If you have ever experienced the pain of snapping your headphones in half, then this blog post is for you. This guide will show you how to fix snapped headphones, so that they are as good as new again!
It’s a frustrating and all too common situation: you’re listening to your favorite song or podcast and the cord on your headphones snaps. You don’t have time for this! Luckily, there are some fixes that can get you back up and running in no time. In this blog post, I will be talking about how you can fix snapped headphones.
First off, let’s talk about what happens to cause this type of damage. The cord that runs between the earplugs and the plug that goes into your audio device is made out of either rubber or plastic (or some other material). When something like a car door slams on it while you’re getting in or out, or when you accidentally step on it, the stress on the cord can build up very quickly and snap! You’ll see two pieces separated with one side still connected to your audio device.
Now, if both sides are broken on your headphones cord there really isn’t anything you can do besides get new ones. The good news is that 99% percent of snapped cords occur where one wire breaks away from its plastic, rubber, or other type of insulation. This means you can most likely fix your broken headphones cord without spending money! I know everyone loves saving money.
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How to Fix Snapped Headphones
To get started with how to fix snapped headphones, you will need:
- Scissors (or something sharp like a knife) to cut the plastic off the end of the wire (very important!)
- Electrical Tape (the thicker kind that is good for covering wires/cords) to tape the exposed part of the wire back together with
- An old pair of headphones with an intact cord so you can test out your newly fixed set!
WARNING : If you have no experience dealing with wiring and electronics , then do not attempt to fix your headphones. You could seriously injure yourself and/or damage the headphone cord beyond repair, especially if you attempt to re-solder it with electrical tape. The goal is to make the headphones work again by securing the wires back together and covering the exposed part of the wire with tape (it’s like a second layer of insulation).
1: Taping
To begin how to fix snapped headphones, follow these steps:
- Cut the plastic off both ends of the broken wires so there are no more sharp edges sticking out. If your wire is covered in fabric or rubber, use something sharp like a knife to carefully remove it. Be very!
- Take one side of the headphones that still works and put it aside. Split the wires apart (there should be four) on your broken headphone cord, so you can access the metal wire inside.
- Now take about two inches of electrical tape or insulation tape (the kind sold in rolls), and roll it length wise to make a tight long tube for later use. Repeat this step with another piece if possible.
- Wrap each wire from the broken pair together with an additional layer of electrical tape. Be sure to cover any exposed parts where there might be a gap between wires or where they are touching together .
- To test out your newly fixed set, plug your headphones into your audio device and see if it works! Congratulations, your headphones just got new life!
2: Soldering
If you’re feeling more technical and don’t mind getting a little messy, then soldering may be the best option for you. The main objective is to securely attach one wire to another wire without them slipping apart after sometime. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, here are the instructions for how to fix snapped headphones by soldering :
- Cut off the damaged part of the headphone cord with an X-Acto knife or sharp scissors. Then using needle nose pliers carefully remove all fabric/rubber insulation at least two inches away from where cord was cut
- Now separate the wires from each other. See if you can tell which is the ground wire (usually the smallest), audio right, and audio left.
- Solder your three wires together using good soldering techniques . If you are not experienced with soldering I suggest doing some research on how to do it first! When done solder all connections down securely.
- Test out your newly fixed set by plugging in your headphones into an audio device! Congrats, enjoy your new headphones!
Now that you know how to fix snapped headphones , go ahead and try one of these methods today. Remember if both wires broken then unfortunately there’s not much that can be done.
Tips on How to Prevent Headphones from Breaking
It’s that time of year again when the weather starts to cool down and you find yourself wearing a lot more layers. The downside is your headphone cords don’t always want to cooperate with your new wardrobe adjustments. It seems like we’re constantly tugging at our headphones, trying to keep them out of the way and away from our laptops and other surfaces so they won’t snap in half!
Here are some tips on how to prevent those pesky headphones from breaking this fall season.
- Try not to let your headphones rest on the floor or in a spot where they will be stepped on and dragged around.
- Be aware of how you wrap your headphone cord around your iPod or iPhone, as it is the most common cause for broken wires. Always make sure that the wire is rolled up neatly and not twisted tightly around itself. Also avoid wrapping them around metal objects such as doorknobs because this usually results in frayed ends which can lead to exposed wiring and eventual breakage.
- If possible, have two pairs of headphones so you always have a backup if one pair gets damaged beyond repair .
- Buy a carrying case for your earbuds to keep them safe during transport . There are many different types of cases such as ones that attach to your clothes or bags, as well as those that clip onto your belt loops.
- Fold the wires carefully and gently roll them up around a pen instead of wrapping it tightly around something sharp which can cause damage .
