Headphone Jack Wiring Diagram: 3.5mm TRS and TRRS Connector Pin Assignment

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A headphone jack diagram shows the tip, ring, and sleeve conductor assignments for 3.5mm audio connectors used in headphones, headsets, and portable audio equipment.

The 3.5 mm miniature audio jack (also called a 1/8-inch jack or mini-jack) is the most widely used headphone connector in portable consumer electronics. It uses a sleeve-and-ring configuration that allows multiple conductors to be carried on a single cylindrical plug. Understanding the conductor assignments is essential for repairing headphone cables, soldering replacement jacks, or building adaptor cables.

The fundamental three-conductor version is the TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) configuration. In a standard stereo audio application:

Tip: Left audio channel (positive signal). Ring: Right audio channel (positive signal). Sleeve: Common ground / return for both channels.

The TRS configuration carries stereo audio out to the headphones but cannot carry a microphone signal back from a headset. For headsets with a built-in microphone — common in smartphone earphones and gaming headsets — the four-conductor TRRS (Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve) configuration adds a fourth conductor.

Two wiring standards exist for TRRS and these are a frequent source of incompatibility:

CTIA (Omtp Alternative, most common in modern smartphones): Tip: Left audio. Ring 1: Right audio. Ring 2: Ground. Sleeve: Microphone.

OMTP (older standard, some legacy and some regional devices): Tip: Left audio. Ring 1: Right audio. Ring 2: Microphone. Sleeve: Ground.

These two standards assign the ground and microphone conductors to opposite positions. Connecting an OMTP headset to a CTIA socket (or vice versa) will result in no microphone function, degraded audio, or potential short circuits. Passive CTIA-to-OMTP adaptors are available and work by simply swapping the two inner conductors.

Larger 6.35 mm (1/4-inch) jacks use the same TRS conductor naming convention at a physically larger scale, used in professional audio equipment, electric guitars, and amplifiers.

For headphone cable repair, each conductor within the cable is colour-coded: left positive (typically red), right positive (typically green), and common ground (typically copper-coloured bare wire or a separate blue conductor). In TRRS cables, a fourth conductor (often white or bare) carries the microphone signal.

How to wire headphone jack diagram

Identify the jack type required Determine whether you need a TRS (stereo, no mic) or TRRS (stereo + mic) replacement jack. For TRRS, identify the standard used by the target device — CTIA or OMTP — to ensure correct conductor-to-pin assignment.
Prepare the cable end Strip approximately 20–25 mm of the cable's outer jacket. The inner conductors are typically enamel-coated (for space efficiency). The enamel insulation must be burned off with a soldering iron or sanded off before soldering — solder will not flow onto enamel-coated wire.
Identify and prepare each conductor In a typical stereo headphone cable, identify: left channel positive (commonly red), right channel positive (commonly green), and common ground (copper or bare). In a TRRS cable, identify the microphone conductor additionally. Lightly abrade or burn the enamel from each conductor tip.
Thread the cable through the jack housing Before soldering, thread the cable through the jack's outer housing and strain relief sleeve (where these are separate pieces). Failing to do this before soldering requires cutting and resoldering the cable.
Solder conductors to the correct terminals Apply the correct conductor to each terminal per the jack's pin assignment (refer to the jack datasheet and the standard being wired). Solder the ground last, as the sleeve terminal is often connected to the body and heatsinks quickly. Do not bridge adjacent terminals.
Assemble the jack housing and strain relief Slide the outer housing over the solder joint. Crimp or tighten the strain relief clamp onto the cable jacket — not the inner conductors. The strain relief must prevent the inner conductors from being pulled at the solder joints.
Test with a multimeter before use Use continuity mode to verify each conductor connects to its correct terminal and that no adjacent terminals are bridged by solder. Then perform an audio test in the target device.

