Stuck in headset mode: permanent, easy fix

blue duck butter · 05:23 PM

It really needs to be said that graphite powder permanently fixes the problem with getting stuck in headset mode.

Go to a hardware store, pick up a tube of graphite powder for around $3.

1) Gently squeeze a couple puffs of graphite powder into headset jack.

2) Turn phone upside down to let excess fall out.

3) Grab a pair of headphones and insert/remove them several times.

4) Enjoy your new, permanently fixed phone.

It helps to be connected to a call while doing this (I simply connected to my voicemail) so you can watch the headset icon in the lower left corner while inserting/removing the headset. When the icon switches back to the regular 'phone' icon, you're done.

After you do this, you can use headphones/headsets as much as you'd like and it shouldn't get stuck in headset mode ever again. I did this months ago and have been rampantly using headphones since then and have had no problems. And before that, the only thing that could release it from headset mode was the ghastly headset app (Q-tip with alcohol and compressed air stopped working).

P.S. All the graphite powder does is safely lube the inside of the headset jack. There is a bit inside that gets stuck, making the phone think there is a headset plugged in when there isn't. You can find graphite powder in the section of the store where they make keys, as it is commonly used to lube jammed locks.

[EDIT]: The user, jccjmml7 states in the comments below that you may try silicon lubricant as well, though I have never tested this method and can give no feedback on it's effectiveness/safety.

BobKy · 04/29/2011, 10:29 PM

Hi BDB,
Thank you; I'll give that a try the next time my Pre- gets stuck in headset mode.

blue duck butter · 04/30/2011, 06:30 AM

No problem. It's a wonder the mods don't make this forum a sticky since so many people have this problem and all the solutions except this one are only temporary.

blue duck butter · 04/30/2011, 11:59 AM

It's a jimboree

Mediademics · 04/30/2011, 01:12 PM

thank you. I will grab some next time I'm at the store. Do you think walmart would carry this?

blue duck butter · 04/30/2011, 01:20 PM

They might. I can't seem to find it on their website. Maybe try calling your local store. Mention that it's used for jammed locks.

Mediademics · 04/30/2011, 01:24 PM

I'll check in the section where the locks are for it. I'm sure they do. Thanks again.

mojito · 04/30/2011, 01:33 PM

For graphite powder, I just scraped pencil lead against a nail-file.
My headset jack works perfectly now.

DIY video ~ YouTube - how to on homade graphite powder

jccjmml7 · 04/30/2011, 03:56 PM

I would think a silicone lubricant (for electrical applications) would be better. Graphite is conductive.

blue duck butter · 04/30/2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccjmml7

I would think a silicone lubricant (for electrical applications) would be better. Graphite is conductive.

Hmm, interesting thought. I've had no problems with the graphite yet though and have heard no problems from others. Plus, with the silicone lubricant costing around 10-16 times as much as the graphite, I gotta go with graphite for now.

Wayne173 · 04/30/2011, 06:08 PM

I posted a fix about a week ago and found that (IMO) the cause of the headset issue is the little contacts in the headphone jack are outta wack. The contacts that touch the board are barely touching. When I took mine apart and popped the headphone jack out the two bottom contact were slightly lower than the top two. I just rasied all four to and even above 'normal' height. Popped it back in and no issues since. My phones music app use to pause when opening/closing the slider...gone. Calls going into headset mode...gone.

blue duck butter · 05/01/2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne173

I posted a fix about a week ago and found that (IMO) the cause of the headset issue is the little contacts in the headphone jack are outta wack. The contacts that touch the board are barely touching. When I took mine apart and popped the headphone jack out the two bottom contact were slightly lower than the top two. I just rasied all four to and even above 'normal' height. Popped it back in and no issues since. My phones music app use to pause when opening/closing the slider...gone. Calls going into headset mode...gone.

Indeed a more difficult, dangerous and time consuming way to go about fixing the problem, but a fix nonetheless! Thank you for the input!

