FIX for iPod Touch Home Button

Question

Level 1

2 points

FIX for iPod Touch Home Button

Hi Everyone- first post.

I decided to register for this forum after finding a definitive 100% fix for a 1st gen iPod Touch 16gb home button unresponsive or nonfunctional.

1. Place 1 drop of rubbing alcohol on the home button.
2. Press the button repeatedly with pencil eraser making sure to get liquid into area surrounding button.
3. Dry off area with paper towel.
4. Press home button until it works again.

I was ready to buy a new one- and this was my last ditch effort. Now it works like new!

Hope this is helpful- be careful with the amount/type of liquid used- do not use water!!

Powerbook 12" 1.5ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.6), iPod Touch 16gb 1st gen

Posted on Apr 8, 2009 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

Jason L

Community Specialist

Apr 8, 2009 5:01 PM in response to tonybeyondo

Hi Tony,

If you believe there is a hardware issue with the iPod, try the tips in these articles:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1650#faq24
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1575

As Scott said, water damage could cause a larger problem which would not be covered by the iPods warranty.
This article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3302 provides more information about liquid damage.

-Jason

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Answer 2

Chris CA

Level 10

82,476 points

Apr 18, 2013 4:30 PM in response to ikijimi

ikijimi wrote:

Your response make no sense....

Yes, it does.

1 year= 365days, not 90days!!!

As I stated, you get telephone support for 90 days. Warranty is for 1 year.

Go to an Apple store or go here -> http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=ipod

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,476 points

Feb 24, 2015 5:41 PM in response to teenpower87

teenpower87 wrote:

I also have had the issue of my home button not working on my iPods. I had an old iPod that I put the touch help thing on there so I don't have to use the home button, but on my new iPod(it's about a year old now), it's broken and now my iPod wont turn on at all. Is there a way to fix this?

You can take it to Apple and see what they say but they may simply tell you it is messed up because of the nail polish remover.

If they do replace it, to would cost this much

See this page -> Apple - Support - Service Answer Center

If not, you only option is 3rd party repair.

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Answer 4

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Apr 8, 2009 4:46 PM in response to tonybeyondo

You do know that rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol has water, right?
If one were to use anything, it should be "grain" or Ethanol.
Still, unless your iPod is OUT OF WARRANTY, I would NOT do this.
Glad yours is fixed - but it only means that you got "junk" under the button, and the alcohol/water dissolved it.

Scott

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Answer 5

tonybeyondo Author

Level 1

2 points

Apr 9, 2009 9:06 AM in response to applegenius18

I apologize for posting this fix. As I said, it was a "last ditch effort", and I was preparing to either take it apart or throw it away, and then this worked.

As everyone has stated, water damage CAN occur by putting any foreign liquid on/in the iPod. If I was out of line, please delete this post.

But, if you are thinking of trashing your iPod because of a broken home button, this MAY work. 🙂

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Answer 6

Apr 9, 2009 9:15 AM in response to tonybeyondo

don't apologise. where does it say you can't offer advice to others? that's the point of the place isn't it?

however, there is an option when you make a post, so that it doesn't come up as a question. uncheck the box. 😉

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Answer 7

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Apr 9, 2009 9:54 AM in response to tonybeyondo

Yeah, don't apologize - just realize that when you post something like this that you make it CLEAR that it will likely void a warranty can could easily cause more damage.
As was said, if it's out of warranty, and you're going to toss it - give it a shot!
And no, you don't only have to post questions here...if it's a technical post, information is always good.

SB

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Answer 8

Apr 16, 2009 10:20 PM in response to tonybeyondo

DUDE!!!!

THANK YOU!!!

i've spent many hours of the past 3 days trying to get my itouch to work...nothing...couldn't restore or anything

as you said, last ditch effort, try a little alcohol

IT WORKED!

cant thank you enough

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Answer 9

iMaddin

Level 1

0 points

Sep 1, 2009 11:38 AM in response to tonybeyondo

this works..well..kind of. My home button is more responsive but not as near as when it was new. at least it works.

I used aceton cause i didnt have anything else. I couldnt get a drop on it soe i accidently spilled more on it and i think some of it got to the place where you put the usb cable. now my display looks kind of weird. you should cover that spot with something

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Answer 10

Chris CA

Level 10

82,476 points

Sep 1, 2009 12:21 PM in response to tonybeyondo

Actually, electrical contact cleaner (specifically made for cleaning electrical contacts) would be a far better choice than alcohol of any kind.
However, if it's still under warranty, take it to Apple.

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Answer 11

Nov 17, 2009 9:20 AM in response to tonybeyondo

Wow, it worked! I used nail varnish and it worked like a charm. But I was too ambitious, thinking to give the button a good spring cleaning, I repeated the process 3x and ended up with an odd under water looking screen. Hopefully the water will evaporate in time and fingers crossed... the screen be okay again. Nevertheless, Kudos to you Tonybeyondo. If not for your valuable advice, I might have to shell out a couple hundreds for that button.

So for others out there looking for help on this issue... just be careful not to go overboard like me.

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Answer 12

Crumas

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2009 2:10 PM in response to Risk_Two

Using a solvent may or may not fix the problem, but really isn't the method I would use.

The problem appears to be a buildup of dust under the button contact (the dust probably enters via the charging/sync port just below of the button).

I used a can of compressed air pointed at the port and pressed the home button while the air was flowing. The button hasn't worked for days, now it works without any problem, and without using any potentially harmful solvents.

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Answer 13

Knixxed

Level 1

0 points

Dec 12, 2009 4:04 AM in response to Crumas

Crumas wrote:
Using a solvent may or may not fix the problem, but really isn't the method I would use.

The problem appears to be a buildup of dust under the button contact (the dust probably enters via the charging/sync port just below of the button).

I used a can of compressed air pointed at the port and pressed the home button while the air was flowing. The button hasn't worked for days, now it works without any problem, and without using any potentially harmful solvents.

Crumas was right. You do not need alcohol.

I turned off the phone. I blew heavily on the charging/sync port while pressing the home button (just like a flute/trumpet).

It works!

Thanks Crumas.

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Answer 14

slymunky

Level 1

0 points

Dec 28, 2009 9:39 PM in response to tonybeyondo

IT FREAKING WORKED!!! All I had to do to my 1st gen touch was simply press down the home button and blow into the bottom sync port and it fixed my home button!!! I completely owe you guys. Thanks so much. I was going to buy a replacement, but now I don't have to!

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Answer 15

Dieks

Level 1

8 points

Feb 12, 2010 11:12 AM in response to Chris CA

My home button on the 1st gen touch has also gone bonkers. Works then doesn't etc. I tried the blow on the sync port method and it did work but I have to do it every time I want to change apps. Will have to try the fix using compressed air. I did take it to Apple about a month ago and besides being rude, the "genius" was of no help at all other than telling me to buy a new one.

Gee...thanks.

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