There are several things that can cause your headphone jack to suddenly stop working. The problem can be software or hardware based. It can exist because of an earbud issue or a iPod issue. Let’s run through the different scenarios and take a look at some fixes for you to try:

Solution #1: Turn your iPod Off and then On again

Sometimes the iPod just needs to be turned off and on in order to work properly again. If this is the case then just press and hold the power button on the iPod, wait for it to turn off, wait ten seconds and turn it back on.

Solution #2: Try a different set of earphones

Before we move onto more complex fixes we should really try to figure out whether the problem is because of the earphones or because of the iPod. Fortunately there is a very simple way to figure this out: borrow a pair of headphones from someone and plug them into your iPod. If the problem you’re having disappears (and you can hear music properly) then you just need to buy a new set of earphones, but if the problem persists then your iPod is the culprit and we’ll have to move onto the next troubleshooting step.

Solution #3: Reset your iPod

Now that we’ve determined that the iPod is the cause of the problem we have to figure out whether the cause is software or hardware based. The simplest way to do this is by resetting the iPod back to factory defaults. This will erase the settings on your iPod and bring the player back to how it was when you first purchased it.

The instructions for restoring an iPod touch can be found on the Apple website: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414

If you still have the problem even after resetting the Ipod then move onto the next step.

Solution #4: Tighten the headphone jack (Advanced)

(The last two solutions require somewhat advanced technical knowledge and can result in a broken iPod. Only go forward if you know what you’re doing.)

Plug in your headphones and play a song. Press down on the iPod touch surface just above where the headphone jack is and a little higher. If you hear music start playing when you press down then chances are that your headphone jack is loose. To fix this you’ll have to open up your iPod touch and tighten the two screws that hold the jack in place.

This youtube video shows the procedure:

Solution #5: Replace the headphone jack (Advanced)

(The last two solutions require somewhat advanced technical knowledge and can result in a broken iPod. Only go forward if you know what you’re doing.)

If the above didn’t work then you’ll most likely have to replace the headphone jack itself. This will require that you know how to de-solder/solder. You will also need to purchase a replacement headphone jack to place into your iPod touch.

The following two youtube videos will show you how to do this:

Good luck!