iPhone 8 Headphones Not Working After iOS Update? Here’s How to Fix It

Plugged in your headphones but not hearing any sound from your iPhone 8 after an iOS update? You’re not the only one. Many users have experienced issues with wired or Bluetooth headphones after updating iOS. Whether it’s a glitch, misconfiguration, or something deeper, there are several fixes worth trying before heading to the Genius Bar.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and fix headphone problems on your iPhone 8.

1. Restart Your iPhone (Soft Reset)

A simple restart can resolve many minor bugs that pop up after an update.

To restart your iPhone 8:

Hold the Side (Power) button until the slide to power off prompt appears.
Drag the slider to turn it off.
Wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.

Once your phone reboots, try using your headphones again.

2. Check and Adjust the Volume

Sometimes the volume is just muted, or the iPhone fails to detect the headphones properly after an update.

Plug in your headphones.
Press the Volume Up button.
Look for the Headphones label under the volume slider pop-up. If it doesn’t say “Headphones,” your iPhone might not be recognizing the connection.

If volume buttons do nothing:

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
Make sure Change with Buttons is turned on.

3. Check Bluetooth and Audio Output Settings

If Bluetooth is active, your iPhone might be routing audio to another device like wireless earbuds or a speaker.

To fix this:

Open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom.
Tap and hold the audio card (top-right corner).
Tap the AirPlay icon and make sure Headphones is selected.

Or turn off Bluetooth entirely:

Go to Settings > Bluetooth, then toggle it Off.

4. Reset All Settings

Sometimes iOS updates cause hidden conflicts or reset audio routing settings.

To reset all settings:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

This won’t delete any apps or data but will reset system settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display preferences.

5. Restore iOS via iTunes (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, a full system restore might fix the underlying glitch.

Before you begin: Back up your data.

To restore via iTunes:

Connect your iPhone 8 to your computer using a Lightning cable.
Open iTunes or Finder (on macOS Catalina or later).
Enter Recovery Mode:
- Quickly press and release Volume Up.
- Quickly press and release Volume Down.
- Hold the Side button until the recovery mode screen appears.
Select Restore when prompted.

If a standard restore doesn’t help, you can try a DFU restore for a deeper reset.

Still Not Working? Try These:

Test a different pair of headphones to rule out hardware failure.
Clean the headphone port with a dry, soft-bristled brush or toothpick.
Check for lint or debris that may be preventing a solid connection.
Contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service provider to check for possible hardware damage.