Freshyz · 05/01/2011, 12:18 PM

Just used the technique from that Youtube link and it seems to have finally fixed my issue.
At first when I put the shavings from a pencil (graphite only of course) in there it wouldn't go into headset mode at all, I then blew it out with compressed air and just put a little alcohol on the jack, twisted around and it works perfect! (free fixes are good fixes

)
The "ghastly app" only solved my problem for one phone call then would always switch back to headset mode.
Thank you for this information! Wish I knew this trick long ago..

UncleVanya · 05/01/2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccjmml7

I would think a silicone lubricant (for electrical applications) would be better. Graphite is conductive.

I'm with you. However graphite per Wiki is only conductive in non-powdered form - however this is marked as dubious and I personally do not think they are right. There are numerous examples of graphite being added to glues and cements to make conductive paints and conductive glues so I think this is a valid concern.

Freshyz · 05/01/2011, 02:38 PM

I should add that I had 'the ghastly headset' app loaded while I added the graphite dust just to monitor things and when I put it in there, media mode and speaker mode kept switching back and forth on it's own. It stopped when I cleaned it out. Strange..

toddler71 · 05/02/2011, 10:06 PM

Thank you. Worked like a charm.

blue duck butter · 05/04/2011, 02:39 AM

Totally sweet. Spread the word.

kataran · 05/04/2011, 04:26 AM

will try next time....i haven't had this problem in months..but it reared it ugly head about a week ago...been ok the last 24 hours....i think I have some graphite power in my toolbox

link375 · 05/12/2011, 05:53 PM

Amazing!! Worked like a charm!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

ToniCipriani · 10:36 PM

I used pencil lead shavings for this.

Seems to have marginally cured my popping issue. At least right now it's not popping and losing one side of audio just by bumping it.

One thing though: shut down your phone before you do it. I caused mine to completely poweroff on its own from the repeated insert-removal. Probably crashed the OS with all the events.

Thanks!

04/29/2011, 08:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
blue duck butter Member Posts: 718 Global Posts: 761	Stuck in headset mode: permanent, easy fix It really needs to be said that graphite powder permanently fixes the problem with getting stuck in headset mode. Go to a hardware store, pick up a tube of graphite powder for around $3. 1) Gently squeeze a couple puffs of graphite powder into headset jack. 2) Turn phone upside down to let excess fall out. 3) Grab a pair of headphones and insert/remove them several times. 4) Enjoy your new, permanently fixed phone. It helps to be connected to a call while doing this (I simply connected to my voicemail) so you can watch the headset icon in the lower left corner while inserting/removing the headset. When the icon switches back to the regular 'phone' icon, you're done. After you do this, you can use headphones/headsets as much as you'd like and it shouldn't get stuck in headset mode ever again. I did this months ago and have been rampantly using headphones since then and have had no problems. And before that, the only thing that could release it from headset mode was the ghastly headset app (Q-tip with alcohol and compressed air stopped working). P.S. All the graphite powder does is safely lube the inside of the headset jack. There is a bit inside that gets stuck, making the phone think there is a headset plugged in when there isn't. You can find graphite powder in the section of the store where they make keys, as it is commonly used to lube jammed locks. [EDIT]: The user, jccjmml7 states in the comments below that you may try silicon lubricant as well, though I have never tested this method and can give no feedback on it's effectiveness/safety. Last edited by blue duck butter; 04/30/2011 at 05:23 PM.
	Liked by Mr._Happy and uhordvik like this. Thanked by BobKy, Boregardo, capt4chris, Freshyz, gastr, ggs, lemketron, mkloeckner, Mr._Happy, nyquistJack, raviadvani, rlopin, tacvwdriver, toddler71, ToniCipriani, uhordvik, un_designer, xandros9, xberserker

04/29/2011, 10:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
BobKy Member Posts: 392 Global Posts: 400	Hi BDB, Thank you; I'll give that a try the next time my Pre- gets stuck in headset mode.
	Liked by

04/30/2011, 06:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
blue duck butter Member Posts: 718 Global Posts: 761	No problem. It's a wonder the mods don't make this forum a sticky since so many people have this problem and all the solutions except this one are only temporary.
	Liked by

04/30/2011, 11:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
blue duck butter Member Posts: 718 Global Posts: 761	It's a jimboree
	Liked by

