How to Fix your iPhone Headphones Mic If It’s Not Working

By Gary Ng on February 9th, 2009 400

The Apple iPhone headphones are very functional headphones that get the job done. They won’t please audiophiles out there, but for the rest of us they are just fine. One of my favorite features is the mic/button that lets you control music (even on my MacBook!) and have conversations.

A couple weeks ago I noticed my mic stopped working, along with the button remote. At first I thought it was my iPhone and a recent firmware update that caused the headphone jack to malfunction. So, I ended up calling Apple Support on the phone. I told them how my mic/remote wasn’t working and they immediately sent out a new pair via next day via Fedex!

I opened the package I tested out these brand spankin’ new headphones–only to have them not work still! At this point in time I decided to turn to Google. I was able to discover what was causing this minor headache of mine: a chunk of lint!

I ended up using the end of a paperclip to dig out the massive chunk of lint below:

iphone_jack_dust

I was pretty shocked at the size of this chunk of lint! I had no idea this could make its way down the headphone jack. So there you go folks, if your mic/remote doesn’t work, shine a light down the headphone jack to see if you can find a massive chunk of lint. Just make sure you turn OFF your iPhone before you start picking around!

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iPhoneinCanada.ca. Follow @iPhoneinCanada and on Google+. Click here to save 20% OFF at ZAGG.com with coupon 'iphoneinca'!

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  • http://profiles.google.com/stellaspot M M

    AMAZING! Same thing happened to me and I just picked LINT OUT! Thanks for your post!!

  • James

    Thank you!! The buttons haven’t worked for 6 months, and I’ve lately been debating calling Apple and telling them my phone is faulty. I tried this, and pulled out 2cm of lint from the jack!! You are a godsend!

  • Weg

    THAAAAAAANKYYYOOOUUUUUUUUU! Ive been running around thinking my jack was bent for 5 months because thats what they told me at the apple store. I just tried a simple paper clip and a solid wad of lint the size of a pencil eraser pooped out. Thank you!

  • Guest

    This also work for me,Thanks : )

  • Edhartley27

    Thanks man thought if that was the prob then the headphones wudnt of worked either, ur a lifesaver (quite literally as reaching around in my pocket on my bike to turn off s club 7 nearly killed me!) might even give apple a ring to get a spare set!!

  • Devon120

    That Really Worked

  • Gem

    You are such a legend thanks for this was so gutted when my headphones werent working today at the gym, I use the vol control ALL the time. Took your advice and they are perfect again. THANKS!!!!

  • maria

     i thought this is joking!!!!!!!!!! just fixed mine iphone4!!!  thanks a miliion :) )))))))))))) thanks a miliion :) ))))))))))))

  • Sean

     Seems to have worked for me too.  I found a tooth pick the right tool.  And just barely dampened tip to get that last little bit of lint out.  Wouldn’t it be useful for Apple to post this suggestion!  And it might save the cost of all those replacement headphones.

  • Ravimistry

    Thanks man. Was very helpful

  • Dazza

    Dude you are a genius!!! I had no idea what was wrong I had so much lint in there a could play tennis with it. I noticed that the plug now sits properly in the phone now to.

  • Dazza

    Dude you are a genius!!! I had no idea what was wrong I had so much lint in there a could play tennis with it. I noticed that the plug now sits properly in the phone now to.

  • Elliott Scott

    That totally worked! Right after I just bought new headphones to replace the ones I thought were broken.

  • Elliott Scott

    That totally worked! Right after I just bought new headphones to replace the ones I thought were broken.

  • Mpbx

    Thanks for this. It worked for me.

  • Mpbx

    Thanks for this. It worked for me.

  • Mpbx

    Thanks for this. It worked for me.

  • Mwc466@gmail.com

    Thx mate just what i needed :)

  • Mwc466@gmail.com

    Thx mate just what i needed :)

  • Mathijs Delva

    Another guy over here would like to thank you! Fixed my issues!!

