Failure of the Home button on iOS devices is not uncommon. Actions assigned to it may be performed late, or the pressing does not occur clearly. Many will say that you can do without this button. Its work may well be replaced by a jailbreak tweak from Cydia. It's even possible.
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But dealing with this problem is not difficult and in most cases it can be done at home without much effort. First you need to figure out the reasons that may cause the button to operate unclearly, then it will be clear how to fix the problem.
1. Software glitch. If you haven’t updated the firmware for a long time and often install it, then the problem may be a simple software glitch. In this case, the button is pressed well and does not stick, but the actions occur with a delay. The solution is to calibrate the “Home” button. For this:
- open any standard iOS application (Weather, Stocks, Notes, etc.),
- Press and hold the Power button until the power off slider appears, then release the button.
- press and hold the “Home” button until the slider disappears and the application closes.
After this, the button will be calibrated by iOS itself and the standard length of delay between pressing and action will be restored.
2. Button sticking. This can happen if dirt, dust or moisture gets under the button and, at one point, it will not work adequately after pressing. It is very easy to return a stuck button to its place using a regular charging cable. To do this, you need to insert it into the phone connector and gently press it with your finger from below. This way the connector will push the button and return it to its place.
3. Button sticking. It differs from the previous state in that the button does not stick, but is pressed tightly and does not work well after pressing. In this case, you can solve the problem using the favorite tool of all motorists and mechanics, WD-40. This is an aerosol that helps remove plaque and rust. It is enough to spray the button once so that the solution gets inside and press it several times frequently. If iPhone repair is not your thing, contact your nearest service center.
4. Physical breakdown. If the previous methods did not help you, then the problem is that the button itself is broken. As a solution to this problem, we can propose the use of software duplication. This feature has appeared in iOS since version 5.0, but not many people know about it. The mechanism is activated as follows:
- go to the menu Settings –> General –> Accessibility
- activate the option Assistive Touch
- We use the duplicated button.
This mode is designed to use some functions when it is not possible to press some buttons, turn the device over and perform various gestures. There will always be a button on the screen that will be visible even on top of full-screen applications. By clicking on it you will be taken to a menu, one of the functions of which is to duplicate pressing the “Home” button.
If you decide to replace the button yourself by disassembling the device at home, be sure to use it.
Is your iPhone home button broken? Or does it react poorly to pressure? Then you've come to the right place! I will help you solve the problem.
It often happens that, over time, the “Home” button begins to falter, respond poorly, fail to be pressed the first time, or fails altogether. Also, such problems most often occur among owners of older versions of iPhone and iPad. Such as iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 1, iPad 2 and the iPod Touch. Why? Yes, because these devices are many years old, already, and they were actively used earlier. Moreover, the “Home” button is the only central button, besides “Power”, which is actively used by any owner of an gadget.
So what's the big deal? Why does the home button on an iPhone start to work poorly over time? There are several reasons for this.
First reason:
The Home button may malfunction due to software glitches. To cure the “Home” button, you need to perform the following ritual: you need to open any system application, such as a calculator or weather, basically anything and hold down the “Power” button until the shutdown bar appears. After that, release “Power” and hold down our problematic “Home” button. Next, the bar should disappear, and the program will close, well, it will be unloaded from memory. Thus, the button will seem to reboot and function perfectly.
The second reason:
This is a hardware part when the problem is in the mechanism of the device itself. The cable becomes clogged and needs cleaning. To do this, there is one good way to clean the Home button on your iPhone at home. To do this, you will need alcohol (or WD-40 liquid) and cotton wool. Soak a cotton swab thoroughly in alcohol and press it against the “Home” button. And press harder so that when you press, alcohol is squeezed into the open cracks. Don't be afraid to press hard, but don't overdo it either. And so, continue for one minute. After that, leave your gadget alone for 15 minutes so that the alcohol can dissipate.
If no option helps, or the problem is a mechanical failure, and you were unable to wash the cable yourself, then you need to take your iPhone, or iPad, or iPod to a service center. Since there are no other ways to fix this button at home. And I do not recommend opening the gadget yourself. You might damage something. Trust a specialist.
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Many owners of Apple equipment are faced with a situation where the iPhone Home button does not work. The Home key on Apple devices is made of glass, which is susceptible to various external influences. Careless handling of the device or its fall from a height lead to damage to the Home button on the iPhone. In case of some malfunctions, you can repair the button yourself.
Check the function of the key
To check whether the Home button on your iPhone works or not, press it at least ten times in a row. If there is no response to at least a couple of presses, then there is a malfunction that affects the functionality of the key.
