S WORTH IT

BouBouLL · Answer

Great job with the aluminum ball trick! It's working like a charm again! Thanks, Lucas!

latruite · Answer

Hi, I tried the aluminum ball but to no avail. I had to resort to ordering a jack on eBay along with the tools (screwdriver and blue things to open the beast); it cost me 25 euros. It's a bit expensive but really easy to install.

yoyotte35 · Answer

the only technique that works is Lucas's with the piece of aluminum at the bottom of the headphone jack

raplis · Answer

Hello,   I have the same issue with my IPOD Touch. What I find disappointing is that I contacted Apple France directly and they offered me a very, very interesting solution!?!? If I get my IPOD repaired, it will cost me 215 euros. But they're proposing I buy a new IPOD which, as of today, is priced at 285 euros new, and they're giving me a commercial gesture of 60 euros discount. Ha Ha Ha, they are mocking us. Their customer service is awful; it took them 48 hours to offer me THAT! Apple is great, it's trendy, but it's crap when it comes to getting your devices repaired. Whether it's in computing, telephony, or anything else. Once the warranty has expired, they leave you in the lurch. And they even advise you to buy something else. I didn't know Apple was into disposable electronics. At this rate, I might as well buy store-brand or budget products in supermarkets. It will cost me less! I have only one solution if I want to keep my IPOD: to put a piece of aluminum foil. Thanks for the tip.  Good luck to those who have Apple.

Reconaissant! · Answer

Thanks! That's great, thank you so much! It works really well :)

Lefandegta · Answer

lol^^ Like everyone, the aluminum foil works but as soon as I move the jack position (I turn it), it doesn't work anymore ;D Well, too bad XD

ScreaM · Answer

I love you Lucas75! You're so awesome!

charles<3myipod · Answer

LUCAS I love you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It works super well, I was freaking out at first because the thing with Lalu on the iPod was average... but it's working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coco · Answer

Hello, I have the same issue, only the left side works. However, I don't need to push it further; I have to play from left to right. I took apart my iPod, and it turns out it's the micro soldering of the jack input that is the problem. Do you have any advice for me?

midwolf · Answer

Merci beaucoup mec, tu as sauvé mon âme musicale..... (alu powaaaaaaaa !!!!!!)

Mastermudkip · Answer

Hello! I have basically the same issue, but I just want to make sure before doing anything that might just break it more than it already is... So here's my problem: when I listen to music on my iPod touch... at first, I could hear everything... normal, right? But then, about a month and a half ago... I stopped hearing from the right ear. I thought it was my headphones since I could hear from the left. However, when I changed them, the right one worked and the left didn't... unless I "fiddle" with the wire... like I twist it in all sorts of ways until I eventually get music. Now its condition has deteriorated XD... now I can't hear at all from the right and not from the left either, so I have to twist the headphone wire in all sorts of ways which, you know, takes unnecessary effort to listen to music... So I'm thinking it's the same problem, but before inserting a screwdriver... (I'm not very skilled with tools at all XD) and possibly... without a doubt making a wrong move and breaking it... well, I just want to know your thoughts... whether I really have the same problem or if I should just buy a new one for about $219... Thanks in advance, I really appreciate it Tania

rélé · Answer

I had the same problem with mono sound... I looked at it with a magnifying glass and saw that it had 2 gold contacts on the left side, took a small screwdriver with the thinnest edge and managed to pull the 2 small contacts towards me like that... and there you go, the sound came back in stereo.

laure · Answer

Hello everyone! I don't quite have the same problem: I have an iPod touch and the headphone jack has a loose connection: to listen through both earbuds, I have to hold the wire at the connection in a certain way. I checked, it's not my headphones that are the issue, it's my iTouch!!! Can you help me? Thank you in advance.

dffffffg · Answer

I don't know.

bouclette · Answer

I have the same problem as all of you, except that my right side is glitching! It works, but I have to constantly hold the earphone with my hand because when I let go, it stops working. I tried putting a little ball of aluminum foil in the back, but that didn't change anything except that my iPod doesn't make noise anymore... Luckily, I managed to remove the ball, but not completely, I think. As for the metal strip, it's really stuck to the wall!! So I don't know if that's the one I should peel off. Thank you for helping me quickly because I just bought new headphones, and it's stressing me out to have to keep holding my iPod and applying pressure at the earphone input :(( As for customer service... I didn't buy my iPod in a store, so I don't even have a warranty paper or anything.

