Sound & headphones
iPod Video headphone jack and Hold switch
Headphone jack loose, sound in one ear, or stuck on Hold on your iPod Video (5th Gen, 2005 and Late 2006)? On this model the Hold switch sits on the headphone jack assembly. Here are its most likely causes, the free checks first and what each fix costs.
Not an iPod Video? See iPod headphone jack not working for every iPod
Most common causes
On the iPod Video the Hold switch sits on the headphone jack assembly, so a jack that cuts out and a Hold switch that sticks are often the same part. Apple's checks first: the Hold switch off, the plug pushed all the way in and the volume up. Then wiggle the plug and try another pair of headphones.
Free checks first
- Put the Hold switch firmly in the unlocked position. A locked iPod ignores every button.
- Push the headphone plug in all the way.
- Make sure the volume is turned up.
- Wiggle the headphone plug while it is in the jack. If that doesn't fix it, try another pair of headphones. If that fails too, the headphone jack or its cable is the likely fault.
- Try it in a speaker dock: sound from the dock but not from the headphones points to the headphone jack; no sound from either points to the logic board.
iPod Video (A1136) headphone jack and Hold switchiPod Video 5th Gen (A1136) headphone jack and Hold switch
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Most likely
Worn or damaged headphone jack
A worn or damaged headphone jack cuts the sound out, crackles, or plays in one ear only, often when you move the plug. A new headphone jack fixes it.
Free check first Move the plug gently while a song plays: if the sound cuts out or crackles, the jack is worn.
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Next most likely
Logic board
If a new headphone jack doesn't bring the sound back, or there is no sound from the headphones or from a speaker dock, the logic board is the likely fault. We fix it by replacing the logic board.
Replacement Logic Board
30GB 5G · 30GB 5.5G Enhanced · 60GB 5G · 80GB 5.5G Enhanced
More causes on this page, depending on what happens
- Broken Hold switchStuck on hold
- Failing hard driveHold switch powers off
- Loose or damaged hard drive cableHold switch powers off
- Headphone jack cable not fully in, or its latch openStarted after a repair or part swap
- A connector not seated after the repairStarted after a repair or part swap
What exactly happens?
- Headphone jack not workingAlso searched as headphone jack · fix headphone jack · headphone jack repair · replace headphone jack · repair headphone jack · headphones not working · headphone jack problem · headphone socket
- Headphone jack looseAlso searched as loose headphone jack
- Headphone jack brokenAlso searched as broken headphone jack
- Headphone jack one earAlso searched as headphone jack only plays one side
- Clean headphone jackAlso searched as headphone jack cleaning
- Stuck on holdAlso searched as lock icon on iPod · lock symbol on iPod
- Hold switch stuckAlso searched as hold button stuck
- Hold switch powers off
- Started after a repair or part swap
- Not sure — free diagnostic
Headphone jack loose
Also searched as loose headphone jack
The plug sits loosely or slips out and the sound cuts in and out: the headphone jack assembly is worn.
Free checks first
- Wiggle the headphone plug while it is in the jack. If that doesn't fix it, try another pair of headphones. If that fails too, the headphone jack or its cable is the likely fault.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Worn or damaged headphone jack
A worn or damaged headphone jack cuts the sound out, crackles, or plays in one ear only, often when you move the plug. A new headphone jack fixes it.
Free check first Move the plug gently while a song plays: if the sound cuts out or crackles, the jack is worn.
Headphone jack broken
Also searched as broken headphone jack
The jack is cracked or bent, or the plug no longer goes in.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Worn or damaged headphone jack
A worn or damaged headphone jack cuts the sound out, crackles, or plays in one ear only, often when you move the plug. A new headphone jack fixes it.
Free check first Move the plug gently while a song plays: if the sound cuts out or crackles, the jack is worn.
Headphone jack one ear
Also searched as headphone jack only plays one side
Sound comes from one side only. Try another pair of headphones first; if they do the same, the jack is the likely fault.
Free checks first
- Push the headphone plug in all the way.
