Many people ask this question: Why do my headphones/Earbuds keep pausing while I’m listening to my music or sometimes skip the music automatically?
If you are a headphone/earbuds user you also experienced this situation where your headphones keep pausing or skipping your music or podcast? This can be frustrating and interrupt your listening experience.
We understand the frustration of having our headphones/earbuds suddenly pause without any apparent reason. But what causes this issue, and how can we fix it?
In this article, we will explore the reasons why your headphones or earbuds may be pausing or skipping your music and provide you with solutions to this common problem. let’s get started.
Headphones/earbuds can keep pausing or disconnecting due to a hardware issue with the headphone jack, dirt or debris in the earbuds, Bluetooth connection issues, or an Automatic Ear Detection system that pauses when it detects that the Air Pods aren’t in your ears.
Why Do Your Headphones Keep Pausing Your Music and How to Stop It?
There could be a few reasons why your headphones keep pausing music:
1. Internet Issues/ Slow Internet or Buffering
Spotify has this problem a lot. It is possible that your internet connection is causing Spotify to be sluggish at times if you experience pausing or skipping during music listening.
If you are streaming music through an online service, the audio may pause or skip if the connection to the service is weak or unstable. This can happen if your internet connection is slow or if there are other devices on your network that are using a lot of bandwidth.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Slow Internet?
To Fix this issue, try checking your internet connection speed and ensuring that there are no other devices or programs using a lot of bandwidth. You may also want to try resetting your router or modem to see if this helps stabilize the connection.
Disconnect the WIFI or reconnect it or you May also check the internet speed. If the issue persists, you may need to contact your internet service provider for further assistance.
2. Weak Bluetooth Connection/Out of Range
If you’re experiencing frequent pausing or skipping while using Bluetooth headphones, it could be due to a weak Bluetooth connection.
Bluetooth signals can be disrupted by physical barriers or distance from your device, as well as by interference from other wireless devices in your environment.
Wireless headphones rely on Bluetooth technology to connect to your device, but sometimes the connection can be interrupted, causing your headphones to pause.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by a Weak Bluetooth Connection?
To fix a weak Bluetooth connection, try moving closer to your device to minimize physical barriers and distance between the two.
Additionally, ensure that there are no other wireless devices interfering with the Bluetooth signal in your environment.
If this does not work, try disconnecting and reconnecting the Bluetooth connection to see if it helps strengthen the signal.
3. Audio Jack Problems: Loose or Dirty
If you’re using wired headphones and experiencing pausing or skipping, it’s possible that the audio jack on your device is dirty or loose. This can interfere with the connection and cause interruptions in the audio.
A loose or dirty audio jack can cause issues with your headphones, including pausing, skipping, or crackling sounds.
A loose jack can result in a poor connection, causing the sound to cut in and out or disappear entirely. Similarly, a dirty jack can create poor contact and interfere with sound quality.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Loose or Dirty Audio Jack?
Fortunately, there are some simple fixes to address these issues. To fix a loose audio jack, you can try pushing the jack firmly into the port and twisting it slightly to help it seat more securely.
Alternatively, you can try wiggling the jack gently to find the sweet spot where it makes a good connection.
Dirt or Debris
If the issue is related to dirt or debris, try cleaning the jack with a dry cloth or compressed air. Gently insert and remove the audio jack several times to help dislodge any debris that might be blocking the port.
If the obstruction is caused by dirt or debris that cannot be removed with a dry cloth, try using a small amount of rubbing alcohol to clean the port. Be sure to allow the port to dry completely before using it again.
4. Damaged Audio Cable or AUX Cord
If you are using wired headphones. This problem can be due to a damaged jack or cable. This can happen if the cable has been bent, twisted, or pulled too hard, or if the connectors are damaged or loose.
A damaged audio cable or AUX cord can cause pausing or skipping in your headphones.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by a Damaged Audio Cable?
If your audio cable or AUX cord is damaged, you may need to replace it. Look for a replacement cable or cord that is compatible with your device and headphones.
If you are unsure of the type of cable or cord you need, contact the manufacturer or a tech support professional for assistance.
5. Hardware Damage: Something is damaged externally or Internally
If none of the above solutions work, it’s possible that there is hardware damage to your headphones or device. Headphones are unlikely to sustain damage from a computer, albeit it is plausible that an equalizer boost may harm them.
