iPod Photo 4th Generation Headphone Jack Replacement & Repair

Headphone Jack 40GB / 60GB

Replacement headphone jack assembly for iPod Photo (4th Generation). Use it for damaged audio-output hardware, channel issues, or related Hold-switch hardware on models where those parts share the same assembly.

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Product Overview

This headphone jack listing covers Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB) and its own connector path on the iPod Photo (4th Generation).

Use Part Details for the confirmed part-number reference. Use the Compatible Variants table below to confirm capacity, color, case, or order-number fitment.

Choose this part when your iPod shows Headphone Jack Not Working; the checks below help confirm the right part before you order.

Choose Your Option

This part comes in multiple variants. Confirm your iPod's capacity, case depth, and order number before ordering.

30GB/20GB / White / Thin Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) Capacity: 30GB/20GB · Color: White · Case: thin View this option →

40GB/60GB / White / Thick Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB) Capacity: 40GB/60GB · Color: White · Case: thick

Thin and thick iPod Photo headphone jack / Hold switch assemblies are separate fitment paths.

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What Is Included

Included

✓ Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB) ✓ One plastic pry tool ✓ 1-year limited warranty

Before You Discard The Original

Some replacement assemblies include the white plastic Hold switch slider preassembled. Others may require transferring the slider from your original assembly. Check the replacement part before discarding your original.

Two things are not in the box and are not sold as part of this assembly: the orange headphone-jack flex cable, which is its own listing and is the same part for every capacity, and the three silver Phillips screws that hold the assembly to the rear panel. Plan to transfer both from your original.

Condition: Used factory-original part. Quantity and exclusions: The listed part, set, pair, or configuration above is supplied with exactly one plastic pry tool. No other parts, tools, adhesives, or materials are included unless they are explicitly listed above.

Quick Buying Check

Buy this when

Headphone Jack Not Working: Use the headphone/Hold check when headphone output or Hold-switch behavior is isolated from dock audio, board audio, and connector seating.
Known-good headphones and connector seating do not clear the symptom.

Diagnose first when

Match headphone/hold assembly to 20/30GB thin or 40/60GB thick rear-case depth.

Other Symptoms That May Involve This Part

Symptom	What it means & what to check
wont restore, swollen battery, Folder Icon, wont sync, wont charge with new battery, white screen, water corrosion damage, battery drains, works only plugged	These are phrases buyers search with, not symptoms this assembly fixes. Buy the headphone/Hold assembly when known-good headphones fail through the jack but dock or line-out audio still works. The rest belong elsewhere: a folder with an exclamation mark means the iPod cannot find its storage — the hard drive, its ribbon cable, or the software on it — and won't restore, won't sync, a white screen, a swollen battery, battery drains, works only plugged, and water or corrosion damage are answered on the storage, display, battery and logic-board pages linked in Do Not Buy below.

Symptom

What it means & what to check

wont restore, swollen battery, Folder Icon, wont sync, wont charge with new battery, white screen, water corrosion damage, battery drains, works only plugged

These are phrases buyers search with, not symptoms this assembly fixes. Buy the headphone/Hold assembly when known-good headphones fail through the jack but dock or line-out audio still works. The rest belong elsewhere: a folder with an exclamation mark means the iPod cannot find its storage — the hard drive, its ribbon cable, or the software on it — and won't restore, won't sync, a white screen, a swollen battery, battery drains, works only plugged, and water or corrosion damage are answered on the storage, display, battery and logic-board pages linked in Do Not Buy below.

Specifications & Fitment

Also known as iPod with color display (Apple's official name after June 2005).

Part Details

Detail	Value
Model Number	A1099
EMC	EMC 2022
Condition	Used — factory original Apple part. Normal cosmetic wear expected.
Part Identifiers	`820-1647-A`

Compatible Variants

Order Number	Capacity	Color	Case	Compatible	Notes
M9585LL/A	40GB	White	thick	Yes	—
M9586LL/A	60GB	White	thick	Yes	—
M9830LL/A	60GB	White	thick	Yes	—
PS493AA	60GB	White (HP)	thick	Yes	—
MA127LL/A	20GB	Black/Red (U2)	thin	No— wrong case depth	Owner-verified: Thick-case part is not compatible with 20GB/30GB thin iPod Photo variants (U2 20GB is the 0.63in thin Color Display config). Use Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) instead.
MA079LL/A	20GB	White	thin	No— wrong case depth	Owner-verified: Thick-case part is not compatible with 20GB/30GB thin iPod Photo variants Use Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) instead.
MA215LL/A	20GB	White (Harry Potter Collector's Edition)	thin	No— wrong case depth	Owner-verified: Thick-case part is not compatible with 20GB/30GB thin iPod Photo variants Use Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) instead.
M9829LL/A	30GB	White	thin	No— wrong case depth	Owner-verified: Thick-case part is not compatible with 20GB/30GB thin iPod Photo variants Use Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) instead.
PS492AA	30GB	White (HP)	thin	No— wrong case depth	Owner-verified: Thick-case part is not compatible with 20GB/30GB thin iPod Photo variants Use Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) instead.