[TR]Bishop · Answer

I also had this problem and it is possible in some cases (not yours obviously) that dust is covering the bottom of the jack socket: we would see the same issue but both earbuds work anyway.

faycal · Answer

There’s a problem with your iPad; the sensor isn’t being detected. Fix it ^^

akweh · Answer

Hi there, I tried to scrape with a sewing needle... and I think I went in the wrong direction. Anyway, I saw a shiny strip close to the right side and two deeper ones on the left side, with the bottom one barely visible. Now, I only see the one on the right (which I haven't touched) and even less of the one at the bottom on the left; I must have... shredded the first one on the left; yet that's not the one I was aiming for.  Result: it's buzzing, the sound alternates in the ears, even worse than before, and it's now impossible to get normal sound even by pressing it a certain way, etc.  So I looked for jack adapters for the iPod dock connector (the one you usually use to charge it), and there are some but only for devices that amplify like hi-fi systems, etc., because it's a line-out, apparently not compatible with audio headphones or earbuds.  Do you know if such an adapter exists, where I can find a jack adapter for the iPod dock for my audio headphones?? If not, do you know if it's possible to have the components of the iPod's jack connector replaced by professionals?  I'm desperate, thanks!

GLB · Answer

I am really surprised by the number of people with this problem! I thought I was the only one... This problem is really recurring; in fact, I have had it on no less than 4 iPod Touch!!! The first three were replaced by Apple (by the way, their customer service was really efficient in my case, iPod replaced in less than 48 hours by postal mail), but only two weeks after receiving my last iTouch, the problem returned. I couldn't manage to peel off the tabs with a small screwdriver, but the problem was solved thanks to the aluminum ball at the bottom of the jack plug :D Let's see now how long this will last...

Scoco · Answer

The aluminum ball works very well.  Let me explain I had sound on the left but not on the right. I took 1cm² of aluminum (1cm by 1cm ^^), made a ball out of it, and then I placed it at the bottom of the female jack of the iPod. I plugged in my headphones and then I pushed a bit to put the ball at the bottom of the iPod's jack. The sound became normal again.

M.Apple · Answer

I have the same problem.

lEfOOuu !!! · Answer

Wouw !!! Aluminum technique !!! THE BEST !!! :D Merci MON HOMME !!! MON PATRON !!! MON HÉROOO !!!!!

alexist · Answer

My iPod, which was no longer under warranty, had some sort of loose connection with the headphone jack, and whenever you touched it a little, you could only hear from one ear. I tried Lucas's technique with the aluminum ball, and even though it's not perfect (there are some background noises when I move the jack too vigorously but nothing too annoying), it has the merit of having solved my problem. I can walk again with my iPod in my pocket without my left ear cutting out every 10 seconds!

Bob87 · Answer

Thank you for the tips.  I love you !!!!

antouine · Answer

Wrap the jack in a layer of aluminum foil and it works perfectly.

harounmix · Answer

Oulala, are you stupid or what? You can just manage with a pin and then try to lift the 4 little things, and it will surely work :-D

droplet91 · Answer

I had the same problem with my iPod Touch 8GB 3rd generation, where the left side of all my headphones didn't work when I plugged them into my iPod but worked perfectly on other devices. I searched online and found the idea of using aluminum, but there were some disadvantages, notably not being able to listen to music loudly anymore, and I also couldn't manage the technique with the tabs. So I decided to take action on my headphones: I took a soldering iron and solder wire and made a "ball" on the jack of my headphones... and it worked!! So I hope you understood the trick; if you have the equipment, it takes 5 minutes and saves you the hassle of dealing with other methods =)

Mickeydu35 · Answer

Hello, I come to add my little stone to the building.  I have a 2nd generation iPod touch and ... there’s a problem with the jack port.  First, I tried aluminum foil by wrapping the tip of the jack or making a small ball at the bottom.  It works, but only for a short while, because after a while the piece shifts.  As a result, I have to remove the aluminum with a precision screwdriver and restart for the same effect. Useless and it damages your device.  In the end, it didn’t really work anymore; only the sound from one earphone worked properly, while the other one produced more crackles than anything else.  Moreover, the sound came out in mono.  I tried straightening the metal plates... in vain. Worse, it made things worse; I strongly advise against this technique because you can't see what you're doing.  In the end, I listened to a comment that mentioned putting solder on the jack of the headphones and... it works.  For my part, I put a small ball on the tip (of the headphone jack) and wrapped the top of the headphone jack (still the headphones) with solder (not too thick and uniform).  The first time it worked, but the jack was still moving around in the port, so I added some solder so it wouldn't move as much and make proper contact.  It works, and on top of that, it's easily adjustable, for me the best method.  And the sound comes out in stereo!  Be careful to let the solder cool before testing because even though it cools quickly, it comes out hot.  I hope this message helps all those desperate souls who are as unhappy as I am without music.  This method is really amateur, so like with aluminum or anything else, you take responsibility for what you do.  Good luck ;-)

maxoubiifbof · Answer

Hi, I had the same problem when I plugged my headphones into my iPod Touch 4G, only one speaker was working. At first, I thought it was a mechanical issue, but when I looked into the jack with a light (not easy), I saw a bunch of dust that I removed with a needle. Now everything works again ;) I hope this helps someone.

Jack issue on ipod

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