Any headphones I try on my Creative Zen Micro work intermitently, and only if I "jiggle" the headphone plug. It appears to be a fault with the headphone socket. How can I repair or replace it? The player is under warranty, but it looks like it is going to take a while to get the manufacturer to repair it.

Richard Morris, September 2005

This always fixed my headset problems for me http://howtofixstuff.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-fix-earphonesheadphones.html

stogey, January 2012

Done both my Zens using this A1 site!
http://home.comcast.net/~mercx/

Dave H, November 2008

just read this and jammed a bit of paper in mine and it worked! thanks for that it's been really annoying me for weeks

angela, August 2008

it would appear that most people have this problem with them which is a real pain. unless you have the knowledge too solder it i would recommend wedging paper or snapping the black plastic so that it can hold a stronger grip on the headphones themselves. i emails zen and got a reply unlike a lot of people, and all they told me is that the only thing i can do is buy a neww one without warranty. and if your going to buy one second hand from ebay, email the seller and check it has no problems like this, thats what happened with mine and i got rather frustrated as the seller was a right ars*about it and refused to give me money back even if i sent it back!!!!

karl, May 2008

http://www.noboundrees.com/Micro_Fix/ worked for me! The same solder joint identified in the text had failed; I had to remove some clear mastic-like stuff before I could solder the joint. Even with a fine tip it's difficult to avoid a little damage to the headphone socket but it is hidden once the metal cover is back on.
I also had a surplus (oblong) clip (it may fit over the on/off/hold switch). Quite a straightforward fix, helped greatly by text and photos from MercX (Ernesto Perez) – thanks.

BC, October 2007

The blue gunk / glue is just to indicate to the manufacturer that the screw has been undone and therefore the warranty voided. So you don't need to replace that.
This site was excellent http://www.noboundrees.com/Micro_Fix/
Large photo's, simple explanation.
you WILL need a small tip soldering iron.
One thing, a tiny retaining clip fell out at one point (which was not mentioned) I don't know wehre it should have been refitted but nothing appears to be loose and everything works fine now.

Kev, August 2007

I sent it back and got a new one :-) took a few emails though and about 4 weeks without it.

Nick, July 2007

i also have a faulty headphone jack problem too, im hesitating to do the solder fix in http://www.noboundrees.com/micro_fix/ because the instructions for putting the device back together isnt very helpful ("15. Now follow all the steps in reverse to put your Micro back together.") im have no experience at all in these hardware things, ill just be asking my dad to do the soldering bits for me but thats all the help i can get from him. for example the "blue glue junk", would that need to be replaced when i mess with it. or what kind of glue i need to use to stick the top part back into the power button area panel. people who had already done the solder fix, i hope you can help me out here. thanks.

aps, March 2007

hey this happened to me: open up the mp3 player on the opposite screen side and with a mini screwdriver (flathead) break the top of the socket off , its a piece of black plastic, then take that same screwdriver and push all of the prongs closer together and presto fixed no soldering gun required unless you have a faulty solder then just solder the connection

Greg Underhill, February 2007

Thank you Kevin. Great tutorial. Have been trying to fix my wife's Zen for ages without luck. Am now off to buy a soldering iron!
Chrs for your help...

Damo1193, December 2006

Read this thread (http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=dap&message.id=126167&page=3)

All kinds of people with headphone jack problems on their Creative Zen Micro players have posted here. Looks like most people are able to fix it by opening it and either soldering it (http://home.comcast.net/~mercx/) or opening it and wedging a piece of paper in it.

Kevin, August 2006

Hey. my micro's jack broke long time ago and just ended up in my drawer. when i wanted to send it back the warranty expired so i just opend it and see if i could fix it myself. its not realy so hard all you need is a 2nd hand one from ebay for about £10 and there you go. and then you can just swap colours if you get bored of your old one. but if your afriad of realy killing it i wont recomend it.

Spyker22, April 2006

http://www.noboundrees.com/Micro_Fix/

Follow the instructions on this website to fix it.

Sophie Tomlinson, March 2006

RE: DEBBI WOOD
What good is three mp3 players if they all break? Doesn't that seem unusual to you? How could you be happy about that? Creative really has some issues. Peace, 1800yolk

1800yolk, February 2006

I PURCHASED THREE MICROS IN FEB 05, A FEW MONTHS LATER 2 WERE FAULTY WITH THE EAR PHONE JACK PROBLEM, CREATIVE REPLACED THEM WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL, I EMAILED THEM VIA THEIR WEB SITE, THIS WEEK THE THIRD ONE HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME FAULT, I EMAILED CREATIVE YESTERDAY THEY REPLIED TODAY, HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH CREATIVE OR THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICES.
DEBBI

DEBBI WOOD, October 2005

I too have the same problem!

Michelle, October 2005

Yes i have that problem too creative havent replied with any information on what i can do!

Clare, October 2005

I have the same problem. Creative won't reply to my e-mails either

David, September 2005