Side button does not turn off screen, but otherwise works.

Question

Side button does not turn off screen, but otherwise works.

iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 13.1.2.

The side power button, about once a day, suddenly out of the blue won't turn the screen off. However, the button still works with the volume down button to shut off the phone, and if pressed repeatedly the emergency call function still works.

When the phone is shut down, the power button will not start the phone again; I have to connect it to power for it restart.

One other oddity is that when the phone is in this "won't turn off screen" mode, when I'm rearranging apps, I can move them, but I cannot delete apps.

Any advice? It's not the end of the world, but it's annoying to have to restart my phone once a day, and to have to find a power outlet to restart my phone. Thank you in advance.

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 3, 2019 7:49 PM

Reply

Answer 1

brenden dv

Community Specialist

Oct 6, 2019 8:06 AM in response to kismetcapitan

Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, kismetcapitan.

If I understand your post correctly, the sleep/wake button on your iPhone is not working normally. I’d like to help.

Follow the steps in this article:

If a button or switch isn't working on your iPhone or iPad

Let us know if that resolves this issue for you.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Take care.

Reply

Answer 2

MoonJ.

Community Specialist

Oct 23, 2019 5:10 AM in response to kismetcapitan

Hello kismetcapitan.

At this point, we'd recommend contacting Apple Support directly. You can do that here:

Contact Apple Support

Cheers.

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Answer 3

Oct 21, 2019 10:45 PM in response to brenden dv

shutting down and restarting the phone solves the problem, but only temporarily. again, the side button does work when the phone starts to act up - it just will not turn off the screen. all other functions that use the side button (screenshot, shutdown, and emergency SOS), work when the phone otherwise doesn't respond to the single press to turn off the screen.

the only other oddity and perhaps a clue - when the phone is doing this, apps can be rearranged, but not deleted.

please help - it is very frustrating to have to reboot my phone 2-3 times a day.

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Side button does not turn off screen, but otherwise works.

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