04/30/2011, 01:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mediademics Member Posts: 108 Global Posts: 133	thank you. I will grab some next time I'm at the store. Do you think walmart would carry this?
	Liked by

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04/30/2011, 01:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
blue duck butter Member Posts: 718 Global Posts: 761	They might. I can't seem to find it on their website. Maybe try calling your local store. Mention that it's used for jammed locks.
	Liked by

04/30/2011, 01:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mediademics Member Posts: 108 Global Posts: 133	I'll check in the section where the locks are for it. I'm sure they do. Thanks again.
	Liked by Thanked By: blue duck butter

04/30/2011, 01:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
mojito Member Posts: 12	For graphite powder, I just scraped pencil lead against a nail-file. My headset jack works perfectly now. DIY video ~ YouTube - how to on homade graphite powder
	Liked by uhordvik likes this. Thanked by blue duck butter, mkloeckner, rlopin, tacvwdriver, uhordvik

04/30/2011, 03:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
jccjmml7 Member Posts: 119	I would think a silicone lubricant (for electrical applications) would be better. Graphite is conductive.
	Liked by

04/30/2011, 06:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Wayne173 Member Posts: 262 Global Posts: 315	I posted a fix about a week ago and found that (IMO) the cause of the headset issue is the little contacts in the headphone jack are outta wack. The contacts that touch the board are barely touching. When I took mine apart and popped the headphone jack out the two bottom contact were slightly lower than the top two. I just rasied all four to and even above 'normal' height. Popped it back in and no issues since. My phones music app use to pause when opening/closing the slider...gone. Calls going into headset mode...gone.
	Liked by Thanked By: Dan Pass

05/01/2011, 12:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
Freshyz Member Posts: 906 Global Posts: 926	Just used the technique from that Youtube link and it seems to have finally fixed my issue. At first when I put the shavings from a pencil (graphite only of course) in there it wouldn't go into headset mode at all, I then blew it out with compressed air and just put a little alcohol on the jack, twisted around and it works perfect! (free fixes are good fixes ) The "ghastly app" only solved my problem for one phone call then would always switch back to headset mode. Thank you for this information! Wish I knew this trick long ago..
	Liked by Thanked By: blue duck butter

05/01/2011, 02:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
Freshyz Member Posts: 906 Global Posts: 926	I should add that I had 'the ghastly headset' app loaded while I added the graphite dust just to monitor things and when I put it in there, media mode and speaker mode kept switching back and forth on it's own. It stopped when I cleaned it out. Strange..
	Liked by Thanked By: omr6535

05/02/2011, 10:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
toddler71 Member Posts: 2	Thank you. Worked like a charm.
	Liked by

05/04/2011, 02:39 AM	#17 (permalink)
blue duck butter Member Posts: 718 Global Posts: 761	Totally sweet. Spread the word.
	Liked by

05/04/2011, 04:26 AM	#18 (permalink)
kataran Member Posts: 550 Global Posts: 673	will try next time....i haven't had this problem in months..but it reared it ugly head about a week ago...been ok the last 24 hours....i think I have some graphite power in my toolbox
	Liked by

05/12/2011, 05:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
link375 Member Posts: 109 Global Posts: 112	Amazing!! Worked like a charm! -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
	Liked by

05/12/2011, 09:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
ToniCipriani Member Posts: 4,081	I used pencil lead shavings for this. Seems to have marginally cured my popping issue. At least right now it's not popping and losing one side of audio just by bumping it. One thing though: shut down your phone before you do it. I caused mine to completely poweroff on its own from the repeated insert-removal. Probably crashed the OS with all the events. Thanks! __________________ Palm IIIc -> Sony CLIÉ T650C -> Sony TJ-37 -> Palm TX -> Palm Centro -> Palm Pre Bell -> Palm Pre Plus Bell/Verizon Hybrid -> HP Veer -> HP Pre 3 NA Pry my keyboard from my stone dead hands. I dare you. Death to all slates. Need OEM Palm Pre parts? See here Last edited by ToniCipriani; 05/15/2011 at 10:36 PM.
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