In addition, headphones are vulnerable to damage from both misuse and accidents.
Signs of hardware damage to headphones may include the presence of rattling noises and/or distorted sounds, as well as quieter sounds or distortion, buzzing sounds, a rattling sound, static sounds, and so forth.
Issues with headphones and headsets may arise from a defective headphone audio jack or an outdated audio driver, among other problems such as a loose, creased, or torn cable.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Hardware Damage?
To Fix this issue you have to check If there is hardware damage to your headphones or device, it may require repair or replacement. In this case, you should contact the manufacturer or a tech support professional for assistance.
Also: why do your headphones break so easily?
6. Malfunctioning App in Your Device
If you’re using a specific app to listen to music or audio and experiencing pausing or skipping, it’s possible that some apps in your device are malfunctioning. This can happen due to bugs in the app or conflicts with other software on your device.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Multifunctioning Applications?
To fix this issue, try updating the app to the latest version. You can also try clearing the app’s cache and data, which can help resolve any conflicts or bugs that may be causing the issue. If the issue persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
7. Low Battery/ Your Headphones or earbuds running low
Another common cause of headphones pausing music is a low battery. If your wireless headphones have a low battery and you are using them for a long period of time it’s possible that the battery has become depleted In this case, the headphones may pause the music to conserve power.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Low Battery?
If your wireless headphones have a low battery, try charging them fully before use. You should also be aware of your headphones’ battery life and charge them regularly to avoid running out of power in the middle of a listening session.
8. Back-tap Feature in iPhones
If you are an iPhone user this issue might be due to the back-tap feature. This feature is in iPhone 8 or newer devices. The Back-Tap feature in iPhone allows users to perform certain actions such as moving to the home screen and pausing music by simply tapping the back of their phone.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Back-tap Feature In iPhone?
To fix this issue, you can adjust the sensitivity of the Back Tap feature by going to
- Settings
- Accessibility
- Touch
- Back Tap
and adjust the sensitivity level. Additionally, you can just simply disable the Back Tap feature entirely if it continues to cause problems.
9. Headphones or Earbuds Get Dirty and Gather Ear Wax
The accumulation of dirt and earwax on headphones or earbuds can cause them to malfunction and result in the pausing or skipping of music.
Earwax is sticky and can clog the tiny sound ports on earbuds or headphones, which can impact the sound quality or cause the sound to cut in and out or disappear entirely.
The wax buildup can also cause blockages that can prevent sound from being transmitted through the headphones.
Additionally, the accumulation of dirt and earwax can lead to discomfort or even infection if not addressed. Therefore, it’s important to clean your headphones or earbuds regularly to ensure they continue to function properly and deliver the best sound quality.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Ear Wax?
You can read our articles on how to clean headphones properly. To fix issues related to the buildup of dirt and earwax on your headphones or earbuds, you should clean them regularly. Start by removing any removable parts, such as ear tips or earpads.
Use a soft-bristled brush or a dry cloth to gently remove any dirt or debris from the surface of the headphones or earbuds.
10. Auto Pause Function Built-in Android & IOS
Auto Pause is a feature that is available on some headphones. This feature is designed to pause your music when you take off your headphones, allowing you to easily resume playback when you put them back on.
This feature uses sensors to detect when the headphones are taken off, and it pauses the music or other audio playback to conserve battery life and prevent unwanted noise.
However, sometimes this feature can cause issues, leading to the music being paused or stopped even when the headphones are still on the ears.
This can happen if the sensors are not calibrated correctly, or if there is something blocking them, such as hair or clothing.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by the Auto Pause Function?
To fix the issue you can disable the feature through the headphone settings or app. If the issue persists, you can try resetting the headphones to their default settings.
This process typically involves holding down specific buttons or switches for a few seconds, as described in the user manual.
It is also a good idea to ensure that the sensors on your headphones are clean and free of obstructions, such as hair or clothing, as this can interfere with the Auto Pause function.
11. Software Issue/ Bug
In some cases, headphones may pause music due to software issues. This can be caused by outdated or incompatible drivers or firmware.
If you’re experiencing issues with your headphones or earbuds pausing or stopping the music. These issues can also occur after updates or due to bugs that were present in the previous version of the software.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by Software or Bug Issues?
