How to Fix an iPhone Home Button That’s Not Working
If you’re having trouble with your iPhone’s home button, you’re not alone. Many iPhone users struggle with the home button at some point during their phone’s lifespan, and it can be incredibly frustrating when that happens. Whether your home button has stopped working altogether or it doesn’t register presses as easily as it used to, this article can help you troubleshoot your problem and fix the issue once and for all!
Step 1: Restart your phone
If your home button isn’t working, the first thing you should do is restart your phone. This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes a simple restart can fix minor software glitches that may be causing your home button to act up. To restart your iPhone, simply press and hold the power button until the Slide to Power Off prompt appears. Once your phone is off, press and hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo. When it appears, release the power button and wait for your device to boot back up. If this doesn’t work for you or if you find yourself in this situation often, there are other steps you can take.
If not, move on to Step 2: Remove any screen protectors from your phone. The more layers of protection between your finger and the home button, the less likely you’ll be able to activate it. Replace a broken or scratched phone case with one that allows easy access to the button. Clean any debris out of the area around your home button with a soft cloth or paper towel moistened with water; don’t use anything abrasive because this could scratch the surface around your home button.
Step 2: Restart your phone again
If your home button still isn’t working after you’ve restarted your phone, try restarting it again. To do this, press and hold the power button until the Slide to Power Off slider appears. Once your phone is off, press and hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.
Step 3: Clean your home button
If your home button is unresponsive, it could be because it’s dirty. The first step is to clean your home button with a soft, dry cloth. If that doesn’t work, you can try using a can of compressed air to blow away any dirt or debris that might be clogging the button. If your home button is still not working, it’s time to move on to the next step. To do this, you’ll need to either turn off Find My iPhone in Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone or put your device into DFU mode by pressing and holding both the sleep/wake and home buttons for 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo. From there, enter recovery mode by choosing Recovery Mode from the main menu. Lastly, select Restore from Backup if prompted.
Step 4: Try to fix the home button without any tools
If your home button isn’t working and you don’t have any tools handy, there are still a few things you can try. First, make sure that the button itself is clean. If there is any dirt or debris blocking the button, that could be causing the problem. You can try to clean it with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. If that doesn’t work, you can try pushing the home button repeatedly for a minute or so.
Step 5: Contact Apple support
If your home button still isn’t working after trying all of the above steps, you may need to contact Apple support. You can make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store or chat with a support advisor online. In some cases, they’ll send you a replacement device right away. Otherwise, they may ask for diagnostic information and let you know when it will be available for pickup. They might also recommend that you have the device looked at by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
