How to get a broken headphone jack out

It only takes a few minutes to get a broken headphone jack out with a pair of steady hands and some tools you already have. Have you tried to remove the damaged part by hand? It might work if the headphone jack hasn’t been properly fixed.

It’s a frustrating problem. As a result, you cannot take calls, listen to music, watch videos, or hear important notifications. This severely limits what you can do with your device.

There are a few ways to get a headphone jack working. The first and best way to repair a headphone jack is to just replace it. This is the most cost-effective and easy option. You may also want to consider replacing it with a new one if the one you have is not working for any reason. You can also try a few different methods at home to see which one works best for you.

In some cases, you might have to pay in full to repair a device if you don’t pay attention to what you do.

How to get a broken headphone jack out from Any Device

You don’t need to worry whether the headphone jack on your laptop broke off or if the headphone jack is stuck on your iPhone or Android phone. You just need a new jack.

Headphones use a standard 3.5-millimeter jack (the same jack that your phone uses) that is plugged into a standard

3.5-millimeter audio port found in most laptops, smartphones, and portable speakers.

A jack is actually the socket into which the headphone cable is inserted. However, what is known as a plug is often called a jack.

In this article, we refer to the headphone jack as the headphone plug.

Most devices will work with the methods we describe below.

• Method 1: Using a Biro/ball pen to get the headphone jack out
• Method 2: Superglue the Other End of the Plug.
• Method 3: Remove a Broken Headphone Jack With a Thumbtack
• Method 4: Toothpick and Hot Glue
• Method 5: Heated Paperclip
• Method 6: GripStick Broken Headphone Jack Removal Tool

Also read How to use single jack headset on pc without splitter

Method 1. Using biro/ball pen to get the headphone jack out

This is pretty cool! The inside of the headphone jack is pretty much the same diameter as the tube leading up the outside of your Biro. With a bit of force and some care, this can be used to pull the headphone jack out of your device.

To do this, first, remove the plastic top from the tube of ink. This is the most accessible part, and should usually be able to be unscrewed by hand. At the bottom of the tube, the opposite end to the ink, there should be no ink.

To remove a plugged headphone jack, push in the broken portion of the jack and then grab it and pull. If the tube doesn’t hold, replace it with a new one.

If the first two options don’t work, you have two more options: The first is to slightly widen the hole in the wall, so the plug can slide in. Alternatively, you can quickly heat the end of the tube to soften it, and then push it into the socket.

Are you very steady with your hands? Put a small amount of hot glue or superglue on the end of the tube before inserting.

Lastly, you might be missing some pressure. Take a two-inch piece of the tube (or something of a similar size, like the lubricating oil tube), and insert it into the earphone socket. To ensure that the lost part is gripped, tap it into place with a firm object (like a shoe or slipper). Once you are satisfied that it is held by the tube, remove it from the phone.

A ball pen’s ink tube is about the same length as a headphone jack. To find the ideal pen, take any regular ball pen, like a Bic pen, and pull the ink tube out. There will be some resistance. You might have to play around with different ball pens until you find one with an ink tube that is just the right length.

Steps:

• Pull the inner ink tube out by holding the nib of the pen.
• Put the end of the tube into the socket and press firmly until it grips the broken jack.
• Remove the tube as quickly as possible. The broken jack should fall out with it.

What to do if it doesn’t work:

Identify which of the following workarounds you need to try if inserting a ball pen tube does not work.

• Use a nail or the tip of the knife to widen the tube. If necessary, heat the tube’s end with a lighter. The plastic should only be heated enough to become malleable but not deformed.
• The tube can be pushed down with a screwdriver, pliers, a shoe, or whatever you have on hand.
• Put a small amount of superglue inside the tube. Keep a toothpick’s edge away from the outside so that no glue gets on it.
• Insert a small piece of chewing gum into the tube. You should be able to grip the headphone jack more easily with glue or chewing gum.

Method 2. Superglue the Other End of the Plug

If the pen cartridge doesn’t work, or you prefer a different approach, then the answer could be super glue. You probably know that when using super glue, you never bond two surfaces immediately after application.

Use a tiny blob of super glue and put it on the end of your earphone’s broken piece. Wait for it to dry a bit, then gently squeeze the two pieces together. Super glue can be messy, so clean it up carefully.

There’s the piece that didn’t snap in the phone! The packet instructs you to wait until it becomes tacky, then slide it into the socket. Press down for 30 seconds or so, then pull. The problem is solved if the broken headphone jack is attached.

It is important to use small amounts of glue. Otherwise, any residual glue could be the cause of future problems. To solve this problem, you could apply a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol to a Q-tip and then wipe it carefully inside the socket.

Method 3. Remove a Broken Headphone Jack With a Thumbtack

If you’re thinking about protecting a smartphone or tablet from physical damage while listening to music with Bluetooth headphones, a simple solution is to use a thumbtack instead of a sharp pointy object. Hammer the tack into the earpiece and insert the phone or tablet until the point of the tack is just below the charging port.

Remove the old headphone jack from the side of the phone and remove it with tweezers. Make sure the headphone jack doesn’t fall out before you begin removing it. Use a flat-headed screwdriver to unscrew the plastic housing around the headphone port, and gently pull the headphone jack out of its hole. This is important because if the headphone jack is loose when you try to insert a new one, it might come out of the slot again!