To fix issues related to software bugs Check for updates If the issue started after an update, check to see if there are any additional updates available for your device or headphones. Install any available updates, as these may include bug fixes that can address the issue.
Try clearing the app cache or restarting your device, as this can help clear any temporary software issues or conflicts.
12. New update installed
And the last, If your headphones or earbuds are pausing or stopping music after a new update has been installed, this may be due to changes in the settings or configuration of your headphones.
Sometimes, updates can alter the behavior of certain features, or introduce new bugs that affect the performance of your headphones.
How Can You Fix the Music Pausing Issue Caused by New Update Installation?
If the issue persists, you may need to reset your headphones to their default settings or uninstall the updates and reinstall. This can help clear any settings or configuration changes that may be causing the issue.
We have covered 12 common possible reasons that can cause you to stop your music now let’s talk about some other causes.
Voice Assistant or Mobile Application That Might Keep Pausing Your Music
There are some mobile apps on your device that can cause you to stop or skip the music such as voice assistants and music streaming services, which can cause music playback to stop or skip.
Let’s talk about the most popular voice assistant apps, Siri and Google Assistant, as well as YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify.
Voice Assistant Apps
There are many voice assistant apps but in this article, we will talk about the most popular Voice assistant apps Such as Siri and Google Assistant.
1. Why do my Headphones keep Pausing and Activating Siri?
Siri is Apple’s voice assistant app that can be found on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. You can instruct Siri to do things by saying them to the program, and it will record your voice and recognize what you say.
If you’re using Siri to play music, it could be the reason why your headphones keep pausing. Siri may be interrupting your music playback when it’s activated. In order to carry out your command, Siri will pause whatever you are listening to and activate voice recording.
How we can Fix it?
To fix this, disable the “Hey Siri” feature and use Siri manually. To do this follow these steps:
- Go to Settings
- Siri
- Search and turn off Listen for “Hey Siri” and Press Side Button for Siri.
For iOS 10
- Go to Settings
- General
- Siri and toggle off Siri
2. Google Assistant
Google Assistant is a similar voice assistant app that is found on Android devices. Like Siri, it can also cause your headphones to pause if you use them to play music.
How we can Fix it?
You can disable the “Hey Google” feature to fix the issue and manually use the app instead. Follow these steps to turn off Google Assistant on your Android phone:
- Open the Google app.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Then go to Settings > Google Assistant
- Turn off Hey Google & Voice Match
To disable Google Assistant on an IOS device
- Go to Settings > Google Assistant > Microphone
- Slide the switch to Off
Mobile Applications
1. YouTube: Why Does YouTube Keep Pausing My Music?
YouTube is a popular video streaming platform that can also cause your headphones to pause. This can happen if you have a weak internet connection or if the video you’re watching is buffering.
Another possible reason could be the “Remind me to Take a Break” feature. The purpose of this feature is to prevent people from spending too much time on their screens. When you enable it, YouTube will automatically pause the video or music you are listing after a certain amount of time.
How we can Fix it?
To fix this, try switching to a stronger network connection or lowering the video quality and if you enable the YouTube reminder feature you can turn off this feature to do this Follow the next steps:
- Tap on your profile picture.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Remind me to take a break
- And tap the switch to On or Off.
If switching to “On,” select your Reminder frequency and tap OK.
2. Apple Music: Why Does My Apple Music Keep Stopping?
Apple Music is a popular music streaming service that is available on Apple devices. If you’re using Apple Music and your headphones keep pausing, it could be due to a weak network connection or a problem with the app itself.
How we can Fix it?
You can fix it by trying to close and reopen the app, resetting your device’s network settings, or connecting to a strong internet connection.
3. Spotify: Why is Spotify pausing my music every 30 seconds?
Spotify is another popular music streaming service that can cause your headphones to pause. This can happen if you have a weak network connection or if there is a problem with the app.
It can also be caused by “Low Data Mode”. This function restricts the quantity of data that applications on your device consume. However, it may also reduce your data speed and cause the app to pause.
How we can Fix it?
You can fix it by connecting to a strong internet connection disabling the Low data mode or reinstalling the application.
