Last Updated: on January 23, 2024 by Jack
Answer: Yes, generally, it is ok to leave your wired headphones or earphones plugged in all the time. Leaving them plugged in even overnight shouldn’t cause any noticeable electrical wear. However, to increase their longevity, you might want to unplug them where possible to avoid the cables being tripped over or pulled.
Although it’s not a big issue leaving them plugged in permanently, other factors affect whether to keep them plugged into a PC, smartphone, AMP, or stereo audio port.
Is There Any Wear On The Circuitry?
Answer: There might be some very minimal wear on the headphone’s circuitry over time, leaving them plugged in constantly to a source that receives an electrical current. However, if anything, it is probably unnoticeable and not worth worrying about in most cases.
You shouldn’t be afraid to leave the headphones plugged into a device long-term, as it shouldn’t cause any electrical damage under normal circumstances.
Like most electronics, if it’s connected to a power source in any way, there’s always the off-chance that something could go wrong electrically.
Circuitry damage under normal circumstances and usage shouldn’t be a concern, but other, more serious threats to wired headphones might make you consider unplugging them when not in use.
Reasons To Unplug Them
There are a few reasons to remove wired headphones from the audio port when not in use to keep them physically in peak condition and avoid any accidents.
Cable Being Pulled, Tangled or Tripped Over
The biggest issue with leaving wired headphones plugged in all the time is the hazard of tripping over or pulling the cable.
If the cable is pulled, you could end up ruining the headphones completely by pulling the wires inside or causing the jack connector to come loose.
Another problem with pulling or tripping over the cable accidentally is that the headphone jack could potentially come off and become stuck in the audio port. If you connect a headset, for example, to a PC, laptop console or TV, then you’ll want to avoid causing any damage to them via your headphone cable.
If you’ve got the cable running across a room, around a bed and a gaming chair, then you’ve obviously got even more chance of pulling the cable and damaging the headphones. Not only is it the headphones that could be destroyed, but you also run the risk of pulling over whatever unit or rig they’re plugged into onto the floor, such as a laptop or games console.
Also, if pets are roaming around the house, such as a dog or cat, there’s even more chance that the cable gets accidentally pulled by them.
When leaving them plugged in permanently, yanking a cable poses more of a threat to your headphones than circuitry wear.
Power Surge
Though it’s unlikely to happen, and it’s not always practical to unplug electronics just in case, a potential power surge could be another reason to remove your headphones from a power source.
It’s usually an external factor and something that’s not normally in your control, but you can, of course, remove your audio equipment if there’s the threat of a lightning strike or power issues in the area.
Again, it’s unlikely to happen and probably not worth being paranoid over, but you still have to think safely. If there’s the threat of a power surge, then you should absolutely disconnect anything you have plugged in, including headphones.
But, under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t go worrying about disconnecting headphones in case of a power surge unless they’re a ridiculously expensive pair or you’re leaving them unattended for days in the house.
Keeping Them Dust-Free and Clean
Depending on how much you value your wired headphones or earphones, you might want to store them away to prevent any dust or dirt from gathering on them.
If they sit in a bit of a dusty environment in your room on top of a table or computer, then you can always unplug them and store them away somewhere else.
Some headphone manufacturers provide protective bags and cases these days for storing your headphones safely away when not in use.
Another option is to hang them on a stand or the wall, keeping them off surfaces where they’re more likely to acquire dirt or break.
If you’ve spent a bit of cash on a pair and want to keep them clean and protect them, then unplug them. Also, if you’re not using the headphones often or leaving them unattended for long periods, then just take them out of the audio port.
Phone Speaker vs Headphones
If you’re using a wired set of headphones for your phone, then you might want to remove them when not in use just so that you can hear incoming calls.
Depending on your phone’s settings, incoming calls might play through the headphones rather than the built-in speakers, meaning you could miss important calls.
Most people use Bluetooth earbuds these days to connect to their phones when needed. It saves any wiring or jack issues when connecting or disconnecting them from your phone.
Keeping Headphones Plugged In To Avoid Damage
One reason to keep them plugged in permanently is that constant unplugging can cause damage to the jack, cable and audio port, ultimately ruining them.
Again, it comes down to your usage. If you’re a gamer, for example, who uses your headset pretty much every day and you’ve got them sitting in a safe place, then you’re probably better just leaving them plugged in rather than constantly unplugging and replugging them.
Some of the 3.5mm jacks you plug in aren’t the strongest, even on some of the more expensive models. Wear over time at the jack can cause it to snap or bend easily, so you need to be very careful when applying pressure.
The last thing you want is the jack to break off inside the audio port and get stuck. Trying to prise a stuck bit of metal out of a port can be a time-consuming and even costly exercise. You can straight-up ruin the whole piece of equipment you’ve plugged into.
Overall, plugging in and removing headphone jacks from audio ports poses a greater risk of damage to the headphones than constantly being plugged in all the time under normal circumstances.
What Should I Do?
Answer: Our general recommendation is just to leave the headphones plugged in all the time. They’re perfectly fine being left plugged in permanently in most cases and typically won’t receive any damage from a power source.
If there’s a danger to your energy in the area, such as a storm, then obviously disconnect them to avoid power surge damage.
The main threat to leaving headphones or earphones plugged in all the time is cable damage from tripping over or pulling it. If you’re concerned about the cable being pulled in your environment, then by all means, disconnect and store them away.
If you’ve spent a bit of cash on a premium pair and want to preserve them for as long as possible, then again, disconnect them and get into the habit of storing them away correctly.
For most people at home, such as gamers, computer users, tablet browsers, amp users, and audio interface listeners, leaving your headphones plugged in is a better alternative than constantly plugging in and unplugging them regularly. Connecting and disconnecting your jack regularly will cause more damage than any minor power damage from leaving them plugged in long-term.