  • Uaresoclever

    Hey! Thank you so much!!!!! U saved my LIFE!!! No need to drive without hand-frees!! thz x99999999999

  • Uaresoclever

    Hey! Thank you so much!!!!! U saved my LIFE!!! No need to drive without hand-frees!! thz x99999999999

  • Dhinds07

    Thank you so much for posting this! My earbud controls stopped working and after purchasing 2 different types, I realized it was something wrong with my iPhone. So, I searched on line and found your post. Low and behold, lint in the ear phone jack. Who knew. Thanks again.

  • Dhinds07

    Thank you so much for posting this! My earbud controls stopped working and after purchasing 2 different types, I realized it was something wrong with my iPhone. So, I searched on line and found your post. Low and behold, lint in the ear phone jack. Who knew. Thanks again.

  • Dhinds07

    Thank you so much for posting this! My earbud controls stopped working and after purchasing 2 different types, I realized it was something wrong with my iPhone. So, I searched on line and found your post. Low and behold, lint in the ear phone jack. Who knew. Thanks again.

  • Harss Ca

    THANKS man :) u solved my problem

  • Test

    don’t believe this. it seems to be the most common reason for this thing to stop working.

  • Test

    don’t believe this. it seems to be the most common reason for this thing to stop working.

  • Kasper

    Thank you so much! Worked right away.. xD

  • Fafd

    thank you !!!  mine was more like a little bit of toilet paper..maybe from carrying tissue in my bag….
    WHO KNEW!!  what a great find, thanks very much for sharing..: )

  • Fafd

    thank you !!!  mine was more like a little bit of toilet paper..maybe from carrying tissue in my bag….
    WHO KNEW!!  what a great find, thanks very much for sharing..: )

  • Zion016

    Tnx!! did the same thing!!! ACTUALLY WORKS!! :)

  • Amirsorial

    Thanks a lot for this useful tip , u saved my weekend

  • Amirsorial

    Thanks a lot for this useful tip , u saved my weekend

  • Amirsorial

    Thanks a lot for this useful tip , u saved my weekend

  • Abgtryii

    brilliant, same in my case…cleaned up the jack pocket n evything back to normal…thanks a ton :)

  • Abgtryii

    brilliant, same in my case…cleaned up the jack pocket n evything back to normal…thanks a ton :)

  • Lil_italian_aussie

    you are the best thank you very much works very well !

  • Lil_italian_aussie

    you are the best thank you very much works very well !

  • Lil_italian_aussie

    you are the best thank you very much works very well !

  • Lil_italian_aussie

    you are the best thank you very much works very well !

  • Me

    I had the same problem.  Thank god I found this post!  I was going to wipe out my phone and bring the phone back to its factory sent settings.  i found this post, tried the paperclip, and BAM!  my earphones work.  I actually had two layers of lint.  So for everyone out there, make sure you keep trying until you’re positive theres nothing in there!

    thanks again.  life saver!

  • Me

    I had the same problem.  Thank god I found this post!  I was going to wipe out my phone and bring the phone back to its factory sent settings.  i found this post, tried the paperclip, and BAM!  my earphones work.  I actually had two layers of lint.  So for everyone out there, make sure you keep trying until you’re positive theres nothing in there!

    thanks again.  life saver!

  • Me

    I had the same problem.  Thank god I found this post!  I was going to wipe out my phone and bring the phone back to its factory sent settings.  i found this post, tried the paperclip, and BAM!  my earphones work.  I actually had two layers of lint.  So for everyone out there, make sure you keep trying until you’re positive theres nothing in there!

    thanks again.  life saver!

  • Paul Dalebout

    cool! same here!!

  • Paul Dalebout

    cool! same here!!

  • Paul Dalebout

    cool! same here!!

  • Paul Dalebout

    cool! same here!!

  • Paul Dalebout

    cool! same here!!

  • Blackshit88

    this works! AWESOME!

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