Last Updated: on September 3, 2023 by Jack
Headphones can pop back out of your phone jack for a few reasons. Most of the time, it’s not the headphones but the actual audio port itself causing the issues.
The jack port can be deceiving. It can look clear, but the tiniest bit of dirt or debris stuck inside it can push the headphones out.
Here are some reasons why your 3.5mm phone jack port is pushing your headphones back out constantly and how you can fix it.
1. The Headphone Jack is Clogged
It’s only natural that dust and particles get clogged inside the audio jack after a while. Even if there’s nothing you can visibly see causing a blockage, start by giving it a quick, safe clean to at least rule out the issue.
Even the tiniest bit of lint from your pocket can cause the headphones to pop back out.
Here are a few ways of effectively unclogging anything gathering in the headphone jack.
1.2 How to Unclog It
You can start by giving it a quick blow or using compressed air to see if you can loosen up any dirt logged in the jack. It’s just a starting point, as it’s unlikely that some air will clear out any major blockages.
Now, we need to use something thin and soft to capture any dust or dirt. One of the best things to stick in the port is a soft cotton bud, as it’s not going to cause any damage to it. Give it a little swirl around. You’ll probably be shocked by the amount of dirt it has on it.
You can use other stronger household items with sharper points, such as paper clips, toothpicks, needles, or even a pin. The sharper point stuff is probably better at getting out stubborn dirt inside the jack but will cause damage if not used carefully.
We recommend wrapping a bit of cloth, cotton, or even tape around the point of sharper tools to avoid firing it too far in and damaging a pin.
Do a few rounds of clearing the jack out by trying some of the suggestions above. Give the phone jack a little tilt and a gentle tap just in case anything you’ve loosened is ready to fall out.
If you’re happy with your jack cleaning efforts, but the headphones still keep popping out, there might be a physical issue with the jack itself or the headphones.
2. Headphone Issues
It sounds obvious but start by switching the headphones with another pair just to eliminate the possibility of the headphones causing the issue.
If another pair of headphones sits in the jack snugly without popping out, then you know there’s probably an issue with the previous pair and not the jack itself.
Look for any signs of damage to the headphone jack, such as a slight bend or curve to the metal. It’s quite common for damage to occur, especially if you’re frequently pulling and pushing the jack out of the phone port.
You’ll find that, in general, some 3.5mm jacks will just sit better in the port than others, with a lot of it coming down to the quality and design of the jack it sports.
It’s all about the headphones making good contact with the audio port pins and providing a tight fit. It might just be the case that the headphone jack design is slightly off and doesn’t quite match the phone port dimensions. There’s a nice YouTube video below showing how a cut of paper can be used to create a better fit and contact.
Another thing to note is that some mobile designs require you to push the headphones in slightly harder than others until you hear a clicking sound to signal it’s locked in. Without hammering it in, make sure they do go all the way in.
3. Phone Case Obstruction
Another thing that’s worth checking is the mobile case itself.
If you’re able to remove the case from the mobile without causing any harm, then take it off and try plugging the headphones into the naked jack port without the case.
You might find that the headphones end up sitting much better in the port and don’t pop out without the case on. If this is the case, then it could highlight a bit of a size difference between the case and the jack plastic housing.
The mobile casing might be catching the plastic housing that connects to your 3.5mm audio jack, as there’s simply not enough clearance for it to go right in.
Another set of headphones with a smaller-style plastic jack connector is worth trying if you have any lying around. If not, you can always expand the hole of the phone case with a bit of DIY if you’re comfortable with it.
4. Damaged Audio Jack Port
A damaged phone audio jack port is probably the least likely cause of headphones popping out, but it does happen and is the biggest pain to deal with.
If you’ve tried all the suggestions above and are adamant you’ve cleaned the port as best as you can, cleaning out any dirt, debris or lint, but the problem still exists, then there’s probably an issue with the port.
The issue might be that the contact pins inside it are damaged or bent through general wear and tear, or it could just be faulty in the first place.
Either way, it’ll need to be repaired if you want to use a wired setup. You can either try and fix it yourself, which can be quite tricky depending on the make and model you’re dealing with. There are a few guides online that you can follow if you want to go down this route, but it’s not advisable if you’re not sure what you’re doing.
The other option is to send it back to the manufacturer or take it to a repair shop. It could end up being a costly affair, though. If your mobile phone has Bluetooth, which almost every model has these days, then you could always try using a wireless pair of headphones to bypass the jack port issue.