- Wiggle the headphone plug while it is in the jack. If that doesn't fix it, try another pair of headphones. If that fails too, the headphone jack or its cable is the likely fault.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Worn or damaged headphone jack
A worn or damaged headphone jack cuts the sound out, crackles, or plays in one ear only, often when you move the plug. A new headphone jack fixes it.
Free check first Move the plug gently while a song plays: if the sound cuts out or crackles, the jack is worn.
Clean headphone jack
Also searched as headphone jack cleaning
Lint in the jack can keep the plug from going all the way in. Turn the iPod off, shine a light into the jack and lift the lint out with a wooden or plastic toothpick.
Free checks first
- Push the headphone plug in all the way.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Worn or damaged headphone jack
A worn or damaged headphone jack cuts the sound out, crackles, or plays in one ear only, often when you move the plug. A new headphone jack fixes it.
Free check first Move the plug gently while a song plays: if the sound cuts out or crackles, the jack is worn.
Stuck on hold
Also searched as lock icon on iPod · lock symbol on iPod
The Hold switch locks the iPod so it no longer responds to clicks. If it stays locked with the switch off (the lock icon stays on, or the buttons do nothing), the switch on the headphone jack assembly is stuck or broken.
Free checks first
- Put the Hold switch firmly in the unlocked position. A locked iPod ignores every button.
- A lock icon at the top of the screen means the Hold switch is on: slide it to the unlocked position.
- Reset it: press and hold Menu and the center (Select) button for 8 seconds, or until the Apple logo appears. If that fails, put the iPod on a table and press the center button without touching the wheel.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Broken Hold switch
The Hold switch is part of the headphone jack assembly. If it is broken, stuck, or leaves the iPod locked with the switch off, a new headphone jack assembly fixes it.
Hold switch stuck
Also searched as hold button stuck
The Hold switch won't move, or moves without clicking into place.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Broken Hold switch
The Hold switch is part of the headphone jack assembly. If it is broken, stuck, or leaves the iPod locked with the switch off, a new headphone jack assembly fixes it.
Hold switch powers off
Sliding the Hold switch turns the iPod Video off: the hard drive or its cable is the likely fault.
Free checks first
- Hold the iPod up to your ear: unusual clicking patterns are a strong sign that the hard drive is failing.
- Check the hard drive's health in Diagnostic Mode: a high number of reallocated sectors (reallocs) or pending sectors means the drive is failing.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Failing hard drive
Repeated clicking (the click of death: click, whir) or the sad iPod face usually mean the hard drive is failing. Flash storage is the silent alternative to a new drive.
Flash Mod Kit (Flash Adapter + SD Card Included)
Replaces the hard drive with flash memory: silent, no moving parts
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Next most likely
Loose or damaged hard drive cable
A loose or damaged hard drive cable can make the drive click, drop out or show the sad iPod face.
Free check first Push the cable back in first; replace it only if that does not help.
Started after a repair or part swap
The headphones or the Hold switch stopped working after the iPod Video was opened.
iPod Video 5th GeniPod Video 5th Gen
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Most likely
Headphone jack cable not fully in, or its latch open
After the iPod has been opened, a headphone jack cable that isn't pushed fully in, or its latch left open, stops the headphone jack, and the Hold switch on it, from working.
Free check first Open it again, push the headphone jack cable fully in and close its latch.
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Next most likely
A connector not seated after the repair
After a battery or part swap, a connector that is not fully seated can leave the iPod dead or half-working. We can also look at it: the free diagnostic finds the issue and whether it can be fixed without new parts.
Free check first Open it again and push every connector you touched fully back in.
Not sure — free diagnostic
Mail us your iPod and we test it and send you a free repair quote. If you don't like the price, we ship it back at our expense.
Free
Questions
Is the Hold switch part of the headphone jack on the iPod Video?
Yes. On the iPod Video the Hold switch sits on the headphone jack assembly, so the same part fixes a loose jack and a stuck Hold switch.
What does the Hold switch do?
It locks the iPod, so it no longer responds to clicks on the wheel or the buttons. Slide it back to unlock it.
What size is the iPod Video headphone jack?
3.5 mm. Apple's specs list a 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack, and on the iPod Video it also carries composite video and audio out.