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sam

Pre stuck in headset mode

So, the other day while using my Pre to listen to Pandora radio I got a phone call. I pulled out my headphones and took the call, no problems. Then I plugged back in and started listening again, no problems. Then later on in the day I got a call and tried to pick up but I couldn't hear anything out of the earpiece, odd. I looked down at the dialer app and the bottom left button said "Headset" with a headset logo. I wasn't sure exactly how that happened, but I tried to fix it by plugging in my headphones, but this did nothing for me. Interestingly the phone worked on speakerphone, but I could not get it out of headset mode otherwise.

Anyone else had this problem?

(I ended up taking it into Sprint and getting the phone replaced since it had been less than 30 days).

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12 answers
BigInJapan

Had this on mine last week. Putting just the tip of the headphone plug into the jack and jiggling it around a bit solved my case. (sounds filthy, I know) Seems like there's a switch inside the jack near the top that can get stuck.
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azkansei

I had the same thing happen to my launch day Pre. Everything I've read on the Pre forums says plugging something into the headphone jack and pulling it out, maybe a few times, should fix it.

I know restarting the phone without playing with the headphone jack doesn't fix it.
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azkansei

When it happened to me, I also just swapped it out. I was on my way to the airport and didn't have time to check the forums. The one they replaced mine with had horrible "oreo" to it, but that's a topic for another discussion :)
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grahm

It's a hardware issue. This happens every week or so with my phone. A q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol always fixes it.
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jrfan88

Happened to the third Pre I had. I was able to get a new(refurb) one from a service location. Took a day though, so i carried around a toothpick and and plucked the piece out inside the jack. Wasnt too bad but I like the headphones so I was doing it alot. Quick heads up. I have a Razr V9m charger and a Verizon Dare charger that both work to charge the Pre, may be useful if your in a jam,
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undodog

This happened to me. To fix it, I called my voicemail and then plugged and unplugged the headphones until I heard the sound come out of the phone.

It's annoying because now I'm paranoid about using the headphones. But thankfully, I didn't have any problems fixing it.
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marienola

This is the second time it has happened to me. It is really a drag. This is my 2nd Pre, as the last one had a different hardware problem.
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genesius

I had the same problem with the same cause, I was listening to Pandora radio made a call and the phone wouldn't come out of headset mode. Could only use it on speaker phone. The tip above to call voicemail and repeatedly remove and install the headset connector until I saw phone symbol instead of headset symbol fix the problem.

Thanks for the advice.
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eptiger

Definitely something wrong with using the headphone jack. I never had this issue until I plugged in my headphones on my recent flight back home for the holidays and listened to the music app. I've actually used Pandora before on my headphones without an issue, but maybe that was just a fluke.

I noticed something: applying the slightest pressure on the sides of the phone above the volume rocker set it off. So it would be in normal phone mode sometimes as I started a call, then I'd move my hand up to grasp it above the volume rocker in my normal, natural position, and it would switch to headphone mode.

I believe I've fixed it by doing what genesius said, except that I would also apply pressure to the sides on the upper part of the phone while I was doing it. Do not squeeze it super hard or anything, just hold it securely.

A good way to test whether or not you've fixed the problem is to just play a song from the Music app without the headphones plugged in. Then try various configurations of physically holding the phone in your hand (naturally, nothing with excessive pressure) and make sure you can still hear out the back speaker. If it's still broken, the music will cut out. If it's fixed, you'll hear the music out the back speaker no matter how you hold it.

Has a replacement unit permanently fixed the issue for anyone? I have my Pre insured, but don't know if it covers this.

Elton
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ACap

Had this issue over the weekend. I found and followed the most of the instructions found in the "Stuck in Headset Mode" thread on Precentral.net's Pre forum. I ended up taking it into my nearest Sprint store and they cleaned out the jack with a Q-tip and some alcohol, and compressed air. It took them 2 minutes.

If it happens again, I'll do that myself.
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BurntToast

This happens a lot with electronics and headphone jacks. Just take it to your local Sprint Store with a repair bay and they'll just order you a replacement to be shipped to your place overnight. I had to do that with my launch Pre.

It won't be dinged on your insurance (so it's free to replace) and I had politely demanded one that didn't have the "Oreo Twist" thing going. Got one without it and have been very happy with it, hell I've been happy with the phone since day one.
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vara411

At the risk of looking self-serving I will promote my blog that covers the fix for this issue along with most other fixes for the most common problems on the Palm Pre... I don't get a red cent from it, just want people to be better educated on the device.


Try these fixes first. Can't hurt:

totallypalmed.com­/2009­/09­/19­/dont­-return­-it­-simple...
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