Diagnostic Failure Cards

Use these model-specific failure cards to decide whether this headphone jack assembly is the right part, a nearby part needs checking first, or escalation makes more sense after simpler checks.

Symptom	What it means & what to check
Symptom remains after basic checks	What you may see: The iPod still points back to Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB) after cable seating, battery stability, and nearby connector checks. Check first: Retest with known-good cables or adjacent parts where practical before ordering. Check next: A nearby cable, connector, battery, storage device, display path, audio path, or board path can mimic a bad headphone jack assembly.
Symptom changes when touched or reseated	What you may see: The symptom changes after moving the part, reseating a cable, or applying light pressure near the connector path. Check first: Inspect the connector, latch, flex, solder joints, and nearby board area for damage or corrosion. Check next: This can still be a connection issue rather than a failed headphone jack assembly alone.
Problem began after another repair	What you may see: The issue started immediately after opening the iPod, replacing another part, or disturbing an internal cable. Check first: Reopen only as far as needed and inspect the exact area touched during the previous repair. Check next: Post-repair symptoms often trace to seating, latch, screw, or cable issues before Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB) itself is confirmed bad.
Hold switch is stuck, locked, or not reporting correctly	What you may notice People report the iPod staying locked, the lock indicator not clearing, or the Hold switch not matching the device behavior. The iPod appears locked or the Hold switch does not match the device behavior. iPod stays locked even when the Hold switch moves. Lock indicator does not match the switch position. Controls appear dead because the Hold path is stuck. Diagnose first when Move the Hold switch and watch whether the lock indicator changes. Check the headphone/hold ribbon if the symptom started after opening the iPod. Match the headphone/hold assembly to the exact case thickness before ordering. Confirm Hold is off before judging the controls. Separate center-button-only failure from a dead scroll ring or multiple failed buttons. Inspect click-wheel ribbon seating, latch position, and ground path after reassembly. Confirm the assembly matches the exact case thickness before ordering. Similar issues to separate On this model the Hold switch is part of the headphone/hold assembly. A wrong variant, loose ribbon, damaged switch, or nearby connector problem can all keep the device behaving as if Hold is active. Click-wheel assembly, button pad, or flex path. Choose this headphone/hold assembly only when the physical Hold switch or its ribbon path is the failing path. Choose this headphone jack / hold-switch assembly when the symptom remains isolated to this assembly, its ribbon, or its connector path after first checks. Check another part first Check click-wheel input only after the Hold switch path is ruled out. Check the headphone/hold assembly for confirmed Hold switch faults before blaming the click wheel. Repair or replacement paths Replace the headphone/hold assembly when the switch or its flex path is damaged. Reseat or inspect the connector first when the switch changed behavior after service. Replace the click wheel when the assembly or flex remains damaged after seating checks.
Audio or Hold problems after repair	What you may notice People report headphone audio, Hold behavior, or both changing after battery, headphone/hold, or internal service. A new symptom appeared after battery, storage, audio, display, or control work. Diagnose first when Confirm the replacement assembly matches the thin or thick case. Inspect the headphone/hold ribbon and connector before ordering a second part. Inspect for liquid, corrosion, residue, torn flex material, or connector damage. Compare headphone output, dock or line-out output, and Hold-switch behavior before replacing the headphone/hold assembly. Similar issues to separate Post-repair symptoms can point to a disturbed headphone/hold ribbon, wrong variant part, or nearby connector damage. Check post-repair regression, connector seating, and board-side damage before ordering. Choose this headphone/hold assembly only when repair work damaged the jack, switch, or ribbon. Check another part first Check the connector and the part variant first when the symptom began immediately after service. Repair or replacement paths Reseat the ribbon and correct the part variant first. Replace the assembly when the flex, switch, or jack-board is damaged.
Fitment or model-variant boundary	What you may notice A similar-looking part may not match the exact capacity, case thickness, generation, or color. Similar issues to separate Check fitment / model variant boundary, connector seating, and board-side damage before ordering. Check another part first Check the Replacement Click Wheel when controls, wheel, center/select, menu, hold, or unresponsive-button symptoms are the main problem. Check the Replacement Logic Board (Late 2004 / Early 2005) when board-level behavior after replaceable parts and connectors are ruled out is the main problem.
