The difficult thing about solving a problem with headphones or earphones is that there can be all kinds of causes. Especially because nowadays you have to deal with both wired and wireless headphones.
However, what applies to all these headphones: first check whether the problem is not with the headphones. Plug it in (or connect it to) another phone or computer and see if it works there. If not, then your headphones are probably defective (wire breakage is a common problem, for example) and you will need to have them repaired or buy new ones. Do your headphones work fine with another device? Then we will investigate why things are not working well with your iPhone.
- 3.5mm connection
- Lightning connection
- Wireless
Wired headphones via 3.5mm connection
It is no longer common for people to use headphones with a 3.5mm connection. The last iPhone that had such a connection was the iPhone 6s. Apple then switched to the Lightning connection for audio, which means you need an adapter.
If you have headphones with a 3.5mm connection, also called a mini-jack, the following problems may occur. It does not produce sound with your iPhone, the microphone does not work or the remote control buttons in the cord do not work. Then it is good to check whether it is properly connected. If you have a case on your iPhone, remove it because some headphone plugs are too thick and are blocked by cases.
Does that not solve the problem and do you see that the plug is not deep enough in your iPhone? Then there is probably something stuck in your headphone jack. In such a case, you can use tweezers or call a professional if something is stuck deep in the connection. Make an appointment at the Apple Store or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Because this is a fairly simple problem, you can also go to a cheap repair company.
Does the plug of your headphones go into your iPhone properly, but are you still having problems? Then there may be dust or dirt in your headphone jack. You may be able to remove this by blowing into it or using a can of compressed air. Do not insert sticks, needles or other hard objects into the connection and do not use water or detergent to clean the connection. There is a chance that you may cause damage to your device.
Do the above tips not solve the problem? Then it is wise to double check whether the problem is not with the headphones themselves. You can do this by connecting another headset to your iPhone. If it works fine, then the problem probably really lies with the headphones. If the other headphones have the same problem, your iPhone probably needs to be repaired. This also applies if your iPhone thinks that headphones are connected, while that is not the case. In this article you will find more information about the options for iPhone repair.
Wired headphones via Lightning connection
Do you connect your headphones or earphones to the Lightning connector on your iPhone? Then two things could be going on. If it concerns earbuds with a Lightning connection such as the EarPods that Apple used to supply, the tips are largely comparable to those mentioned above for 3.5mm connections. There may be dirt in the port or the connector may not fit properly. Did you know that the iPhone warranty also applies to included accessories? So if the iPhone is still under warranty, you can also use this to have your EarPods exchanged for a working one.
If you use an adapter to make your 3.5mm headphones suitable for the Lightning port, a problem may also occur here. This adapter can break over time, for example if you often carry it in your pocket. Cracking or dropping sound is relatively common. To check whether it is indeed the adapter, you can connect another headset to the adapter or connect the headphones to another device. Do you have problems in both cases? Then you can be sure that it is the cable. You can buy a new adapter for 10 euros.
Is the problem not with the adapter or does your headset itself have a Lightning cable? Then there is probably a problem with the Lightning connection of your iPhone. This port on the bottom of your iPhone can sometimes collect dust. You can try to remove this by blowing into it or using a wooden toothpick. Be very careful, because the connection is very sensitive. A safer solution is to use a can of compressed air to clean the connection. Do not use cleaning agents or water, even with a waterproof iPhone, as this can irreparably damage your device.
If this does not solve the problem, it is best to visit the Apple Store to see what the problem is. If there is none nearby, you can also visit an authorized Apple service provider such as Amac.
Wireless headphones
Do you have problems with wireless headphones? We have written a separate tip to help you troubleshoot this.
https://www.iculture.nl/tips/iphone-draadloze-koptelefoon-werkt-niet-bluetooth-problems/
