Hey, I had this problem too (couldn't shut off external speaker). Found a site on the web that said: press menu button (top) and center button at the same time for a few seconds. It resets the iPod. It seems to have worked for me. Good luck.

The only way to fix (or even trying) is to disassemble it and check the headphone jack and the surrounding area - if both ar on at the same time and apple said that there is a fluid damage - the you have to look at the headphone jack first.

but be careful - this device is tiny and could be very problematic to handle

the teardown is here

use rubbing alcohol and a soft paintbrush to clean the logicboard, the connectors and the headphone jack, remove the kapton tape before you clean the parts with alcohol, let it dry and then reattach the kapton tape on the parts.

try if it works correctly - if not, look closer for any damages the water could have made

I struggled with the external speaker playing even with the headphones plugged in, too. I just started happening after I had used my Touch 3G for several months with no problems. I was all set to send it to Apple when I just unplugged the Apple headphones that came with it that I'd been using exclusively and plugged in some other earbuds.

Problem solved. All the sound came through the earbuds, none through the speakers. I switched back and forth to be sure. I don't know if it has something to do with the technology that allows the Apple earbuds to work as a microphone as well, but I am now using much cheaper earbuds without annoying other people at the gym. Doesn't sound like this would be the solution to everyone, but it worked for me.

My son just got his yesterday for Christmas. It did not get wet at all and his was just doing this. I went on itunes and had it restored to factory settings and it fixed it. Hopefully that is all I had to do for it.

I did what the man above (Markus) said to do. I had the same problem with sound coming out of the speakers regardless of whether the earbuds were in or not. I hit the menu button at the same time as the center button for a few seconds and it reset it. When it came back on I could plug in my buds and not have the whole room have to hear my music. Worked perfect for me.

hey, I figured this out: weird magic

Just go to sound settings, and turn down max volume and then lock it with a pass, WITH YOUR EARPHONES/HEADPHONES/EXTERNALSPEAKERS plugged. Turn off any music playing, wait a few secs, then play it, there we go.

Robbi

How I fixed this is I just plugged them in and unplugged them really fast, wait a few seconds, then plug them back in. I believe this only works when its playing through the external speakers when the headphones are plugged in but isn't when they're unplugged. Hope this helps someone.

I was just fussing around with my Nano, tried pushing the earphones in hard, holding center button and menu at same time, nothing worked. Finally just started wheeling the sound backwards and pushing center button, sound disappeared, Apple symbol came up, quickly unplugged earbuds and plugged them back in and now it's fine. My advice: keep fussing around, clicking on everything until something works.

Ive had the same problem with no luck of fixing it so i just bought the new version, the touch screen one...

''' i have been having the same exact problem with mine too. I got it for christmas 3 years ago and like a month later i had dropped it in the snow and it got a dent on it and it was there over night and when i plug the head phones in it is like i cant turn the volume up at all or else it goes into the external speaker and it seems like there is no bass coming out of it either so yea it really bugs me but wht seems to work is if u #1)push the headphones in all the way

#2) then push them twards the screen then it sound fine so yea that is all i know i need to get it checked out!!! '''

Take a small piece of tin foil and put it at the top of your headphones silvery part. Insert it into the iPod jack and it should be fine :) You may have to play with it a little bit, but don't turn it too roughly or the tin foil might break.

Hope it works for your iPod too :)

I had the same issue and the reset (menu button and center button at the same time) worked. Thanks to all. God Bless!!

Mike

I unplugged my iPod from my computer without ejecting it - had the same issue - speaker only playback.

I plugged it back in..Ejected it correctly (right click eject) from the computer interface and it worked fine......

When you unplug the iPod (without ejecting it correctly with your mouse or drag on a mac)I believe it gets set internally set/stuck in speaker only mode

Put insun too dry out. I did and it worked

i have the same problem with mine it was working fine till the afternoon....the voice comes through both the headphones and the speakers and if you turn the volume all the way down it playing on high blast in the headphones.....please help me out.....is there any way 2 fix it?????

I have the same issue. How did yo clarify your problem. I disturb the train have the time. THey prob hink my head phones are super high. Mine play through the external speakers and the headphones. And yes it seems to be something is wrong with the head phone port. I did the same I bought many head phones and I have the same problem.

Yeah, Pushing menu and center buttons simultuny-usly worked for this vexing doodah! Jalapena! I was willing to exhume Steve Jobs and further harm him.