Plug your favorite earbuds into the Nothing Phone (2), or tap to connect a wireless pair, and getting silence instead of sound is genuinely frustrating, especially when the music plays fine through the phone's own speaker. The good news is that most audio failures on this phone come down to a connection or software hiccup rather than broken hardware. One detail trips up a lot of owners first, though: the Phone (2) has no 3.5mm headphone jack at all, so what counts as "headphones" here is either Bluetooth or anything running through the single USB-C port. Work through the fixes below in order, starting with the quickest and safest, and you will usually have audio back before you reach the harder steps.
Start by checking how your headphones actually connect
Before changing a single setting, confirm the connection type, because the Phone (2) does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Nothing states this plainly: there is no analog audio port on the phone, so there is nothing for a standard 3.5mm plug to go into.
That leaves you two valid paths. Wired headphones have to use the USB-C port, which means either native USB-C headphones or a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter, while wireless headphones connect over Bluetooth. Make sure you are actually using one of these methods before you troubleshoot anything else, since trying to force a bare 3.5mm jack into the phone will never produce sound.
Rule out the simplest culprit, your volume level
A muted or very low media volume is the most common reason headphones seem dead, and it is also Nothing's official first fix for "no sound" on the Phone (2). It is easy to knock the level down by accident without noticing.
Go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Media Volume and drag the media volume up to maximum, then play something to test. Media volume is separate from ringer and call volume, so raising it specifically is what matters here. If the silence happens on a phone call rather than during music or video, also confirm the call mute button is switched off.
Give the phone a clean restart
A quick reboot clears temporary audio and Bluetooth glitches that build up in the background, and it costs you nothing. This is worth doing before any deeper Bluetooth or software steps.
Simultaneously press the Power and Volume up buttons to bring up the menu (Emergency, Lockdown, Power off, Restart), then tap Restart. Once the phone is back up, reconnect your headphones and test playback again.
Flip Bluetooth off and on, then search again
If your wireless headphones will not show up in the list or refuse to connect, the problem is often a phone-side Bluetooth glitch rather than the headphones themselves. Device discovery is an interactive process, and a stuck Bluetooth radio can quietly stop nearby headphones from appearing.
Following Nothing's Bluetooth guidance, turn the phone's Bluetooth off and then back on again, or restart the device, and try searching for the headphones once more. Keep the headphones in pairing mode and close to the phone while it scans. In many cases the headphones reappear immediately after this toggle.
Pair your wireless headphones from scratch
When a toggle and re-search do not help, clear out the old pairing and set the headphones up fresh. A corrupted or half-finished pairing record can keep audio from routing even when the two devices look connected.
- 1.Put your headphones back into pairing mode (check the headphone's own instructions for the button or gesture).
- 2.Open the phone's Bluetooth menu so it begins scanning for nearby devices.
- 3.For Nothing's own earbuds or headphones, open the Nothing X app and use it to pair them instead, since that app manages Nothing audio accessories.
- 4.Select your headphones once they appear in the list.
- 5.Follow the on-screen prompts to finish pairing, then test playback.
Third-party Bluetooth headphones connect through the phone's built-in Bluetooth settings, so you do not need any extra app for them. Only Nothing's own earbuds and headphones rely on the Nothing X app.
Reseat the USB-C plug and inspect the port
Because there is no 3.5mm jack, all wired audio passes through the USB-C port, which makes a clean, solid connection essential. First confirm you are actually using working USB-C headphones or a working USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter, since a faulty cable or adapter mimics a broken phone.
Unplug the connector and firmly re-insert it so it seats fully in the port. Then take a close look inside the USB-C port for lint, dust, or debris, which can build up from a pocket or bag and block the contacts. Clearing the port and reseating a known-good cable often restores wired sound on its own.
Bring Nothing OS up to date
Audio and Bluetooth bugs are sometimes fixed in software, so running the latest build can resolve a problem you cannot trace to anything physical. The current Phone (2) software is Nothing OS 3.0, which is based on Android 15.
Go to Settings > System > System Update and check for a new version. If one is available, download and install it over Wi-Fi, and do not press the power button or interrupt the phone during the upgrade. Let it finish and reboot, then test your headphones again.
When sound only disappears on phone calls
If your headphones work for music and video but go silent specifically during calls, the call audio itself is the thing to check. This is a different chain than media playback, so it has its own steps.
- 1.Confirm the mute button is off during the call.
- 2.Check signal strength at both ends, since poor signal degrades call audio.
- 3.Test with an earphone suitable for the phone to see whether the issue follows the headphones.
- 4.Update the phone software if an update is available.
- 5.Restart the phone, then place a test call.
Wipe the phone with a factory reset, after you back up
If headphones still fail after everything above, a factory reset is the last software step, because it clears out any deep settings or app conflict a normal restart cannot. Treat this as a serious step rather than a routine one.
Nothing warns that a reset clears apps, contacts, SMS, and other data, and that this data cannot be restored afterward, so back up anything important first, including third-party app chats such as WhatsApp. Once your backup is done, go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase all Data and follow the prompts. After the phone reboots and you sign back in, pair or plug in your headphones and test before restoring everything.
Hand it to the Nothing Support Team
If your headphones refuse to work even after a reset, the cause may be hardware, for example a damaged USB-C port. At that point on-device fixes have run out, and the phone may need a closer look or service.
Contact the Nothing Support Team through the official Support Centre for further assistance. If the phone is out of warranty or the problem turns out to be physical, the support contact options can point you toward repair or service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Nothing Phone (2) have a headphone jack?
No. Nothing confirms there is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the Phone (2). To use wired headphones you need either USB-C headphones or a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter that plugs into the single USB-C port, and otherwise you connect over Bluetooth.
How do I force restart a frozen Phone (2)?
Hold the Power and Volume up buttons simultaneously until the Nothing logo appears on the display. If the phone has no crash screen, you can instead press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to force shutdown, or press and hold it for 15 seconds or more to force restart.
Will a factory reset delete everything on my phone?
Yes. Erasing all data clears apps, contacts, SMS, and other data, and Nothing warns this cannot be restored afterward. Back up anything important, including third-party app chats, before you go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase all Data.
Which Nothing OS version should the Phone (2) be running?
The current Phone (2) software is Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15. Check for and install updates over Wi-Fi at Settings > System > System Update.
Do I need an app to use Bluetooth headphones with the Phone (2)?
Third-party Bluetooth headphones connect through the phone's built-in Bluetooth settings, with no extra app required. Nothing's own earbuds and headphones are managed by the Nothing X app, which you can also use to add the device.
