If you don’t know how to turn off headphone mode on Android, we are going to help you out. There are some quick and easy fixes you can do to stop your phone from thinking that the headphones are always connected.
Is your Android phone stuck in headphone mode?
It may seem like a small issue, but being in headphone mode means you can’t make important calls without reaching for your headphones. Plus, you can’t quickly play music, videos, and other media using your phone’s speakers.
In this guide, we will show you what you need to turn off headphone mode on Android.
Why do Android phones get stuck in headphone mode?
When you connect a pair of headphones to an Android phone, the phone automatically recognizes the connected devices and goes into headphone mode.
Unfortunately, there are times when the phone gets stuck in headphones mode, even after removing the headphones. The phone thinks the device is connected, even though it is not.
When this happens, the media stops playing once you remove the headphones. And it won’t play again unless you put the headphones back on. You’ll also see a headphone icon at the top of the screen, indicating that the phone is still in headphone mode.
Turning off the headphone mode may require a combination of hardware and software solutions. This is because the problem may be due to a mix of hardware and software issues, such as:
- Dust or dirt might be stuck in the headphone jack port.
- Problems with the phone’s configuration.
- Problems with the phone’s operating system.
How to turn off headphone mode on Android?
There are several possible solutions if your phone gets stuck in headphone mode on Android. It is always best to start with easy solutions before moving on to the more complicated ones.
- Disconnect the headphones from the phone again.
- Clean the headphone jack port.
- Restart your Android phone
- Soft reset
- Use an app to override the audio controls.
- Hard reset or factory reset
Disconnect the headset from your phone again
An easy solution is to reconnect the headphone to the phone and then disconnect it again. The goal is to get the Android phone to stop recognizing the headset.
- Insert the headphone plug into the audio jack.
- Gently but firmly twist the plug into the jack.
- Remove the plug.
If this didn’t work, you may want to look for other solutions.
Clean the headphone jack port
Your phone may not be able to get out of headphone mode because it has a lot of debris inside the audio jack. There are some quick and easy fixes you can do to stop your phone from thinking that headphones are always plugged in.
If you regularly keep your phone in your pocket, dust may accumulate inside the jack. When you plug in the headphone, the plug pushes the lint further into the bottom of the connector. If the lint is conductive, it may be interfering with the electronic circuitry inside the jack, causing the phone to register it as a pair of connected headphones.
You can take a good look inside the jack with a flashlight. If there is debris stuck inside, follow the steps to clean it out.
- Take a cotton swab and remove most of the cotton from one end. It should be thin enough to fit inside the audio jack. You can also use a toothpick or paper clip.
- Insert the Q-tip into the plug until it reaches the bottom.
- Once at the bottom, twist it gently while holding it down.
- Pull the Q-tip out. This should remove any debris stuck in the bottom of the jack.
- Repeat steps 1 through 4 until all debris has been removed.
If that doesn’t work, try attaching a piece of double-sided tape to the end of the Q-tip. Any remaining debris will easily stick to the tape once you remove the Q-tip.
This should bring the phone out of headphone mode. To test it out, play some media to make sure.
Restart your Android phone
Sometimes, all you need to do is a simple reboot. Restarting Android phones closes all background apps that may be causing problems.
- Press and hold the power button. It is often located on the right side of the phone.
- If your phone has a Reset option, choose that. Otherwise, tap Power off.
- If your phone does not have the Restart option, press the Power button again to turn it back on.
- Wait for the phone to turn on and check if the headphone mode icon has disappeared. You can also try playing some music to make sure the problem is resolved.
Soft reset
If resetting your phone didn’t work, you may need to do a soft reset. A soft reset is a minor reboot that closes all applications and clears data from random access memory (RAM) without erasing your personal information.
It’s quick and easy and is often the first step in resolving many software issues with Android phones.
- Turn off your phone.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Turn it back on.
If you have an older phone with a removable battery, you can also do the following:
- Turn off your phone.
- Remove the battery and wait 30 seconds.
- Put the battery back in.
- Turn the phone back on.
Use an app to override audio controls
Android allows users to root their phones and gain control of their administrative controls. Certain apps give you root access so you can execute certain commands that are not available in the standard operating system.
There’s one solution you can use called “Disable Headphone/Enable Speaker”. This simple app allows you to manually switch between headphones and speakers, whether you have headphones connected or not.
This app is designed for Xiaomi phones, but it also works with other phones running Android.
You can also check out Android Repair Tool, an app that diagnoses the most common Android problems and fixes them for you. It’s a simple one-click solution.
Hard reset or factory reset
If non of the solutions worked out for you, you might need to do a hard reset. A hard reset, as opposed to a soft reset, deletes all your apps, files, and settings. It restores the phone to its state when it was shipped from the factory.
Warning: Never perform a hard reset without backing up your data first. You will lose all the information saved on your phone unless you create a backup.
Follow these steps:
- Make sure your phone has enough battery for the process.
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Go to Advanced to expand the menu.
- Go to Reset Options.
- Tap Erase all data.
- The system will ask you to confirm this. Tap Clear all data again.
- Enter your PIN.
- Confirm to Erase all data.
It may take a few minutes for the phone to complete this process. Once it is done, the phone will turn back on and will be as good as new.
What if you can’t turn off headphone mode on Android?
If you’ve done everything we’ve mentioned above but your phone is still in headphone mode, you may need to contact a professional for help.
Call your service provider and make an appointment to visit a repair center. If your phone is still under warranty, you may not have to pay anything.
Alternatively, you can contact an independent repair center that you trust. If the problem is due to a defect in the phone or a flaw in its design, your service provider will have to compensate you for it.