Headphone output compared with dock or line-out audio	What you may notice Audio behaves differently through headphones and a dock or line-out accessory. Both headphone and dock output share the same failure. Headphone audio fails but dock or line-out audio still works. Both headphone and dock output fail, pointing away from the jack alone. Audio behavior differs by output path. Diagnose first when Test known-good headphones before opening the iPod. Compare headphone output with dock or line-out audio on the same track. Inspect and reseat the headphone/hold ribbon or ribbon connection if the iPod was opened. Route board-level audio only after jack and dock-output checks disagree with a replaceable-part fault. Similar issues to separate Headphone jack contacts or headphone/hold assembly. Headphone/hold ribbon seating, or board-side connector. Check another part first If both headphone and dock or line-out audio fail, the jack alone is unlikely. Board-level audio diagnosis belongs after output-path and ribbon checks. Repair or replacement paths Replace the headphone/hold assembly when the failure is isolated to the headphone path. Cautions Do not treat a broad no-audio symptom as proof that the headphone jack has failed.
No sound or missing headphone audio	What you may notice People describe music playing with little or no sound from the headphone jack, or audio that disappears even though the iPod still appears to run. No sound from the headphone jack. Audio disappears while the iPod otherwise appears to run. Sound changes when the headphone plug or case is moved. Diagnose first when Test with known-good headphones before opening the iPod. Check whether audio behaves differently through the dock connector and the headphone jack. Inspect the headphone/hold ribbon and connector if the iPod has been opened. Play the same known-good track through the headphone jack, then through a dock or line-out accessory if you have one. If dock or line-out audio works but headphones do not, focus on the headphone jack, jack contacts, headphone/hold ribbon, and board connector. If both headphone and dock output are silent, pause before buying the jack and continue with logic-board or audio-circuit diagnosis. Similar issues to separate The headphone/hold assembly can be involved, but no-sound symptoms can also point to the jack connection, ribbon path, dock output path, or board-level audio. The path split matters: headphone-only failure points more toward the jack, headphone/hold ribbon, or board connector, while both headphone and dock output failing points away from the jack alone. Choose this headphone/hold assembly only when the headphone jack or its ribbon path is the failing audio path. Check another part first Check the logic board or board-level audio path first when both the headphone jack and dock or line-out path are silent. Repair or replacement paths Reseat the headphone/hold ribbon when the symptom began after service. Replace the headphone/hold assembly when the jack, ribbon, or hold-board assembly is the suspect path. Use headphone/hold assembly replacement for a failure that follows only the headphone path. Do not treat the headphone jack as the first confirmed fix when every audio output path is silent.
Ribbon, connector, or ground-path checks	What you may notice A symptom starts after opening the iPod or disturbing an internal flex cable. Similar issues to separate Connector seating, ribbon damage, or ground-path issues can involve this part, a nearby connector, or a board path.
Headphone Jack / Hold-Switch Assembly appears unresponsive or intermittent	What you may notice People describe behavior where the headphone jack / hold-switch assembly seems dead, intermittent, or only partly responsive. Diagnose first when Inspect nearby connectors and flex paths if the iPod has been opened. Similar issues to separate Choose this headphone jack / hold-switch assembly only when the failing behavior follows the part or its own connection path.
Liquid, corrosion, or residue context	What you may notice Symptoms follow liquid exposure, dirty contacts, corrosion, or residue. Similar issues to separate Liquid or corrosion can involve this part, a nearby connector, or a board path.
One-channel, static, or uneven headphone audio	What you may notice People report sound from only one side, static, uneven output, or audio that changes when the plug or case is moved. Sound plays in only one ear or one channel. Static, uneven volume, buzzing, or distortion through headphones. Audio changes when the plug is rotated or moved. Diagnose first when Try another known-good headphone plug before ordering. Check whether light plug movement changes the channel or static behavior. If the iPod was recently opened, inspect the headphone/hold ribbon seating. Inspect headphone-jack contacts and ribbon seating after opening. Similar issues to separate This pattern can involve worn jack contacts, a poor headphone plug fit, a disturbed ribbon, or damage beyond the jack. Choose this headphone/hold assembly only when the one-channel or static symptom follows the jack or ribbon. Check another part first Check headphones and board-level audio first when the symptom does not react to the jack or ribbon path.
Fitment and inspection notes	The other case depth takes the iPod Photo 20/30GB thin headphone/hold assembly — a separate listing, not a variant of this one. Measure before you choose: a thin 20/30GB iPod photo is about 0.63 in (16 mm) front to back and a thick 40/60GB one about 0.75 in (19 mm). The orange headphone-jack flex cable is the same part for every capacity, so it is not part of this thin/thick choice.

