How to Fix Broken Headphones

Quickly Learn How to Fix Broken Headphones

Earphones and wire headphones are great for listening to music while on the go. No matter how careful we are with our headphones, there will be times when they have problems. It’s easy to find the problem, and you can fix some problems at home, with a little knowledge. You don’t have to throw away your broken headphones or its periphery. Keep reading to learn how you can repair broken headphones or earbuds at home without hiring a professional.

Ensure the Headphones are the Root Cause of the Problem

You can make sure you are not causing damage to your headphones or earphones by connecting them to another device. You can plug them into an audio source or phone with a functioning headphone jack, for example. If your headphones still have a problem, the problem is with your headphones. However, if your headphones suddenly stop working you may have a problem with the audio source.

Diverse audio sources are available

Plug your headphones into different audio sources. To see if the sound quality changes, do this. If the problem persists even after switching audio sources, it is likely that the problem is with the original source of the audio.

Play better files

Poor music quality may be the cause of your audio problems. It is not a good idea to expect the best audio quality if the music file you are listening to is 30 year old songs downloaded from Limewire in 1999.

Verify your warranty

You may want to check your packaging or purchase information if you find that your headphone/earphones have become damaged. Sometimes your purchase (e.g. Dr Dre Beats comes with a supplier warranty).  This warranty allows you to get Beats headphones fixed by a professional at no charge. This is usually limited to products that have been used for less than two years. To ensure that you know when your warranty expires, keep all receipts. You should know that once you start cutting into wires and ripping open earphone casings to do DIY repairs, the warranty on your product will end.

Ask the manufacturer for advice

While the above tips should be sufficient for most headphones (not all), some brands might need more specific guidance. You might have to research the exact model information of Beats headphones before you can give generic advice. Troubleshooting Bluetooth headphones with problems is more difficult. Do your research and contact the manufacturers of wire headphones for advice. You can contact them via phone, on their social media pages or on their website before trying to fix it yourself.

Why are my earphones not working?

Common problems with earphone users include the possibility of the pair cutting out on one side and not the other. It can be frustrating to hear sound in one ear but not the other. The wires can be easily damaged by folding them up and putting the earphones in your pocket. We’ll discuss common causes for headphones/earphones ripping out in one ear below, as well as the solutions.

How to fix headphones which only work in one ear

It’s important to rule out that the issue could be caused by your phone or computer rather than the headphones. Here are some options:

• Use a different pair for the audio device.
• Restart your audio player device.
• Make sure that you have the correct settings.
• Make sure your headphone jack is free from debris.
• Note that each solution is different if the problem is related to headphones
• Short circuit in the wire

This is probably the most common reason why an earphone breaks in a pair. This problem can also be found further down, in the wire of headphones or near the audiojack. This is often fixed without having to cut off the wire. If the problem is solved by twisting or holding the cord in a particular position, you can use duct tape to attach the cord. This will cause the ends of the cut wires to brush together. This should solve the audio problem. We will discuss the duct tape method as well as other options to repair an electrical short further down.

If the broken side of the headphones can’t be fixed by simply manipulating it, the problem could lie within the plastic earpiece. If this is the case, you can skip to the next section.

There are rattling sounds and/or distortions

Most often, this problem is caused by damaged or defective headphone drivers. Blown-out headphones can happen for many reasons, but here are some:

• Damage to headphones: Headphones can sustain physical damage that could cause issues with their sound output. You can do this by dropping your headphones, stepping on them or putting them in a backpack with heavy books. Your pet may then chew on them.
• You shouldn’t play at maximum volume. This also puts pressure on the headphones drivers.
• Too much power from an amp: Headphone amps can be used to provide more power to headphones. Your drivers can be damaged if you use an amp that is too powerful or has the wrong settings.
• Dust, hair or dirt: You must clean your headphones as with all other electronic devices. Dirt, hair, and dust can build up in your headphones. These particles can build up and cause rattling, buzzing or scratching sounds.

How to Fix an Electrical Short in Headphones or Earbuds with Tape

You’ll need:

Duct tape, of course!

Multimeter (optional).

1) First twist or squeeze the wire until it is in a good position. When the sound stops in your earphone, then you can hear it again. To locate the problem, you can use a multimeter. To make the kink, bend the earbuds cable so it is covered. You can also try these other methods.

2) Once you have located the ideal position, secure the cable by holding it tight. You can now secure the cable by using enough tape. This will keep the pressure in place and prevent any wires from breaking again. Listen carefully to the sound.

How to Fix an Electrical Short in Headphones or Earbuds: Solder

You’ll need:

• A wire stripper (or a pocketknife)
• Lighter
• Scissors
• Third hand with alligator clip
• Soldering iron/gun and soldering iron
• Electric tape
• Heat gun and shrink tube (optional)
• Multimeter (optional).

1) To begin, you need to manipulate the headphone’s cable until the audio is working properly in both ears. This will allow you to locate the problem area. Mark the problem spot with masking tape. (If you have trouble manipulating the cord, there are some solutions that can be used.

2) Make sure that headphones are not connected directly to a power source. Expose the wire in the area. You can then remove the insulation using a wire stripper, or a pocket knife. Remove about half an inch of insulation on each side and expose the wire.

