The headphones (wired as well as wireless) that do not work using the iPhone can be resolved through restarting your iPhone and making sure the volume settings are correct and checking for the Bluetooth output, and cleaning the headphone connector, or if failed, then resetting the device back to default settings.
I’ve owned a few headphones in the past and at times, they wouldn’t function. I was determined to find the reason and through this process I came across upon a few solutions that actually worked. I’ll discuss these solutions in detail in order to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with their headphones. Hopefully, you’ll discover a solution to resolve the issue at the end of this post.
1. Turn up the volume
Another common error that users make is failing to turn up the volume after connecting to the iPhone headphone connector. Before hitting your panic button you should check whether the volume is turned off and then turn it up to levels that make you feel suitable before you play any music.
It is as easy as pressing the volume buttons located on the sides. The volume bar appear on the screen, which will show the exact volume your phone is playing at.
2. Restart the iPhone
The first thing to do is restart the device to eliminate any glitches that might hinder the headphones from connecting to your device. This process is simple and will take no more than 2 minutes.
To start over iPhone X, 11 14, 12, and the SE 3rd Gen
- Hold and press your button for Volume Up or Down button along with the Side button until the Power Off slider appears on the screen.
- Slide the slider, and wait for about 30 seconds until the phone will shut off.
- Hold the Side button and hold it until you see the Apple logo appears. This will conclude this restarting process.
To start the restart the 2nd Generation iPhone SE, 8, 7 and 6, and
- Hold long-press the Left button till your Power Off slider pops up on your screen.
- Move the slider and wait 30 seconds for the device to fully stop.
- Hold the Side button a second time and hold the button until the Apple logo appears.
To start over the 1st generation iPhone SE, 5 and earlier:
- Hold the topbutton till it appears on the screen. power Sliderappears onto the phone’s screen.
- Slide the slider to shut off the phone, and then wait 30 minutes for it to stop.
- Press on the button to the Top button till you see the Apple logo appears, completing the restart.
Connect them to the iPhone to check whether they’re working.
3. Try Other Headphones
The issue may be related to the headphones you have and the quickest method to find out the reason is to test another pair to determine whether they function or not.
Another method to determine if your headphone jack has been damaged prior to sending it to a repair shop. If the new headphones are working, then the issue is with your headphones and it is an ideal time to get them repaired or, if they’re in no way repairable, you can purchase new headphones.
4. Take care to clean the headphones
If you’re connected to wireless iPhone headphones, make sure to examine the headphone jack for any obstructions as they could interfere with the way the headphone pin connects to your device.
To determine if there is any debris inside the iPhone headphone Jack:
- Put a torch in the headphone’s jack to look whether there is gunk or lint or any other foreign materials that isn’t supposed to be there.
- Simply blow air into the jack of your headphone to remove the dust. It is also possible to shoot an air stream into the pin to get the same result.
- You can apply an swab of cotton if the debris is tightly packed. Be gentle when brushing to prevent damage to the material.
When you’ve confirmed that the iPhone headphone cable is clear and the headphones are connected, you can try connecting them for a second time to confirm that they’re functioning now.
5. Verify for physical damage
It is possible to check for physical damage to determine if the iPhone headphones you’re wearing are damaged and need to be fixed. Anything that seems unusual such as a broken headset cable or bent jack pin, may be the reason. Do not attempt to repair the headphones yourself If you don’t know how to fix it, since it will only make things worse. It is recommended to take it to the closest repair shop for an effective fix.
6. Allow and disable Airplane Mode
Disabling and enabling Airplane Mode will work best when you’re using wireless headphones. It temporarily shuts down the entire Bluetooth connection and then refresh it. Bluetooth connections, clearing of any minor glitches that might be affecting the iPhone’s headphone connection.
For enabling and long-lasting Airplane Mode:
- Slide downwards from your home screen in order to reveal the Control Center.
- Tap and hold the Airplane Mode button that is represented with an aircraft icon.
- Take a couple of minutes and then tap the icon once more to disable it.
This will refresh the connections to your iPhone as well as the headphones to solve the issue.
7. Make sure you check the AirPlay Output
You might have neglected to switch off the AirPlay output you were using on your device prior to connecting it with your headphone. This will transmit all audio coming from your iPhone to a different output and you could think that your headphones have been damaged.
To determine if you’ve connected to an output that is different from the one you are connected to.
- Scroll down from the home screen to open the Control Center.
- Choose “Airplay” in the upper right corner to access all possible output options.
- Click on the headphones in order to join.
This will get the headphone functioning again immediately.
8. Examine the Bluetooth Connection
You must be able to have Bluetooth activated if you have a habit of making use of Bluetooth wireless iPhone headphones. If you don’t have Bluetooth turned on it won’t perform. Make sure that Bluetooth is working and is connected to the specific headphones set that you want to use prior to pressing play.
You can go to on the Control Center and see if Bluetooth is in use or not. Bluetooth icons should be blue if active. Bluetooth icon should appear blue when active, and grey when it is turned off.
9. Update iOS Device
The issue could be due to the device being running an outdated firmware. This may make connection with iPhone headsets and AirPods difficult, and without more iOS update, you’ll have no way to work with the devices.
To to update iOS to the most current version:
- Then, open the Settings .
- Click on the General.
- Start the Software Updateand look to see whether there’s an installation that’s not yet completed.
- Click the button “Download to install” and allow the process to complete to the conclusion.
After it is confirmed that iOS update is completed then connect your wireless headset or connect the headphone jack wired to play your music , or receive calls with no problems.
10. Reset All Settings
Resetting all settings will allow you to remove the larger issues within your device which could cause problems for Bluetooth devices, such as the wireless iPhone headsets from connecting to your smartphone. It’s a simple procedure that can reset all settings back to their defaults with all the customizations you’ve made along the process. It is not necessary to make backups as your data won’t be affected.
For reset of all settings
- Start the Settings app.
- Click on the General.
- Scroll down, and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Click Reset. Tap Resetand select the option to Reset all Settings.
- Enter your password to confirm the process. Let the phone have necessary time for the process to be completed.
- Connect to Bluetooth headphones to your iPhone and listen to your favorite music.
11. Set to factory settings Settings
A factory reset procedure is more drastic than other options discussed however it’s an effective method of eliminating any software-related problems that might be impacting you Apple headphones. It will erase all your data that you have stored, so it is essential to make a backup prior to beginning the procedure.
For a factory reset of the iPhone settings:
- Start the the Settings app.
- Visit the General.
- Scroll down until Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Reset and then “Erase all settings and content. “
- Enter your password to confirm the procedure and allow it to run until the close.
- Once you’ve completed this, install your new Bluetooth connections and then play music using headphones to determine if your problem is solved.
12. Contact Apple Support Apple Support
If nothing is working it is possible to bring each of your iPhone and iPhone headphone to your closest Apple Store for further help. This could mean that the issue is beyond your capabilities. Instead of causing more damage it is advisable to get it examined by an expert. It shouldn’t take long and you’ll have your device back within a matter of minutes.
Conclusion
iPhone headphones, as with all Bluetooth device, can fail eventually when they are used by iOS devices for a prolonged duration. It is a problem is fixable with one of the solutions I’ve described in greater detail in the previous paragraphs. Try each option until you have the perfect solution.
