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Stuck Power Button on IPhone 12 Pro

The Power button gets stuck on my new IPhone 12 Pro. I have had it for 3 weeks and when I use guided access the power button fails to respond to my presses. Also there is no click like when I press the volume buttons. I should have sent it back when I first noticed it on day 3. Today was the first day that it went completely unresponsive. I kept messing with it and 1/2 hour later I must have successfully double clicked and was able to get out of that mode. Is this an issue with these phones?

iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 12:24 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 26, 2020 12:42 AM

I have had the same problem with the iPhone 12.

iPhone 12s are water resistant to 6m.

I turned mine off, ran the side button under hot water for literally 1-2 seconds and immediately had return of the “click.”

It is almost definitely a sticky residue in the tight space between the button and case.

In my case I’m almost certain it has to do with hand sanitizer and sani-wipes.

The sani-wipes start to leave a sticky residue on everything after awhile.


Just clean it and be done with it! You’ll be glad you did.


so nice to have that “click” back.

69 replies

Jan 12, 2021 9:45 PM in response to pcladie

Just thought I’d chime in. I also have had my iPhone 12 Pro for about two weeks and now the power button is stuck and refuses to work. This is, I believe, a similar issue to the one Apple had on their 2016 MacBook Pros where small pieces of dust could get stuck under the keys and make them unresponsive (because, ya know, there’s dust on earth). I’m sort of stunned that Apple quality has fallen so far in so short a period of time and yet their prices continue to rise.

Jan 19, 2021 2:39 AM in response to pcladie

I’m having the same issue to , I’ve literally had the phone three weeks and the side button to activate Apple Pay and also the volume up and down are no longer clicking , harder to press to actually receive a response from the phone and best way to describe it buttons feel mushy ! Very very upset to say the least as I have high expectations for apple and not even had the phone two minutes and this happens ?

Jan 19, 2021 3:33 AM in response to Waffles8941

Using alcohol is not the best way to handle this problem.

I’m sure we all have a same problem and that is the power button on the iPhone 12 series kind of stuck and doesn’t have that “click” feedback.


FYI IPhone 12 series has even better IP68 water & dust rating (up to 6m for 30 minutes) rather than the iPhone 11 series (up to 4m for 30 minutes).


If you feel there is no “click” feedback, mostly that cause by some dust or some material from your wipe stuck in side the button, DON’T use alcohol cause some alcohol could cause some damage.


“Splash some water to the button and wipe it with Microfiber Cloth is the best and safest way.”


Again don’t worry about water gonna ruin your iPhone, it won’t.


there is a rubber around the whole outside edge that helps seal it from water intrusion or dust, and also helps with structure and rigidity overall.





Jan 19, 2021 4:55 AM in response to hartnski

Since you seem so sure water can't damage anyone's phone, are you going to pay these people who believe you, and use water on their phone, it becomes water damaged and they then learn the phone you have assured them can't be damaged isn't covered under warranty for ANY liquid damage?


No one should be suggesting using liquids of any kind on an iPhone. If anyone has a power button not functioning as it should, they should schedule an appointment at their Apple Store Genius Bar for evaluation.

Jan 25, 2021 10:35 PM in response to pcladie

I got an iPhone 12 mini last week, and after about 4 days, my power button lost its "click" but still functioned. Two days later, I started to get tired of the feel of pushing an unclickable button, so I decided to look up ways to fix it, and I found this thread. I was going to try to clean it with a Q-tip, dry at first, wet if needed. But to my surprise, the dry Q-tip totally worked, and my power button is clicking perfectly now. Hope this helps anyone with a similar issue. No need to send your phone in for a replacement.

Mar 5, 2021 7:40 AM in response to braxton411

This was a brand-new right out of the box iPhone 12 that had a stuck side button. Moreover Bluetooth did not function, and the screen would not rotate from portrait (vertical) to landscape (horizontal). Also I would never run water over any part of a cell phone unless it was specifically protected against water penetration. That is just a seriously bad idea!

Apr 3, 2021 10:17 PM in response to AgentDeus

AgentDeus wrote:

Iphone 12 is IP68 and this means waterproof. Washing it couple of seconds with hot running water fixed stuck power button, thanks!

That is 100%, completely false. iPhone is NOT waterproof. It is water resistant and if you wash your phone and water causes damage to the phone it will NOT be covered under warranty. No one should EVER advise someone to wash their phone using any liquid.


Apple specifically says their phones are Splash, Water and Dust Resistant. They do NOT suggest any iPhone is waterproof. Further Apple's written warranty specifically says liquid damage is NOT covered by warranty.



Apr 4, 2021 6:52 AM in response to AgentDeus

Do you honestly think with more than 80,000 points on this forum I am unfamiliar with Apple's Lineup? That's amusing.


You clearly don't understand the difference between Water Resistant and Waterproof. Apple iPhone testing of water resistance is performed in a lab under controlled situations. Since Apple does NOT claim now or anytime in the past that ANY iPhone is waterproof something you claimed above, it is you who doesn't understand. And your assertion that iPhone is waterproof is simply, utterly wrong.


Would an iPhone 12 hold up to having water run on it from a faucet? It might. It might not. And if your advice to this user resulted in a water damaged phone, do you think you've given good advice, knowing Apple will NOT replace the phone under iPhone warranty if they damage their phone by doing what you advise?



Apr 4, 2021 8:22 AM in response to AgentDeus

AgentDeus wrote:

So they are shooting standards just for nice literature? Not really. They are just covering their backs for abusers with this warranty etc writings. In real life it's fine to wash it under tap water.

Sure. As long as you understand in doing so, you will have NO WARRANTY should running it under water result in a damaged phone. And then you'll shell out $$Hundreds of dollars to replace your phone. I won't take your advice and I surely hope others don't take your advice.



Apr 4, 2021 8:30 AM in response to lobsterghost1

In other words, Apple explicitly recommends against dunking your iPhone underwater. iPhone water resistance seems to be a last line of defense. While the iPhone has been tested to withstand an IP67 or IP68 water rating, it’s not worth intentionally getting your iPhone wet. Other factors can also affect the water-resistance.


Running 2 sec tapnwater is hardly dunking, more like splashing :)


Apple has good quality, I trust them for that. After battery change I would not use it even on a rainy day though.

May 24, 2021 6:21 PM in response to pcladie

I have 12 pro max, buttons were stiff, sometimes a lot sometimes less, i think its from dust, maybe some sweat or some dirty or how someone wrote from hand sanitizer, I just taped both speakers, lighting port and microphone + microphone next to lens on the back and I put iPhone into hot water (not so hot) pressing buttons amd then in cold water (not max cold) i took tape off, I dried phone in towel, pressing buttons with towel and it seems it help (but how long it will be like that) I think this is better than used alcohol on it, if it will be here again, I will return it, we have 2 years warranty and I have insurance, hope that I won’t use this, I don’t want :) its my second 12 pro max, cuz first wrote me that iPhone can’t proof original battery (immediately after unpacking and after the first turn on) :D I love apple but sometimes the quality isnt like how i thought its.

Stuck Power Button on IPhone 12 Pro

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