Specifications

Jack diameter	3.5 mm (miniature) or 6.35 mm (standard)
TRS conductor assignment	Tip: Left; Ring: Right; Sleeve: Ground
TRRS CTIA assignment	Tip: Left; Ring 1: Right; Ring 2: Ground; Sleeve: Microphone
TRRS OMTP assignment	Tip: Left; Ring 1: Right; Ring 2: Microphone; Sleeve: Ground
Typical audio signal level (headphone output)	100 mV–2 V RMS (consumer equipment)
Typical headphone impedance	16 Ω–600 Ω depending on headphone type
Microphone bias voltage (TRRS, CTIA)	1.0–3.0 V DC via sleeve conductor from device

Safety warnings

Headphone jacks operate at audio signal levels only — not a mains voltage hazard. However, use appropriate ventilation when soldering, as solder flux fumes are respiratory irritants.
Do not connect TRRS headsets to equipment not designed for TRRS input. While unlikely to cause injury, incorrect standard connection may short-circuit the microphone bias supply in the device.
Enamel-coated headphone cable conductors must have the enamel removed before soldering. Attempting to solder through enamel insulation produces a cold joint that will fail immediately. Verify solder has flowed properly.
Keep heat-shrink or flame away from plastic components of the jack housing — plastic housings deform at relatively low temperatures.
Handle and dispose of lead-based solder with care. Wash hands after handling. Lead-free solders are preferred where available.

Tools needed

Temperature-controlled soldering iron (15–25 W)
Electronics-grade solder (lead-free or 60/40 tin-lead)
Helping hands / third-hand tool or vice to hold the jack while soldering
Wire strippers or scalpel
Multimeter (continuity mode)
Heat gun (for heat-shrink tubing)
Fine sandpaper or emery cloth (for enamel removal)

Common mistakes

Forgetting to thread the cable through the jack housing before soldering — requires cutting the cable and starting again.
Not removing the enamel insulation from the inner conductors before soldering — results in a cold joint with no electrical connection.
Bridging two adjacent solder terminals, creating a short circuit between left and right channels or between signal and ground.
Applying the strain relief clamp to the inner conductors rather than the outer jacket, causing the conductors to pull off the solder joints when the cable is flexed.
Choosing a TRRS jack with the wrong standard (CTIA vs OMTP) for the device being used with.

Troubleshooting

Audio in one ear only after jack repair: Cause: Open circuit on one channel's conductor — likely a cold joint or broken wire Fix: Test continuity of each conductor end-to-end. Re-solder the suspect joint ensuring solder has fully flowed. If the wire itself is broken at the strain relief, re-strip and re-solder.
Microphone not detected by device after TRRS repair: Cause: Microphone and ground conductors transposed (CTIA/OMTP mismatch), or open circuit on microphone conductor Fix: Verify which TRRS standard the device uses. Check the jack wiring against the correct standard. Test microphone conductor continuity.
Crackling or intermittent audio when cable is moved: Cause: Solder joint fatigue at the jack (most common failure point), or broken conductor at strain relief Fix: Wiggle the cable at the jack while listening — if crackling worsens, the fault is at the jack. Disassemble and inspect all solder joints. Re-solder and ensure strain relief is correctly applied to the jacket.

Frequently asked questions

What does TRS stand for in a headphone jack?

TRS stands for Tip, Ring, Sleeve — describing the three conductors on the plug in order from tip to body. Tip carries the left audio channel, Ring carries the right audio channel, and Sleeve is the common ground. A TRS 3.5 mm jack carries stereo audio but no microphone signal.

Why does my headset microphone not work when connected to a phone?

The most likely cause is a CTIA/OMTP standard mismatch. Your headset uses one standard and your device uses the other — microphone and ground conductors are swapped. A passive CTIA-to-OMTP adaptor corrects this. Check which standard your headset and device use.

What is the difference between a mono TS jack and a stereo TRS jack?

A TS (Tip-Sleeve) jack has two conductors: signal (tip) and ground (sleeve). It carries a single unbalanced mono audio signal, used in electric guitars and effects pedals. A TRS jack has three conductors, carrying stereo (left and right channels with a common ground) or a balanced mono audio signal.

Can I use a TRS cable in a TRRS socket?

Usually, but with limitations. A TRS plug in a four-conductor TRRS socket will carry stereo audio in and out normally. However, the microphone input of the TRRS socket will be shorted to ground by the TRS plug's sleeve, so microphone input will not function. Audio output functions correctly.

How do I identify a broken conductor when repairing a headphone cable?

Use a multimeter on continuity mode. Pin-out each end of the cable — connect a probe to each conductor at the broken end and locate its counterpart at the plug end. A broken conductor shows no continuity. Mechanical breaks most commonly occur at the jack plug strain relief or where the cable enters the ear cup.

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