How to fix headphone jack on Android phone

Our headphones do more than allow us to listen to music or podcasts in private—they make it easy to have hands-free conversations, anytime, anywhere. They've become so essential to our daily lives that it's hard to get much done without them. So if your headphones aren't working with your Android™ phone, it can be a real hassle.

Don't worry, here at Asurion, we help millions of people fix and get the most out of their tech every day. From repairing a Samsung Galaxy® that won't charge to resetting an Amazon Fire® tablet, we get the devices you rely on most back up and running fast. Here's our guide on how to fix the headphone jack on your Android.

Check your headphones

The first thing you should do is plug your headphones into another device to make sure they aren't the problem. If you don't have another smartphone handy, try a laptop or a TV.

You should also try plugging a different pair of headphones into your Android in case your original pair isn't compatible with your phone—even if they work with other devices.

Check the audio settings

If your headphones don't seem to be the problem, check your phone's volume and audio settings by pressing the Volume buttons to make sure the sound isn't muted or turned way down.

Restart your phone

Restarting your device can fix all sorts of issues, so let's see if that's why the headphone jack isn't working on your Android. Press and hold the Power button, then tap Restart. Once your phone turns back on, try your headphones again.

Check the Bluetooth settings

Make sure your phone isn't connected to a different device via Bluetooth®, which could prevent audio from coming through your headphones. Here's how to turn off Bluetooth to see if that's the problem. Steps could vary depending on your Android device.

1. Open Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.
2. Turn the Bluetooth switch to Off, or unpair Bluetooth audio devices that are already connected to your phone.
3. Plug your headphones into the audio jack and play something to see if they work.

Clean the audio jack

Your phone's audio jack may be full of dust and debris. To clean it out, blow into the jack or use a can of compressed air to do so. You can also use a cotton swab—apply a few drops of alcohol to the end of one and gently try to clean out the debris.