All of your favorite tunes suddenly stop playing, leaving you with an awkward silence. You try to play them again, but the same thing happens. This time, however, you’re not alone.
Thousands of people worldwide are experiencing the same issue with their headphones. The question is: Why Do my Headphones Keep Cutting Out?
To answer that question, we have to look at several things: the headphones themselves, what’s happening with the music you’re listening to, and how that relates to your wireless router.
We’ll also look at some other issues when using headphones and hopefully provide a solution for every problem.
So without further ado, let’s start by looking at the headphones themselves.
Why Do my Headphones Keep Cutting Out?
You might experience headphones that keep cutting out for a variety of reasons, and we will cover each here.
1. Physical Damage
One of the most common reasons headphones stop working is physical damage. This can include things like a broken wire or a faulty connection.
If you’ve recently dropped your headphones or been in any other kind of physical altercation with them, they may have been damaged and are no longer working correctly.
2. Poor Quality Audio
If you’re listening to music that’s not of high quality, your headphones maybe just be having trouble keeping up. This is especially common with lower-end headphones, which lack the power necessary to deliver accurate, clear audio.
So if you’re watching a YouTube video or Spotify playlist with poor audio quality, it may be the reason why your headphones keep cutting out.
3. Your Devices Aren’t Playing Nicely
Another common reason for frequent headphone cutouts is that your devices aren’t playing nicely together. This can be caused by different codecs or formats and is often an issue when trying to use headphones with a computer.
If you’re having trouble getting your headphones to work with a specific device, there may be a conflict that’s causing them to cut out.
4. Wireless Interference
Wireless routers are among the most common reasons for audio interference. If you have a router in your home, it may be causing your headphones to cut out.
This is because the two devices use the same frequency to communicate, and when they overlap, it can cause problems with your audio.
5. Earmuffs Aren’t Fitted Properly
If you’re using earmuffs to listen to your headphones, it’s possible that they’re not fitted properly. This can cause the audio to be muffled or distorted, leading to your headphones cutting out.
Ensure that the earmuffs are tightly secured and sit flush against your ears for the best listening experience.
6. Your Wireless Router isn’t Secure
One last common reason for headphone cutouts is that your wireless router is not secure. If you’re using a public router, someone else can access your signal and make changes. This can lead to you losing connection or having issues establishing one in the first place.
To avoid this, be sure to use a strong password and keep your router updated with the latest security measures.
7. Headphone Jack Connection
If you’ve tried everything else and your headphones are still cutting out, there may be a loose connection at the headphone jack. This is especially common with auxiliary jacks on older devices. Make sure that the headphone jack is fully pushed into place before playing music again.
How to Fix Headphones Keep Cutting Out?
We’ve looked at some possible reasons why your headphones might be cutting out, and now we’ll look at some possible solutions for each one.
1. Physical Damage
If your headphones have been physically damaged, the best solution is to replace them. Even though this can be a costly endeavor, it’s the only way to make sure that you’re getting the best possible sound quality.
2. Poor Quality Audio
If you’re experiencing poor quality audio, your best bet is to upgrade your headphones. This may seem like an unnecessary expense, but if you’re serious about your music, it’s a good investment.
Higher-end headphones are built to handle lower-quality audio, so you won’t have to worry about your headphones cutting out on you.
3. Your Devices Aren’t Playing Nicely
If you’re having trouble getting your headphones to work with a specific device, there may be a conflict that’s causing them to cut out. In this case, you should try another pair of headphones with that device.
For example, to use your headphones on a computer, insert them into the headphone jack on the front and not the back.
4. Wireless Interference
If you’re experiencing frequent interference, your best bet is to update your router’s firmware. This will ensure that you’re getting the latest security features and prevent unwanted users from tampering with your connection.
5. Earmuffs Aren’t Fitted Properly
If you’re having trouble getting good sound quality out of your headphones, make sure they’re fitted correctly. This often means adjusting the earmuffs so that they’re sitting flush against your ears. You can also try different-sized ear-muffs to find the perfect fit.
6. Your Wireless Router isn’t Secure
If you’re using a public router, someone else can access your signal and make changes. This can lead to you losing connection or having issues establishing one in the first place.
To avoid this, be sure to use a strong password and keep your router updated with the latest security measures.
7. Check the Headphone Jack Connection
If your headphones still aren’t working, even after clearing up the issues mentioned above, you may have a loose connection to the headphone jack. This can be frustrating to fix on your own because it’s difficult to see what’s happening inside.
If this is the case, you should try removing the earmuffs and taking out your headphones’ drivers.
You can then use a cotton swab to clean the inside of the jack and reinsert everything properly. If that still doesn’t work, it might be time to bring your headphones in for repairs.
You should figure out why your headphones are cutting out and how to fix the issue with a bit of detective work. Then, by following these tips, you'll be able to get back to listening to your favorite tunes in no time.
Why Are My AirPods Cutting Out and How to Fix It?
Our guide below includes a few explanations for why your Airpods could be cutting out, and we’ll also give you a solution for each.
