How To Replace a Wall Phone Jack

Replace a faulty phone jack in 10 minutes.

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Introduction

A dead line or static on your phone may be due to bad wall jack. Replace it in 10 minutes.

Tools Required

  • 4-in-1 screwdriver
  • Needle-nose pliers

Materials Required

  • New wall jack
Std. Cable Corresponding colors in other cables
Red Blue Blue/White dashes
Green Blue/White White/Blue dashes
Yellow Orange Orange/White dashes
Black Orange/White White/Orange dashes

Project step-by-step (2)

Step 1

Disconnect the Old Wall Phone Jack

When your phone quits working or static develops on the line, your phone jack may need to be replaced. We’ll show you how to handle the phone jack wiring and replace that phone jack. Remove the two screws on the jack faceplate and disconnect the old jack. Hold on to the wire when you remove the jack so it doesn’t slide out the back of the box.

If the ends of the wires are free of corrosion, you can reuse them, but if not, cut them back (leave enough wire to work with) and strip off 1/2 in. of sheathing.

Disconnect The Old Wall Phone JackTMB Studio

Step 2

Connect the New Wall Phone Jack

Pinch the wire sheathing against the back of the new jack with your thumb. Hold the tip of the bare wire with a needle-nose pliers, and wrap it clockwise around the terminal screw. If the wires from the wall and the jack are the same color combination, simply match them up. If they don’t match, see the chart above.

Before you mount the new jack to the wall, make sure the bare wires don’t touch each other.

Connect the New Wall Phone JackTMB Studio