Regardless of what sort of headphones you own, however, there are times when some headphones stop working. There are many easy fixes to try that will get your headphones back up and running.

Causes of Headphone Problems

Headphone technical problems are as varied as the number of models available. Sometimes a damaged headphone cable or Bluetooth connectivity issues result in a headphone jack not working. Noise-canceling headphones, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II and the Microsoft Surface Headphones, sometimes find it hard to sync audio and video. Often, it’s frustrating to turn the noise-cancellation feature on or off as intended. Still, there are many simple reasons that headphones aren’t working that span all types of headphones.

How to Fix Headphones That Aren’t Working

There are a variety of technical issues that headphones can experience, and the solutions vary depending on the cause. To find out why your headphones aren’t working, work through this series of checks first, and then try the suggested tips to fix broken headphones. If your headphones don’t work the way they’re supposed to, switch them off and on again after plugging them in, then see if this solves the issue. If a device doesn’t support USB headphones, there’s little you can do. You might want to exchange them for headphones that use either Bluetooth or a traditional audio jack. First, turn up the volume via the headphones’ built-in volume buttons (if they have these buttons). Then check the volume on your paired device. If you briefly hear static or the audio source coming through, then the cable has been damaged at that point and should be replaced.