1. Poor Signal Strength
If your AirPods are frequently cutting out, it’s possible that you’re not getting a strong enough signal from your phone. Make sure that your phone is sitting flat on a surface and at least 2-3 inches away from walls or other large objects to solve this issue.
2. The Quality of Your Music Isn’t Clear
If you’re experiencing frequent disruptions to your music, it’s possible that the audio itself isn’t clear. If this is the case, try updating your phone to the latest version of iOS and checking for any available system updates. You should also ensure that your AirPods software is up-to-date by going into Settings > General > Software Update.
3. Your Phone Isn’t Nearby
If your phone isn’t nearby, Airpods may cut out because they’re searching for a closer source of power. Make sure that your phone is at least 10ft (3m) away and try again to solve this issue.
4. Your Phone’s Signal is Weak
If your phone’s signal is weak, Airpods may cut out because they’re struggling to receive power. If this happens, be sure to check whether you can get a better signal outside or by restarting your phone.
5. The Internet Is Slowing Down Your Music
The interference that arises from a slow internet connection can cause your music to cut out and even lead to missing chunks of audio. To avoid this problem, try turning off the WiFi on your phone instead of using a cellular data connection (if you have one).
6. The Quality of Your Music is Poor
If the audio quality is poor when you’re listening to music, your Airpods may be having trouble translating the sound correctly. If this is the case, try downloading a higher-quality version of the song or album you’re listening to.
7. You’re Experiencing Interference from Other Devices
If there are other devices near your Airpods using a lot of power, they may interfere with the connection. To fix this issue, try turning off those devices or moving them farther away from your Airpods.
8. You’re in a Noisy Environment
If you’re in a noisy environment, the sound of your surroundings may be interfering with your Airpods. Try finding a quieter place to listen to your music to fix this issue.
Why Are My Beats Headphones Cutting Out and How to Fix It?
If your Beats headphones are cutting out, you may be having some of the same problems as with AirPods. To learn about how you might be able to fix the issues with your Beats headphones, read on below.
1. Your Phone’s Signal is Weak
If you’re having problems with your Beats headphones cutting out, the first thing you should check is the signal strength on your phone. You may be experiencing headphones that cut out if the level is low. To the solution, try increasing the signal strength on your phone or moving closer to the signal source.
2. The Connection Between Your Phone and Headphones is Weak
Another possibility is a weak connection between your phone and headphones. You can test this by moving your phone around in different directions. If the signal gets stronger when you hold your phone in a particular spot, that means the connection is weak.
3. The cables are faulty.
If you’re using the traditional headphone cable to connect your headphones to your phone, the line may be faulty. If you have already started using wireless headphones and want to switch back, or enjoy a backup pair of wired Beats headphones, check out the Beats Studio3 Headphones here.
4. The Problem Is with Your Wireless Router
If you have a wireless router, there may be something wrong with the signal going from the router to your headphones. It could be a bad connection or even a faulty router.
5. There Are Interference Issues
It’s also possible that there are interference issues with your Beats headphones and wireless router. For instance, if there’s another Bluetooth device in the same area as your headphones, that could cause problems.
6. Your Headphones Need a Hard Reset
Trying resetting your Beats headphones, so they go back to factory settings, may work if none of these solutions have worked. To do this:
- Step-1: Turn off your Beats by Dre headphones.
- Step-2: Hold down the Beats headphone power button and volume down buttons simultaneously, then wait for “Power Off” to appear on the screen.
- Step-3: Turn your Beats headphones back on by holding the power button again. If you still don’t hear anything from your Beats headphones, try restarting them one more time by holding the power button and volume down buttons for 10 seconds.
7. The Problem Might Be with the Source
It’s also possible that the problem isn’t with your Beats headphones at all, but with the source of the music you’re listening to. Try playing a song on a different device to see if it’s a problem with just your Beats headphones or with all headphones.
Do Good Research for Avoiding Headphones Cutting out.
Before you buy a headphone, do some research on what people say about sound quality and durability. A good pair of headphones is an investment, and you want to make sure they will last you a long time.
You can read reviews of different headphones on sites like Amazon or visit a physical store to test out other pairs yourself.
Here are some features that you might want to look for when shopping for headphones:
Noise Cancellation: This feature will help reduce outside noise, making it easier to focus on your music.
Wireless Connectivity: A wireless connection will allow you to move around without having to worry about getting tangled in wires.
Lightweight: If you’re going to be using your headphones for long periods, you’ll want a lightweight pair that won’t cause any discomfort.
Sound Quality: This is the most important factor for headphones. Make sure to listen to a few different songs in different genres to get a sense of what the headphones are capable of.
Sweat and Water Resistance: If you’re going to be using your headphones for workouts or outdoor activities, you’ll want a pair that’s sweat and water-resistant.
If you’re having trouble deciding which headphones to buy, check out our list of the best headphones for every budget.
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Conclusion
There are several reasons why your headphones might be cutting out, from interference issues to a faulty connection. Before you try any of the solutions listed above, it’s important to figure out what’s causing the problem.
Once you know what the issue is, you can take steps to fix it. If all else fails, try resetting your headphones to factory settings. If the problem persists, it might be time to invest in a new pair of headphones.