USB audio adapter (C to 3.5mm) not working

[cjeam]

This seems to be a not uncommon problem that has been raised on the forum previously but there is no conclusion found for it.

Some time ago audio stopped being played through my wired headphones.

I have two known good USB-C to 3.5mm adaptors, both are charge and listen adaptors, and several known good heaphones, plugging them into the Fairphone 4 results in audio continuing to play through the phone’s speakers. The device does still charge through them. One of these previously worked fine, for ages.

This is without messing with any of the developer options, and running the stock OS. Someone suggested the issue may be related to Android 13 but some reports of the issue well pre-date that.

Any ideas? It’s a function that I need to work.

[yvmuell]

@cjeam

This seems to be a not uncommon problem that has been raised on the forum previously but there is no conclusion found for it.

Can you link what you are referring to?

@cjeam

two known good USB-C to 3.5mm adaptors

Can you define what “known” means?

Have you had a look here?

FP4 List of USB-C to 3.5 Audio jack adapter

ATTENTION!! This wiki is just a list by FP4 users. It is there to share experience with USB-C to headphone jack adapters. It is nothing official by Fairphone. Fairphone sells an adapter as well: USB-C to Mini Audio Jack Adapter (3.5mm) - Accessory | Fairphone There is already some information in the following thread, please use this thread for metadiscussion All posters of this thread are invited to update or specify the information or add anything new. This is a wiki, so everyone can edit…

@cjeam

One of these previously worked fine, for ages.

With the FP4?

I guess cables can break?

[cjeam]

Can you link what you are referring to?

Here and here and here, as well as the fact that threads such as the recommendations have to exist here which do contain comments going beyond the integrated DAC issue. I have previously asked the question elsewhere and users have said they have the same issue.

Can you define what “known” means?

I know they are in working order. They are “known good”. Both of them work for audio connections with other devices.

Have you had a look here?

I have now. One of them is the Belkin adaptor listed there. The other one is made by “jsaux” which has previously worked with the FP4 yes.

You have edited my post title incorrectly, please don’t do that, and please change it back.

[yvmuell]

@cjeam

You have edited my post title incorrectly, please don’t do that, and please change it back.

Adapter is more commonly used than Adaptor, so for searching/finding purposes it remains as corrected.

[cjeam]

This issue was partly solved by an under warranty hardware replacement of the USB module.

On return the Belkin adaptor worked for both charging and audio jack purposes, and worked simultaneously.

Subsequently over some weeks, that adaptor can only do one function at a time. Even while both 3.5mm headphones and power are connected to it, if the audio is routed correctly through the headphones it will not charge, or if it charges the audio will not route through the headphones. It essentially does whatever is connected first.

The other adaptor, which I have just tried for the first time since recieving the phone back, can currently do both simultaneously.

I believe there’s some hardware malfunction with using the usb port for simultaneous charging and audio through. And thus this use remains risky. Fairphone should make their own adaptor for simultaneous charging and audio, and test it.

Or, really, just put the damn headphone jack back.