Do Not Buy / Problems This Headphone Jack Assembly Does Not Fix

Situation	Start here instead
Variant or capacity does not match this listing	Use the Replacement Headphone Jack (Thin - 20/30GB) listing instead.
The fault is clearly the storage, battery, or logic board — not the jack or Hold switch	Start with the hard drive, battery, or logic-board check for your model before buying this assembly.
A symptom points to a different part	Start with battery for power/runtime symptoms; hard-drive cable for folder, clicking, or restore symptoms; LCD screen for display-only symptoms; headphone jack for audio or Hold-switch symptoms; click wheel for click-wheel or control symptoms; logic board for board-side damage or multi-system symptoms before buying this part.
Headphone and dock or line-out audio are both silent	Start with the logic board or audio-circuit check; a headphone-only failure is a reason to buy this assembly, not avoid it.

Install Overview

Before You Start

Confirm the model and reset state

If the iPod is frozen, reset it first: turn Hold off, then hold Menu + Select (the center button in the click wheel) until the Apple logo appears. Confirm the model and variant before opening the iPod — and set Hold back to locked, orange bar showing, because that is where the case-opening steps below start.

Open the case slowly

Treat case opening as the highest handling risk. Work around the seams gently and stop if the shell, clips, or internal stack resist.

Protect nearby connectors

Do not pull the halves apart or side-load board sockets. Reseat nearby ribbons and connectors before blaming a replacement headphone jack assembly.

Disassembly Guide

DifficultyModerate

Time20 minutes

Steps8

SolderingNo

Common toolsPlastic Opening Tools, Spudger, T6 Torx Screwdriver

Show all 8 installation steps

Before you open the iPod, confirm that the hold switch is in the locked setting. The orange bar should be showing, indicating hold is active.

Move an opening pick as far as possible into the gap between the plastic front and the metal back panel, on the right edge of the iPod. You may have to rock the pick back and forth to move it in farther. With the opening pick, lever up against the plastic front panel and release 5 retaining tabs. Slide the pick along the iPod edge and keep levering gently until the remaining retaining tabs release. In this step, after all five tabs along the right edge are free, the case should easily open.

The iPod case is now open, but do not separate the two halves yet. An orange ribbon cable still connects the headphone jack to the logic board. With the dock connector edge at the top, open the case like a book and set the rear panel beside the iPod front half.

With a plastic tool or your fingernails, carefully detach the orange headphone jack cable. Make sure to draw straight up on the connector, not the cable itself. This fragile ribbon cable can stay connected for a battery replacement. Prop and tape the rear case against a box so the headphone jack remains connected to the motherboard without straining its cable while you work.

Take out the 2 silver T6 Torx screws from the headphone jack.

Grasp the headphone jack board and raise it out of the iPod.

In this step, turn the headphone jack board over. With a fingertip or spudger, gently flip up the black connector securing the headphone jack cable connector in place.

Draw the orange headphone jack cable directly out of its connector.

Product-specific placement, reassembly, and check

Prepare and access. Confirm the exact model and listing fit first. Use the existing steps as a disassembly guide, gather the specified tools, disconnect power where applicable, and keep screws and cable positions organized.
Place Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB). Align the jack and Hold-switch assembly with the housing openings and seat its cable without twisting or trapping it.
Reassemble without force. Reverse only the access steps needed for this repair, keep cables clear of case edges and screw posts, and close clips in stages.
Validate before final closure. Before final closure, test left/right audio, plug detection, and the Hold switch while the assembly remains accessible.

Stop condition: Stop if a connector, latch, screw, clip, housing edge, or the replacement part resists normal alignment. Recheck model fit, orientation, cable routing, and trapped hardware instead of forcing it.

