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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

208 replies

elbuckie

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2009 3:32 PM in response to tonybeyondo

Amazing. I have to try this!

Aug 9, 2009 9:41 PM in response to tonybeyondo

Has anyone gotten it fixed for free even though the warranty was up? Mine just broke all of a sudden and I'm skeptical about putting a liquid on the home button...

C.Webb

Level 1

0 points

Aug 22, 2009 8:49 AM in response to Anna Sandham

Apple charge £116 if it's not under warranty!

Message was edited by: C.Webb

Dicion

Level 1

0 points

Aug 22, 2009 7:35 PM in response to tonybeyondo

Just wanted to post in here. I did this, and it worked for me! Woot! Thanks!!!

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

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 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.

Nov 10, 2009 2:14 AM in response to tonybeyondo

Worked like a charm. Button workes better than it has since it was new, and it hasn't worked at all for a couple weeks.

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.

Risk_Two

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2009 5:07 AM in response to tonybeyondo

Thanks! This actually works! Put as little as possible try it out for a bit if it doesn't work keep trying... I thought I put a little bit, I was wrong. It works now but not as it used it...

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.

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.

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!

lphs9

Level 1

0 points

Jan 15, 2010 3:06 PM in response to tonybeyondo

thank you very much. my button was completely stuck. i tried a few drops of acetone, and it started responding. Thank You once again.

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jan 15, 2010 3:14 PM in response to tonybeyondo

Electrical contact cleaner would be much better than (any kind of) alcohol as it is made secifically for cleaning switches.
Again, if the iPod is still under warranty, use the warranty first.

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.

FIX for iPod Touch Home Button