Chosen Solution
Hi! This problem is strangly repeating on on the second iPad I had (first one was Mini 1). For no particular reason, no changes in software, absolutely no physical influence, iPad starts to think the headphones are connected (but they are NOT). I clean the jack - no changes. Do a hard reset - no luck. Than cleaning Lightning port and doing a hard reset again somehow kicks it and the sound appears but usually one of the speakers doesn’t work properly, it’s MUCH quiter so the sound is terrible. What is that? How to fix that disgraceful for a premium device of that cost issue? I’m really upset
When the device believes it is in headphone mode, even without headphones connected, it is usually because one of the spring loaded contacts is permanently”pushed in”. This could be from physical damage or just gunk/dirt that makes it jam into position. Have you tried cleaning the jack with a fine point cotton swab and some IPA or are you just removing lint etc.? The other option is to replace the headphone port.
I think you might have a liquid damage you didn’t even notice happened for your speaker to suddenly reduce in sound and the 3.5 mm headphone jack acting up it’s water damage bruv
