Broken iPhone 4 Home Button

I have to believe that at some point Apple had figured out that this was an issue and somehow addressed it. If not they will have a big problem with an aging fleet of iphone 4's. Buttongate??

This is an inherent problem with devices that are kept under super tight secrecy. By design you just can't have that many devices in the wild and simulations can only take you so far. You need real world data to determine the weakness of your products. Overall I think they did a good job but there were a few problems.

My home button has been intermittently unresponsive for several months (occasionally not working at all). Rebooting doesn't help much (if at all) and I'm not willing to restore my phone (and lose all my awesome apps!). For me this was apparently a software issue and I found an eye-opening fix that works instantly:

1. Double-click the home button - it may take a few seconds depending on how bad your issue is, but the running-task bar should pop up at the bottom.
2. Hold your finger on any of the running tasks and a minus ➖ sign will appear on each task.
3. Start pressing the minus signs to close each task (don't worry, this doesn't delete the app and they all still seem to be functioning properly for me).
4. Now my iPhone 4 (and hopefully yours) is working perfectly like new again (including a very responsive home button)!

On a side note: I was amazed at how many task were open even after reboots (not sure if a 'hard' reboot would've been different). Apple should probably address all these apps staying open for no know reason even after rebooting. Just my two cents...

txturbo's solution worked for me.

I agree some people may be having software issues but this solution fixes the hardware problem

on phones that may have just a loose connection from over use.

🙂

Hi,

My wifes phone has been having the home button issue for months and months.It was a replacement for her old phone that had broken more than 13 months ago.

Anyway after trying Everything listed here, nothing really worked long term the full blanking of the phone lasted 15 mins. So we started to look at what we do with the phone day to day as the fault comes and goes, I have one as well and so far its been fine.

The only difference with her phone is that it's used with a SONY alarm clock/Dock, now since we stopped using this for a few days and infact it was being charged on her ipad charger it seems to be working fine?. I am not saying its fixed, but how many people that have the same issue use the phones on non apple docking units.??

Its just a thought for those with the issue still.

OK buddies, you might read what I say with much attention because I am coming with the definitive solution right away. You may donate 1$ to my paypal zarvmg hotmail dot com, if it works and I would get very rich... :-)

Those sellers in apple store don't know anything in electronics so they will not be able to help you.

The problem is definitely hardware, because of intensive use. The most you use the button, the most dust and dirt is going into the button and then false contacts are going to happen.

Don't tap, don't vacuum, don't do those things they won't help. You need to effectively clean the contact of the button, and this can be done without opening it.

You need to buy a spray called kontakt 60. Spray it on your button while pushed, and then push it 100 times to allow the product to efficiently penetrate behind the button. Don't worry product will evaporate itself. Clean your iphone from the rest when you will be done and see how marvellously your home button works again. Contact has been cleant from any dirt.

Don't use another spray, it's the only ond I know that doesn't affect electronic components. I've used this product for years on potentiometers of my hifi amplifier, and it does the job perfect for what is the same problem.

Enjoy

Time for feedback, it has been 2 days now, and I can confirm my problem with home button has totally disappeared and never happened again, so this is the real fix, dudes.

I don't have to execute morse code with button anymore to hope that it will work. I just gently push, and it just does the job. Kontakt 60 is your friend.

It's been two weeks now and my phone still works fine. No contact cleaners, no alcohol, no window cleaners. Just remove the two screws, slide the back off and push on the back side of the button to reengage the connector.

txturbo:

Congratulations on your smart detective work! Your solution is so simple and it worked perfectly for me. 5 days of sweet and reliable home button already - I'd almost forgotten how it can be.

I'm so glad I waited until your post appeared before getting a new home button installed. May I suggest that you post this as an official solution on www.ifixit.com? I've been searching for convincing solutions everywhere and I'm sure others are too.

Onpurpose, just to give you your credit - contact cleaner is definitely my friend.

Have the same issue, tried all the above. Last night I sprayed a lot of contact cleaner in the socket but also on the button by accident. I don't know which worked but instantly the home button issue was gone. Have probably tried over 200 presses since and every one has connected. Much obliged, will update in a week or so.

if you get a chance take it to a store and they will replace free if there is no obvious water damage. you can check this yourself by checking the colour of the litmus paper when shining a light into the headphone jack. a way to get you back to your homescreen until then is below:

go to settings (restart iphone to get there if stuck in an application); turn on passcode lock and set a passcode; lock your iphone; from the lockscreen tap emergency call; do not do anything, simply press back; now enter your passcode and unlock your phone and you should be back to your homescreen.

this worked for me (iphone 4, ios5)

My wife's iPhone 4 home button started sticking this morning. I can see a small bulge in the button towards the bottom of the phone, and when I shine a flashlight on the button I can see a pink redness around the rim of the button. It definitely feels like something is obstructing the button from depressing all the way.

I've tried all the fixes on here with no luck... toothpick (even a sewing needle with extra care not to do any damage), vaccuum, & tapping on the back. I'd open it up and tap inside if I had the correct screwdriver.

Now, at the same time as her home button sticking, her phone no longer has any volume, just vibrating. It's either a very strange coincidence or related. I'm not sure.

My question: Her phone is under 1yr old, so if I take into the Genius Bar, will they fix/replace the button assuming they don't find water damage or some other warranty buster?

Thanks.

I have been having the same issues with the home button and had it replaced it did not fix the problem the phone only lasted 2 weeks and I had problems again.

I have tried so many things and nothing lasted but today I turned off shortcuts on the keyboard and it is working fine will keep everyone posted but I think this may be the solution.

Had the same problem with mine. Took it to the Trafford Centre in Manchester and was about to get it changed for new phone...then discovered it was 13 days out of warranty! attitudes changed by staff, became surly and very un co operative stating "theres a £119 charge for exchange". Left with raging hump , tTook it to the Arndale centre shop where the staff were superb and exchanged the phone for a brand new one as a good will / restore faith in brand gesture. Full marks to them...Traff staff you are an embarassment! Its not un reasonable to expect a £500 phone to work after 1 year 13 days!!!

The vacuum solution totally just worked for me too !

I have an iphone 4

This worked perfectly for me as well. I was skeptical at first, but my home button has worked perfectly for 5 days now when it was only working about 70% of the time before. Thanks txturbo!