3) Carefully inspect your cable. It should look like two cables joined together. These will contain an insulated (signal) and a plain wire (ground). Apple’s single-cable headphones/earphones, such as those made by Apple, will have either one or two groundwires and two insulated cables (left signal and right signals).

The left signal, depending on whether it is coated with enamel or rubber, will be either white or green. The right signal will turn red, and ground wires can be either copper wire or black. You can connect two ground wires together, so that you have three wires.

4) Use scissors to cut the wire cord in half. You can also use the lighter to remove the enamel coating. Move your flame rapidly over the wires to expose the copper ends.

5) Examine the wire to make sure it isn’t shredded. If it is, take the shredded wire and cut off the remaining cords. Electrical damage can result from unevenly cutting the ends.

6) Slide a shrink tube over your cord to make it ready. Match the wire on one end to the wire on the opposing side. Use a twisting motion for each end of the copper wires to join the two halves of the colored wires.

By overlapping the wires at one end, twisting them in different directions to achieve an in-line connection, you can create an in-line stitch. This will make the wire stronger and allow you to easily solder the wires together using your soldering iron/gun.

7) Next, you’ll need to use your solder gun/soldering electric. To hold both ends of the cord together, use your third hand and alligator clip. Use a bit of solder to melt over each wire to join them. Repeat this process for each splice. Allow the solder to cool. This process is often called “tinning”. A damp sponge can be used to remove solder buildup when you’re using an iron soldering.

8) Wrap electrical taping around the signal wires. This will make them separate from the one or more ground wires. To wrap any bare wires, use electrical tape. You can also use shrink tube to cover the wires. Finally, shrink it with a heat gun. Wrap your repair in electrical tape. Make sure you listen carefully.

Earbud Problems

If you can’t get sound back from the damaged side of your headphones by manipulating the cord, then it might be an electrical short within the earbud. This can be fixed by removing the plastic casing from the earbud to reach the wires. This is more involved than a regular wire repair.

Before trying to repair an earpiece broken at home, it is best to contact a professional. Most likely, DIY repairs won’t work.

How to Fix Plastic Electrical Short in Earbuds: Loose Wires

These are your essentials

• Flat-blade screwdriver (or equivalent) – a few flat tools or knives will do it.
• Super glue (if your earbuds weren’t designed for opening up)
• Desoldering braid, also known as “desoldering Wick”
• Soldering iron
• Third hand with alligator clip

1) Use a flat-blade or similar screwdriver to pry open the plastic shell of the defective earbud. There will be a groove at the junction of the plastic casing. You can place the tip of the tool into the groove and push the other halves apart. Unless your earbuds have been designed to be separated, you’ll need to superglue their casing back together.

2) Next, examine the inside for any faulty wiring. You will find two copper wires inside. They will each connect to a different terminal at the edges of a circular board. It is important to identify wires that are broken or loosening and have come off their terminals. (If both wires appear fine, the problem might be at the headphone socket.

3) Clear away any solder residue using your soldering gun. The braid should be laid flat over the blobs of solder that have formed around the terminal where the shorted wire became loose. Your soldering torch can heat the braid between the two materials. This will melt the old solder and allow you to make a new piece.

4) You should remove one solder blob and cut the braid.

5) Now, you can solder any loose wire into the appropriate terminal within the earbud. For stability, use your third hand and alligator clip. You can attach the wire to its terminal by pressing a bit of solder (0.032-diameter), into it. To melt it, use your soldering torch to secure the wire. Solder all broken wires. It is possible to reconnect both broken wires to the circuit board’s terminals.

6) Carefully attach the casing to the back of the computer and make sure that it works.

Problems inside headphones headpiece

If your headphones are over-ear, and the cord isn’t working properly, there might be a problem within the earpiece. This is more complex than simply fixing the cord.

We recommend that you contact a professional before trying to repair an earpiece broken at home. Most likely, DIY repairs won’t work.

How to Fix an Electrical Short in Headphones or Earbuds: Connections

You’ll need:

• If the earpiece is made of screws, size 0 Crosshead Screwdriver
• Soldering iron

1) Remove the broken earpiece. For more guidance, refer to the headphones manual. If there are screws in the earpiece, you can use the size 0, crosshead screwdriver. You can pull the padding from your earpiece to remove it and check for any screws.

2) Reattach any damaged wires to the headphone drivers by soldering them to their bare pin. You can refer to the manual for information about which wires belong where, if there are more than one. You must ensure that the wires do not touch each other. Now, reassemble the earpiece to check for sound.

If the wires are not loose, it is worth replacing the driver.

How to Fix an Electrical Short in Headphones or Earbuds: Driver Replacement

You’ll need:

• New headphone driver
• Size 0 crosshead drill (if the earpiece includes screws)
• Knife
• Glue

Noting: Headphone drivers can be very expensive. It is possible to repair or replace your headphones if the driver has failed. This is a serious problem that you should not attempt to fix yourself.

