I have the same problem (at least as bad) and need to explain to some people that this isn't just a touch-screen doesn't respond issue. The phone freezes. The physical buttons don't work. The mute / vibrate button does not vibrate the phone when it is switched. And the image of the swipe to unlock text doesn't animate like it normally does, because it is locked up.
Iphone 4S 5.0.1
It seems to cut out right about where it would unlock if you double tapped the home button. You can see the slider bar is shorter after a double tap, so it may get confused under certain circumstances. Perhaps it thinks the bar is shorter, but it still expects the further position to unlock, and this discrepancy may cause the slider to release back to the start.
Just an idea. Perhaps the next time it happens, we can try double tapping the home key, then see how the slider behaves.
This also happens with my iPhone 4 iOS 5.1
Missed anther call today. Phone was lying face up on my desk, I haven't installed emoji.
Tried sliding, then double tapping home and the sliding, but nothing helped.
When will this problem get fixed?
Same here. iPhone 4s, version 5.1 (9B179)
Missed a call I was waiting for because the phone didn't ring or provide any other alert. When I hit the home button I saw that there was an incoming call. Actually, the call was incoming about 20 minutes ago. I was unable to "slide to unlock". I tried the sleep button (on the top). I was then able to slide to unlock.
I was able to answer calls earlier in the day; I was able to answer calls later in the day. Phone was not set to be silent, nor was any locking feature enabled. Phone has not been jailbroken.
I am unable to manually recreate this effect, nor do I find that this is a documented feature. (Some "how to prevent accidental dialing" feature, perhaps.) In lieu of any other explanation, I have to agree that this is a bug.
Just happened to me now. Had a go at repeated sliding, then sliding slowly, nothing worked. Then it suddenly worked. I didn't stop trying at any moment. So perhaps we just need to wait 10 seconds before something gets refreshed or times out and starts working again?
I have the same problem with my iPhone 4 IOS 5.1.1. It samed that the more eagerly you wanted to anwser the call, the more likely you cannot unlock it. If I patiently wait until the screen turns black and press the power button, it will get work. If realy eagerly want to answer the call, my only choise is struggle to find my earphone and plug it in as quickly as I could -- Hardware button always works. Hang up and call back is not helpfull if the other side is called from a extension which you do not know.
Message was edited by: thundercn
I just had this happen twice today on iPhone 4, iOS 5.1.1. Phone rang, slide to unlock wouldn't move a bit or would only move a tiny bit, in either case did not follow my finger. Really really needs to be fixed -- I can't answer calls when it happens.
I had this problem yesterday for the first time on my iPhone 4s 5.1.1
Couldnt answer a phone call or slide to see a new notification
New iPhone 4s today, updated to 5.1.1 can't slide to unlock. Can slide up to access camera though. Can't slide to power off either, also can't get all letters on the keypad to work. Is it a wrong 'un straight out of the box?
I was unable to "slide to unlock" my iphone 4S today. I tried everything including doing what other readers suggested. But when everything failed, I decided to press the SLEEP button (top button) & HOME button AT THE SAME TIME. I press and hold until the apple logo appears. My iphone is working now. Hope this information help some of you.
My Iphone 4S is also randomly refuses to unlock when receiving calls. The slider wont go all the way to the right. It just springs back right before reaching to the point where it should unlock the phone.
I'm on 5.1.1 (never been jail broken)
The strange thing is I'm experiencing this issue for the 1st time after almost 3 months of usage from the date of purchase.
Yep, here too. iPhone 4S with ios 5.1.1. Very frustrating.
My experience is the same. Sometimes it works and then frozen. Unlocks fine after the call disconnects. Does apple acknowledge this as a problem? Simple to recreate in your testing. Only happens on incoming calls for me. As I said, works fine without an incoming call so something in the software has a glitch. Sure hope Apple addresses this as this is my work phone as well and it is very embarrassing to tell a client to call me only to not be able to answer.
OMG, it's 2013 and the problem still exists!!!
I start hating iPhone for this small but key and annoying things we experience.
I have noticed that I have this problem only when my phone has been in my pocket for a while. It seems to be related to the screen getting warm from being against my leg. Usually, all I have to do get the "slide to unlock" to work is to simply blow on it for a second or two. I guess that cools it off enough that it can sense my finger sliding across the screen. Hope this helps.
Cannot 'Slide to Unlock'
