Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps

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• iPhone
• tech clinic
• DIY
• headphones
• cellphones
• repairs

Q: My iPhone's earpiece no longer works. I can only hear con­versations over the speakerphone and through earphones. When I called customer service they said I need to bring it in to diagnose the problem. Is there anything else I can do?

A: Dirt and dust can easily get trapped in the headphone jacks of many phones and laptop computers. On the iPhone, this can trip a sensor inside the jack, which tricks the phone into thinking headphones are plugged in. (This sensor automatically mutes the phone's earpiece.) So before you take a trip to the Apple store, try the MacGyver trick we picked up from luckow.com, the Web site of Al Luckow. Find a cotton swab—I recommend the Q-tip brand simply because the cotton fluff tends to be less likely to shear off, but any should do. Cut off one end until only a tiny bit of cotton remains, just barely larger than the diameter of the swab axle. Dab a very small amount of rubbing alcohol on the shorn end. Slowly and gently ease the tip into the headphone jack and swish it around. Your goal is to remove any gunk that may be stuck in there.

Luckow, who posted a video of this trick on his site, first tried cleaning his iPhone's headphone jack with canned air and an air compressor. Neither worked as well as the humble cotton swab, which successfully exorcised what he believes was lint that had been picked up from his pocket. For laptops, the biggest worry is the crumb- and dust-filled bottom of an uncleaned bag.

A protective case may help guard against pocket grime, but it has its drawbacks—particles of dirt and sand can get trapped in the case and end up scratching your phone. Even if this doesn't happen to you, I'm still for ditching the sleeve when it comes to the iPhone. After all, what's the point of carrying around such a slender phone if it doesn't easily fit in your jeans pocket?

And while compressed air might not have done the trick for Luckow's iPhone, giving your gadget ports and inputs the occassional blast of air is a great way to keep them from becoming clogged in the first place.

6. RE: Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps
Thanks!!! fixed the problem!!

5. RE: Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps
Wouldn't putting rubbing alcohol with about 70% alcohol and 30% water ruin your iPhones warranty? Keep in mind the iPhone has that water patch that turns red on contact with water.

4. RE: Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps
But wait isnt there a water sensor in there... if you add too much you will activate the sensor and turn read. so be careful

3. RE: Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps
I have tried to clean my headphone jack but my phone is still not working? No sound by my earpiece only through my speakerphone and my earphones?

2. RE: Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps
"Q: My iPhone's earpiece no longer works. I can only hear con­versations over the speakerphone and through earphones. When I called customer service they said I need to bring it in to diagnose the problem. Is there anything else I can do? " I think they are asking about the phone's earpiece, not the headphone jack.

1. RE: Fix Your iPhone's Headphone Jack With a Cotton Swab in 3 Steps
It worked! Thanks for the tip.

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