Method 4. Toothpick and Hot Glue

Toothpicks are surprisingly good at removing broken headphone jacks, just make sure they are long enough and thin enough to fit in the socket and remove the broken part. Plastic or wood toothpicks are just as good, but be aware that these can be hard to find in some areas so it’s best to bring them along on vacation trips.

Next, carefully apply a small amount of hot glue to the end of your earphone jack. Allow the glue to cool before inserting it into the audio jack socket on your device. The glue will hold the plug in place for a few seconds before it dries.

If the plan comes together, the missing headphone jack will be removed. This is a pretty straightforward plan of attack, but sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Method 5. Heated Paperclip

If glue is not available? A heat gun is a good alternative since the plastic ring around the broken part of the connector is almost always present. Grab it by unwinding a paperclip, bending the main length out 90 degrees.

After that, heat the end of the bent paperclip with something heatproof. Place the heated paper clip straight down the middle of the socket while holding your phone with your other hand. Gently push down while the plastic cools. Your broken earphone connector should soon be removed if everything goes according to plan.

Steps:

• Straighten the paper clip until you can insert it into the socket.
• Apply a small amount of superglue to the flat end of the toothpick or paperclip.
• Allow it to dry for a few minutes. If you want to know how long the superglue needs to become tacky, check the instructions.
• Make sure the toothpick or paperclip touches the headphone jack when you insert it into the socket. Let it cool for a few minutes.
• Using a toothpick or paperclip, remove the broken jack.
• You can use rubbing alcohol to remove glue from anywhere other than the headphone jack using a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol.

What to do if it doesn’t work:

• Instead of glue, use heat if you don’t have any glue around your house or if it doesn’t work with glue.
• Just enough heat should be applied to the tip of the paperclip to soften it.
• Paperclips should be inserted right into the socket and pushed until they reach the headphone jack.
• Once it has cooled for a few minutes, remove it firmly.

Method 6. GripStick Broken Headphone Jack Removal Tool

If DIY fixes aren’t working for you, it might be time to consider the pro-level solution. This device is created to remove earphone cables from the top. It has a few advantages over regular tape and glue: no mess, less work, and no tape to lose.

The first option is to simply replace the headphones with the same brand as your current set of headphones. If this doesn’t fix the problem then you can try getting a replacement cable from a retailer like the one at ebay.com.

The GripStick can be used with any iPhone or iPod, making it a popular gadget for many people. Simply slide the GripStick into the phone’s headphone socket and twist the top of the GripStick in either direction.

A gripstick is a tool designed for professionals to remove headphone jacks. However, this isn’t the cheapest solution, and it should only be used as a last resort if all other methods have failed.

GripSticks can be a great investment if you need a better grip on your device. There are various colors and sizes available for GripSticks depending on your needs.

Steps:

• Insert the GripStick’s cylinder into the socket.
• With your thumb and forefinger, squeeze the lower end of the cylinder. The headphone jack should be gripped.
• Remove the GripStick and the broken jack.

What to do if it doesn’t work:

• If the GripStick alone does not work, you may need to do some extra work.
• Tap the GripStick lightly into the socket with a pair of pliers.
• Squeeze the GripStick as you pull it out using the same pliers.

6 Tips for Preventing Headphone Jacks from Breaking

If you want to get a broken headphone jack out of a socket, make sure it doesn’t get stuck there in the first place.

It’s likely that there are little things we do that can break the headphone jack in half while it’s in the socket that we’re not aware of.

Take care of your headphones so that not only will the jack remain intact, but the headset will also last longer.

We are generally aware of what we can do to prevent a problem from happening. Unfortunately, there are also some things that we do unknowingly that can make the problem worse. This is where proper documentation and training are a necessity.

If you want to make your headphones last longer, be careful about how you handle them. By keeping your cables and jack in good condition you’re doing your ears and head a favor.

1. Do not buy low-quality headphones.

You really do get what you pay for in regards to headphones. High-quality ones are going to last you longer than cheap ones and will not break as often.

It also goes without saying but you should go for the highest quality headphones you can afford. If you can afford it, it means you don’t have to worry about them breaking or falling apart.

2. Pull on the plug, not the cable.

Use your thumb and forefinger to grab the plug and pull it out firmly. If possible, don’t yank on the cable as this puts extra stress on the plug and makes it more prone to damage.

3. Remove the plug straight from the socket.

Do not pull the plug straight out. That will damage the audio jack so that it will no longer work. Instead, pull it out at an angle. That way it won’t damage the jack or the socket and you still get to listen to music.

4. When not used, unplug your headphones.

In order to prevent accidental damage to your smartphone or laptop, it is recommended to unplug your headphones while you are not using them. This prevents the headphones from getting tangled in the cord and causing damage.

5. Buy headphones with an L-shaped jack.

You cannot physically remove the cable from the socket because of this. In order to remove the connector from the jack, you will need to hold it firmly, sometimes with more than two fingers.  

6. Switch to Bluetooth headphones.

If you’re fed up with a tangled mess that is a pair of wired headphones, you can do away with them all together with a pair of Bluetooth headphones. These are wireless and therefore, are completely hassle-free.

It’s easier to move around without being constrained by cables.

Also read What to Do with Broken Headphones

Conclusion

We hope we’ve equipped you with the right information to help you how to get a broken headphone jack out and help you save time and money by skipping the repair center.

You can return to using your device the way it was intended in minutes using household items you already have. Get crystal-clear sound when you call, listen to music, or watch videos.

Were we able to fix your broken headphone jack? Did you try any other methods besides the ones we suggested above? Please let us know in the comments.