Conclusion
In conclusion, experiencing pauses or interruptions in your music can be a frustrating experience when using your headphones or earbuds. However, there are several solutions that you can try to resolve this issue.
By following the steps provided, you can identify the root cause of the problem and find ways to fix it. Whether it’s an issue with your internet connection, Bluetooth signal, audio jack, cable, or device, there are a variety of ways to get your music back on track.
Remember to always follow the recommended guidelines for cleaning and maintaining your headphones to avoid future issues. By doing so, you can ensure that your listening experience remains uninterrupted, and you can enjoy your favorite music and podcasts without any hassle.
Final Words for Why Headphones Keep Pausing Your Music
There are many different types of headphones and each headphone may have different causes for pausing or skipping the music. I explained the most frequent causes such as internet issues, Bluetooth range, software bugs, dirt, and ear wax, and gave the solution for how to fix them.
So, if you are facing headphones that keep pausing or skipping your music you just try the solution I mentioned above and I hope this will help you to solve your problem.
Frequently Asked Questions About Why My Headphones Keep Pausing My Music
How to Stop Airpods from Pausing on Android?
To prevent AirPods from pausing on an Android device, you can attempt the following solutions:
- Maintain Proximity: To avoid connectivity problems and interruptions, ensure your AirPods and Android devices are in close proximity. This will help establish a strong Bluetooth connection.
- Disable Automatic Ear Detection: AirPods feature Automatic Ear Detection, which halts playback when they are removed from your ears. However, this function might contribute to pausing problems. To deactivate it, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Navigate to either Connected Devices or Bluetooth settings.
- Locate your AirPods within the list of connected devices and select them.
- Find the option to toggle off Automatic Ear Detection.
- Clean Proximity Sensors: The proximity sensors on your AirPods can accumulate dirt, affecting accurate detection and causing pausing issues. Utilize a soft, lint-free cloth to clean the sensors, ensuring they are free from debris or smudges.
- Verify Bluetooth Connections: Confirm that your AirPods are correctly connected to your Android device via Bluetooth. If any connectivity problems arise, attempt disconnecting and then reconnecting them.
- Restart Apps/Phone: If the pausing problem persists, consider restarting the applications you are using or restarting your Android device. This action can refresh the system and potentially resolve any software-related glitches.
To fix headphones pausing or disconnecting, check the app settings for an auto-pause feature, Check for a damaged headphone jack, Unpair and repair the headphones, Clean the earbud/headphones, or disable the Smart Pause function.
Bluetooth headphones may pause music due to a weak Bluetooth connection, low battery, or automatic ear detection. Check the connection and battery, and turn off automatic ear detection if needed.
AirPods may pause randomly due to low battery, interference from other devices, outdated firmware, or faulty sensors. Try resetting the AirPods or contacting Apple support for assistance.
There are a few reasons why this might happen. One possibility is that the headphone jack on your phone is obstructed by dust or debris, causing false signals to be sent to the phone. Another possibility is a bent pin or contact in the headphone socket. Try tapping it gently on a hard surface with the jack facing downwards.
Auto pause is a feature found in some earbuds that detects when they are placed in your ear or removed and automatically pauses the music or audio playback when they are removed. The feature can be toggled on or off using the earbuds app. Auto pause works using a proximity sensor that detects when the earbuds are in the ear or not. This feature can be useful when you need to take a break from listening to music or audio without having to manually pause it.
1. Connect your AirPods to your device.
2. Open the Settings app on your device.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Bluetooth.”
4. Find your AirPods in the list of connected devices and tap on the “i” icon next to them.
5. In the AirPods settings, you should see an option called “Automatic Ear Detection.” Toggle it off to disable auto-pause.
6. Once disabled, your AirPods will no longer pause the music automatically when you take them out of your ears.
By turning off the automatic ear detection feature, you can enjoy uninterrupted music playback on your AirPods without any unexpected pauses.
Most headphones share similar features, implying a single likely cause, as previously mentioned. However, there could be numerous factors contributing to the frequent pausing of music on your JBL and Sony headphones. Here are a few potential reasons:
1. Activation of Built-in Sensor.
2. Activation via Touch Sensors.
3. Automatic Play and Pause Function.
4. Issues with Connectivity.
5. Low Battery Levels.
6. Outdated Software.