The main reasons for the failure of the Home key
The Home button may break down completely or stop working periodically for a variety of reasons. Most often, the iPhone Home button does not work due to:
- mechanical damage
- moisture getting inside the case of an Apple smartphone
- software failure
If the Home key on your iPhone stops working, most likely, software or an application of poor quality was previously downloaded to your phone.
The Home button may break if you drop your new Apple smartphone or put strong pressure on it. Situations also arise when the button may break, as a result of which it stops responding to pressing or begins to periodically slow down after moisture gets inside the mechanism. In this situation, when you press the button, you will hear a creak, indicating oxidation of the contacts.
Fortunately for many owners of Apple gadgets, problems directly related to mechanical damage and liquid ingress are not so common. Most Home button failures occur due to a system failure. Because of it, the key does not work well, periodically slows down or completely loses its functionality. In this case, the time and cost of repairs will be insignificant.
How to revive a phone
If the Home button on your device works intermittently and does not always respond to presses, do not be upset. Once you find the root cause, you can use several methods to restore the Home button to its former functionality. These include the following:
- calibration
- changing the position of the keystroke connector
- dry cleaning buttons
- displaying the Home button on the main screen using a special program
How to calibrate if a key is faulty
To check whether the problem with the Home button on an iPhone is due to a software glitch, you should calibrate the key. To restore the functionality of the Home button on iPhone, do the following:
- activate any application on iPhone, for example, Clock or Calculator
- Press and hold the Power button until the power off slider appears on your phone screen
- Release the Power key and press Home until the power off slider disappears from the screen
10 seconds after pressing the Home key, the system will calibrate the button. The problem after this procedure will be resolved if there was a software glitch, and the Home key to the main screen on your device will work as before.
Features of adjusting the connector on iPhone
If you are the owner of an iPhone 4 and 4S and are faced with a faulty button on your smartphone, do not rush to change it. The situation can be corrected by changing the position of the connector. For this:
- connect the cable that came with your device to the phone
- press the plug where it fits into the connector and simultaneously press and hold the Home keys
Now disconnect the cable and check if the cause of the problem has been eliminated and if the button works. If the problem cannot be resolved, you can use another method to restore the functionality of the Home key to the main screen.
Chemical method to solve the problem
Often the reason why the Home button on an iPhone malfunctions is due to dirt and dust particles getting inside it. This also happens after liquid, for example, sweet drinks, gets under the body of an old or new smartphone, or if the device is taken with dirty hands. An effective way to quickly eliminate the problem in this case is to use chemical cleaning agents. This could be isopropyl alcohol or WD-40. To use this method to solve the problem, perform several manipulations:
- drop a small amount of product onto the Home key on the home screen
- press and hold the key until the cleaning agent penetrates inside
- check the functionality Home after the alcohol has completely evaporated
Apply the chemical only to the key and not to the screen. Careless handling of the cleaning product can cause damage to other parts of the phone, which will increase the cost of repairing your Apple device.
Enabling a virtual button
The steps presented above allow you to determine the cause of the key malfunction and eliminate the breakdown. If your phone or its button has been subjected to strong physical impact, dry cleaning, calibration and adjustment will not solve the problem. The way out is to turn on the virtual button and then display it on the iPhone screen.
To replace a faulty key with a virtual one, you need to go to settings, find the Assistive Touch section, and enable the function here. A new icon will appear on the screen. When you click on it, a special menu will open, in which you can control your old and new smartphone without the Home key. This method will help with any reason for the breakdown.
iPhone phones are one of the most sought-after devices, gaining increasing popularity around the world. The reason for this was not only the multifunctionality of the gadgets, but also their reliability. However, even such devices are not immune from breakdowns. One common problem is that the Home button does not work well. It has to be pressed many times, which creates some inconvenience for the user. Let's look at the main reasons why the Home button gets stuck and how to fix them.
Home button does not work well due to moisture
A common reason why the Home button stops working is moisture. This happens if you use your gadget in the rain (and sometimes you don’t part with it even in the bathroom!), or even after some liquid has been spilled on the phone. It penetrates inside the device, and as a result, the oxidation process begins on the contacts. The best solution if the Home button on your iPhone does not work is to contact a specialist to fully diagnose and clean the device.
If there is no opportunity or time for this, you can try to cope on your own:
- Turn off your phone, take a cotton swab and soak it in alcohol. You can also use WD-40, a water repellent that prevents corrosion.
