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Ask iBAM: Broken-Off Headphone Jack

Started by brentspore · 11 months ago

Photo Credit: DSCN6654.JPG by basictheory on Flickr

The “Ask iBAM” crew got this email a couple days ago from Wes:

I recently broke my headphone cord off in the headphone jack of my macbook. I heard an imic would work by plugging it into the usb jack, but when I tried to order the imic it was [...] ... Continue reading »

5 comments

  • AJ Breugelmans

    9 months ago

    The Cotton swab thing works!! it's seriously easy and I got it out in one go.
    reply
  • Bob too

    7 months ago

    I just got a headphone jack out myself from my Powerbook AL 17". I used a safety
    pin. It was fairly large one that I was able to hod onto easily. Since the interior of the plug has different layers, I was able to get a purchase on it from a slight angle and push against the side and forward at the same time. it popped right out.
    Yeah, baby!
    reply
  • k.yansurak

    4 months ago

    the qtip trick works!!!
    thanks
    reply
  • MM

    2 months ago

    A coffee stirring straw worked first time for me.
    reply
  • Barry Parkin

    1 day ago

    Took me 5 - 10 minutes, after thoroughly researching. Don't open the computer and don't use magnets - risk of damage and it won't get you anywhere. Glue probably works, but you need the right kind, a REALLY steady hand, and time for it to cure; you risk getting glue in the jack - not good! Here's how I did it: take a paperclip and straighten out the first loop, leaving a loop to act as a handle. The opened out loop is about 4.5cm (nearly 1.5 ins) long. With pliers, bend about 2mm (about 1/16 in.) at the end about 45 degrees to the side. Look in the jack (torch/flashlight helps) and see where the holding/contact springs are. (Mine were on the side of the jack towards the back of the laptop. You can only see the 1st one.) Insert the opened out paperclip so that the bent end points away from the springs (on mine, towards the front of the laptop), and push gently until you reach the end. (The broken audio plug tip is hollow, so your extraction tool is now inside the tip.) Apply pressure away from the springs and pull gently back. The broken tip will clear the first spring, and your extraction tool will probably lose grip. Now gently repeat to clear the 2nd and 3rd springs, without pushing the broken plug back in. After the 3rd spring is cleared, the broken tip falls out and you experience a great feeling of well-being! You also saved yourself a lot of cash! It's good practice to switch off the laptop and remove the battery first, of course.
    reply

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