After This Repair

Check	What to do
Test audio and Hold	Use known-good headphones and check both channels, static, plug movement, and Hold-switch behavior.
Still not working?	Compare headphone output with dock or line-out behavior when the model supports it, then inspect ribbon seating.

Worth Knowing

Thick jack daughterboards are printed 820-1647-A. The same print turns up on thin jack boards (production-run variance), so choose by case depth, not by the printed number.
632-0286-A, 632-0322-A and 632-0346-A are the headphone-jack / Hold FLEX cable family, not daughterboard numbers. 632-0346-A is the latest and is attested across 20-60GB; 632-0286-A has the strongest thin 20/30GB attestation; 632-0322-A is attested inside a 60GB unit. Owners report cables carrying the same 632-0322-A print with physically different board connectors, so match the connector against your own board rather than trusting the number.
Converting a thin 20/30GB iPod to a 40/60GB drive is a set, not one part: an 8 mm drive goes into a thin body only with the thick backplate, the thick hard-drive bumpers and this thick headphone-jack assembly. The headphone-jack flex cable is the same part for every capacity, so that one you keep. Keeping the thin parts and fitting a 5 mm 50-pin drive, SSD or flash adapter is the simpler route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use these questions to narrow the part path before ordering. They keep each answer focused on a different diagnostic or fitment decision.

How do I choose the right headphone jack assembly?

Match capacity 40GB / 60GB and color White, case depth, and whether the Hold switch shares the same assembly on this model before ordering.

Can one-channel audio be because of something else?

Yes. Check headphones, the jack opening, debris, pressure on the case, ribbon seating, and board-side damage before treating the jack assembly as the only cause.

Can the Hold switch be part of the headphone-jack assembly?

Move the Hold switch and watch whether the lock indicator changes. Inspect the headphone/hold ribbon if the symptom started after opening the iPod. Check the headphone/hold ribbon if the symptom started after opening the iPod. This thick 60 GB assembly is not interchangeable with the other case thickness. Choose this assembly only when Hold switch behavior is the failing path.

It plays but nothing comes out

Owners describe the menu and the song timer advancing normally while nothing is heard. Try a second pair of headphones or a speaker first — that one test separates the iPod from the headphones, and it is the step the repair record recommends before any part. If a known-good pair is also silent, look at the jack: clean the opening, check the plug seats fully, and inspect the headphone/Hold assembly and its ribbon where they meet the board — a ribbon left half-seated after a repair is a common cause. Match the assembly to your case depth: the thin 20/30GB and thick 40/60GB builds take different jack assemblies, while the flex cable is the same part for every capacity. If headphone and dock line-out audio are both silent, the fault is further back than the jack.

Volume is at full but it is quiet

Owners describe it this way: the volume is all the way up and the output stays quiet across several sets of headphones. Try a second pair of headphones or a speaker first — that separates the iPod from the headphones. This iPod has no Volume Limit setting to check: Apple added that to the iPod nano and the fifth-generation iPod in 2006, and this model's software ended at 1.2.1. Owners of European-market units report a fixed software cap with no menu to change it. If a known-good pair is still quiet, clean the jack opening and check the headphone/Hold assembly and its ribbon seating before ordering; for more level on a capped unit, an in-line headphone amplifier is the clean way to get it.

Is this an iPod Classic?

Apple's 'Classic' branding started with the 6th Generation (2007). This is the color-screen iPod photo / iPod with color display generation, not a Classic-branded model.

iPod stuck on lock, what component should I replace?

Confirm Hold is off, reset the iPod, then inspect the control ribbon, latch, ground path, and shared Hold assembly before ordering.

Does capacity matter for this part?

Use the Specifications & Fitment table as the source of truth. Match model, capacity, case depth, connector style, and order-number family before ordering.

Why people land on this part

Also searched as: ipod photo 4th generation headphone jack replacement, Headphone Jack Not Working, jack unit, jack assembly, ribbon cable, headphone/hold ribbon, audio jack, iPod Photo 40GB 60GB thick headphone jack replacement service, thick headphone jack for iPod Color Display, iPod Photo thick headphone jack repair, iPod Colour Display, hold switch, Folder Icon, missing headphone audio, No sound, One channel, uneven headphone audio, won't restore, won't sync, works only plugged.

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iPod Photo (4th Generation) — Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB)

iPod Photo (4th Generation) — Replacement Headphone Jack (Thick - 40/60GB)

Product Overview

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