1) Remove the broken earpiece, if it hasn’t been done already. Refer to the headphones manual for more details. If there are screws in the earpiece, you can use the size 0, crosshead screwdriver. You can pull the padding from your earpiece to remove it and check for any screws.

2) With a knife, cut the rubber seal surrounding the conical driver. Take the driver out of the earpiece.

Place the new driver carefully in the slot for the old driver. Take extra care not to touch the thin diaphragm.

4) Secure it by applying a little glue to the edges if it’s not secure enough. You can now reassemble the earpiece to check its sound.

Both My Headphones have No Sound

The reason is usually an electrical short. If the sound is reproducible when you touch the headphones wire, you can determine the cause. You can also repair the short yourself by following the instructions in the “How to fix an electric short in headphones wire” section. If none of these work, it could be the problem with the headphone connector.

How to fix Bluetooth Headphones’ Sound Delay

Select the correct audio codec to support both your headphones AND audio player device.

Verify that the Bluetooth audio profile on the headphones and that of your source match.

You can try the simple fixes that are based upon the device you use in our article, which teaches how to fix sound delay with Bluetooth headphones.

Wireless Headphones Produce Static

The most common problem with wireless headphones that causes static is hearing it. This is a common problem. However, this is not the best solution.

Some possible causes of this problem are:

Audio settings – This is usually caused by corrupt drivers. To fix this problem, either update your system or make other sound enhancements to your audio settings.

Connectivity issues – You may hear static when your headphones are connected. Problems with wireless headphones can arise from moving too far away or physical interference between your device and the audio device. Also, wired headphones can be affected by dirty aux ports and loose connections.

Headphone speakers that are damaged – This can cause audio output problems. It happens when your headphones are mishandled (e.g., dropped on the floor, stepped on, accidentally sitting down on it). ).

How to fix static on wireless headphones

It is best to first examine your system for any potential physical problems before making any setting changes. Here are some suggestions:

Clean the headphones, jack and connector.

You should avoid interferences such WiFi modems, microwave ovens and/or fluorescent lights. Also, ensure that the headphones are not in direct contact with the device.

If none of these work, you should consider software settings adjustments for your audio player device. This is possible for both MAC and PC. It can also eliminate static from headphones.

Broken plug

Your headphones plug may need to be replaced. An electronic store or online can sell replacement plugs and jacks. A metal jack connector with a spring and stereo connection is required. It should be about the same size and shape as your existing plug.

How to replace a broken plug

You’ll need:

• Replacement plug
• Scissors
• Wire stripper (optional)
• Lighter
• Solder and solder iron
• Sandpaper

1) Use the scissor for cutting off the damaged plug. You should cut it about one inch beyond the place where the plug meets cable. It’s best to remove the plug. The majority of plug problems are caused by frayed wires.

2) Remove approximately one-inch of shielding at the ends using a wire stripper or your scissor. Two wires will be visible: one for the left and one for right earpieces, and at most one for the ground. You can separate them by color/type. It is best to solder the ground wires later if you have more than one pair.

3) If the wires are rubber-coated, you can remove the ends. The rubber coating on the bottom should be removed about a third inch. You can skip this step if your wires have enamel.

4) Twist the wires in the same color. If you have two ground wires, repeat the process.

5) Use your solder iron or a brush to remove enamel from wire ends. If you don’t see copper at the ends of the wires yet, skip this step.

6) Slide the sleeves of the new Jack over the wires. The exposed wires should be facing the part that connects to the plug. You should ensure that the plug base has at least two pins (stereo).

7) Tint the wires using a small amount of solder on the ends. It should cool completely before you continue.

8) Apply solder at the end of one pin in the housing. Heat the pin to melt it. Attach the soldered wires onto the headphones jack. Use the sanded newspaper to roughen their edges. This will make it easier to connect them to the pins. Connect the plug to the wires by connecting the soldered ends to the pin.

9) Turn the sleeve on the jack and screw it into place. The sleeve should be tightened as much as possible. Listen to the sound. If the sound is still not working, you can check that the wires are not touching.

How to extend the life and prevent future breakage of your earbuds

1) Do not pull out earbuds using the cord. This can cause wire damage. Instead, use the thicker plastic part (the bottom) around the metal Jack. By doing so, you won’t be able to disconnect any wires while removing them from a device.

Don’t pull on the base. Instead, take it out slowly and gently. For added security, wrap the base with a layer electric tape.

2) If you don’t use them, keep your earbuds in a pouch or case. Keep them out of your pocket and around your device. You can unplug the cord from any device or phone and wrap it loosely around one hand. Once you have wrapped the cord, place the earbuds on a flat surface.

This will keep them from getting tangled. To protect them even more, you can place the earbuds in a case. You can carry them around without worrying about the wires getting tangled or broken. Earbuds covers are also available online.

3) Clean your earbuds frequently and thoroughly. Remove any rubber tips from your earbuds and wash them with soapy water. This will help remove any wax or dust that may be clogging your earbuds. You can scrub the tiny speakers with a soft cloth to remove any debris. Be sure to let the rubber tips completely dry before attaching them back to the earbuds. Earbuds should never be wet. They may not function properly.  Final Tip: To dry your earbuds out, soak them in some rice.