- Press the cotton swab against the Home button or direct a spray of WD-40 at it. Press it several times with a cloth, then remove the cleaner from the phone.
If the Home button is stuck , This option sometimes works. However, it should be remembered that there is still no consensus regarding the safety of WD-40 for the phone. You are still putting your gadget at risk, which can be avoided if you immediately turn to professionals and do not waste time on ineffective cleaning methods. In addition, when moisture gets in, not only does the Home button get stuck, but there are also a number of other malfunctions that can only be corrected by professional repairs.
The Home button stopped working after an impact or other mechanical damage
Even a slight blow or fall from a small height is enough for a malfunction to occur. The reason for this is a broken contact or damage to the loop. The iPhone is a very delicate device, so rough handling will quickly damage it. If the iPhone's Home button does not work, then the cable will most likely have to be changed. To do this, you will need to almost completely disassemble the phone, remove the display module, remove the mounting screws and the protective strip. Then the cable is changed, after which all the parts are put in their place.
This kind of work requires special tools, a clear understanding of the internal structure of the phone and the ability to work with such complex gadgets. As a rule, independent attempts to find out why the Home button does not work only lead to larger damage, and in the end you still have to turn to specialists. As a result, DIY repairs are more expensive than professional repairs.
If the phone has been used for a long time, the push mechanism gradually becomes unusable. Even such complex equipment as Apple produces is powerless in the face of time, so any parts gradually begin to wear out. If the Home button on your iPhone does not work, it is quite possible that the reason lies in the push mechanism itself. Therefore, it is he who needs to be replaced.
Who knows better than anyone why the Home button doesn't work?
Service center specialists will help solve this problem in just 15 minutes, and you don’t need to go to the office. All you have to do is call or leave a request using a special form on the site. The master will come to your home or office so you don’t have to waste your time. The phone will be completely restored, and it will not cost very much. Entrust your complex gadget to Apple service professionals!
What to do if the Home button on iPhone, iPad does not work? Home button repair
Apple engineers make equipment only from expensive and high-quality materials. However, this does not guarantee the longevity of the phone. The external elements of the case of a smartphone or tablet tend to wear out quickly. According to statistics, most often iPhone and iPad users encounter problems with the Home key. Let's take a closer look at why the Home button doesn't work in many iPhones over time and how to solve this problem.
Causes of malfunction
Before taking specific actions, you need to understand the possible reasons for the failure of the Home button. All reasons can be divided into two categories:
- breakdowns at the software level;
- hardware failures and mechanical damage.
In the event of a software malfunction, users can usually fix the problem themselves. If Home does not work due to hardware damage, it is better to contact specialists to replace the unusable button mechanism. Quite often, a key stops working due to dirty contacts.
Method 1: Button Calibration
The first thing to do with a poorly working button is to re-calibrate it. This method is simple and very fast, however, it is not universal. Follow the instructions:
- press and hold the device's on/off key until the swipe panel appears on the screen;
- Now hold down the Home button until the home screen appears. The system will automatically detect and eliminate all errors in the operation of the element. The home screen appears indicating that the calibration procedure is complete.
Method 2: Adjusting the position of the connector
This method is suitable if the iPhone Home button has stopped working completely. Most likely, the connector has changed position slightly and is preventing the key mechanism from working.
To fix the problem yourself, connect the USB cable to your phone. Now you should very carefully press on the 30-pin connector so that it pushes the Home key up. At the same time, you need to keep the Home button pressed all the time. If the connector is successfully moved, the button will begin to respond to pressing.
Method 3: Twist and Spin
This method is not included in the list of official methods for adjusting the operation of the Home key, however, one very interesting and simple method is described on American forums for iPhone and iPad users.
Place the phone on a flat surface with the back cover facing down. Press and hold “Home” and at the same time rotate the smartphone around its axis. Continue this action for 5-15 seconds. This way you can correct the position of the inside of the key.
Method 4: Cleaning parts
Often a button on an iPhone does not work because its surface is contaminated with dust, dirt or other particles. To clean the element, use a regular ear swab dipped in alcohol.
Important! Using too much liquid may cause hardware failure and void the manufacturer's warranty.
Method 5: Add a Home button to your phone screen
If none of the above methods work for you, contact a specialist to replace the key. While it is not possible to work with Home, an alternative button can be added to the screen of your smartphone or tablet:
Go to the device’s main settings window;
Click on “universal access”;
Select the “AssistiveTouch” function and activate it.
Now you can use the lock key in any program.