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bkb1777 Author

Level 1

10 points

iPhone 4 Home button issue...

I have tried to read on here and find out if anyone is having any home button issues but I can't seem to find anyone with the issue I am having. When I press my home button it works about 95% of the time. However, about 5-10 times a day it will not register the push at all and I have to push it again and it works. It's not something that really bothers me its just rather annoying. Anyone know anything about this? Also, has anyone noticed when you do push the home button it takes just a couple more seconds to close the app than the older iPhones? I have a 3G still and when I push the home button it instantly goes to the home page. Its just a little delayed with the IP4. I have compared it several times. Does anyone else have this issue? I'm wondering if its all just my phone because I haven't been able to compare my IP4 to anyone else's. I'm just wondering if all of this is any reason at all to get my phone replaced. I'm thinking it's not at all but I am just wondering who all else is having a problem or noticing a delay. I don't have any other issues with my phone. Just the home button. & if it helps any I have had my phone since day 1 of launch. I pre-ordered it.

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Sep 27, 2010 9:53 PM

694 replies

Wrog

Level 1

6 points

Mar 23, 2011 9:37 AM in response to bkb1777

I've tried an air duster around the button and the speakers/connection port and it's done nothing to help. I've never jailbroken my phone so I know that's not an issue.
The button isn't sticking when pressed, it clicks and releases as it always has. Holding it down doesn't help, it just responds sporadically. Sometimes it's fine for a few minutes and then it suddenly stops working. I can press over and over with no response and then it will suddenly work without issue for a few presses then it stops again. It usually works after I close all programs but starts complaining again when I open another app. Seems to be software related but I'm no expert.

Me@pt

Level 1

0 points

Mar 23, 2011 2:36 PM in response to bkb1777

Same issue in Portugal.
Went to vodafone, but they didn't exchange it... They said that it's not a problem... It's a normal thing(?!) they said... Just: no comments!!

What to do?!
Please advice.
Thanks

Mar 24, 2011 4:04 AM in response to bkb1777

Hello - I had the same problem and had some success by shutting down as many open apps as possibile. Just double click the home button (when it's working!) to view all open apps. Keep your finger on one of the apps until they shake and the minus-sign appears. Touch the minus sign on as many apps as possible to close then down.
regards
Fergus

Me@pt

Level 1

0 points

Mar 24, 2011 8:30 AM in response to fergus.wallace

@Fergus: Thanks for the tip - I do that every minute 😉
The problems is:
The button issue is totally random, almost temperamental...sometimes with 350ram free (memorybooster app) the one click action opens the multi-task bar...
How to show this issue to the carrier (Vodafone Pt) person?!
Anyone had success? or how can we do to 'show' that this is a 'annoying' issue to Vodafone/Apple?
Thanks again from sunny Lisboa

Mar 25, 2011 10:36 AM in response to Me@pt

I just receive my replacement phone after 10 days.

Me@pt

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2011 12:33 AM in response to fossilblue

By Vodafone Pt? How do you showed them the intermittent issue?
Thanks

chrhe

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2011 2:20 PM in response to bkb1777

Today I updated to 4.3.1. It seems to solve the problem with the button...

chrhe

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2011 3:15 PM in response to bkb1777

It's not solved! But it seems to be better...

Iwan M

Level 1

0 points

Mar 27, 2011 1:09 AM in response to bkb1777

I am having the exact same issue. I am getting fed up with it and want to get another phone. In Holland we don't have an Applestore. I actually bought the phone on Belgium. Is it possible to get the phone replaced at an applestore in the UK for instance?

Mar 27, 2011 6:20 PM in response to bkb1777

Had the same problem for last month and did a Restore as a new device today. Working great now.

Wrog

Level 1

6 points

Mar 27, 2011 6:34 PM in response to bkb1777

I updated to 4.3.1 and it is a lot better but there have been a few times when it's not responded. Obviously not a hardware issue.

Mar 27, 2011 7:17 PM in response to Wrog

I'm quite convinced mine is a hardware issue. I managed to fix it by massaging it from the left and right edges of the screen towards the edges of the Home button. Refer to the image below:'

http://imgur.com/tgEK0

Mar 28, 2011 11:25 AM in response to AndrewLimCL

After trying everything from vacuum cleaners to toothbrushes - this finally worked! It appears that the problem is completely gone and my home button has been healed. Thanks for sharing.

gr8sho

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2011 1:37 PM in response to AndrewLimCL

AndrewLimCL wrote:
I'm quite convinced mine is a hardware issue. I managed to fix it by massaging it from the left and right edges of the screen towards the edges of the Home button. Refer to the image below:'

http://imgur.com/tgEK0

I would tend to agree based on a) doing the procedure looks like it helps temporarily, b) 4.3.1 made no discernible difference (the release notes don't talk about the problem, so that makes sense), and c), cleaning out the dock connector area made no difference either.

Mar 28, 2011 9:00 PM in response to Jeffe1123

Jeffe1123 wrote:
After trying everything from vacuum cleaners to toothbrushes - this finally worked! It appears that the problem is completely gone and my home button has been healed. Thanks for sharing.

Happy that it helps. 🙂

After taking a look at the schematics of the iPhone 4 button, I can only say it is poorly designed. The trigger that tells iOS that you have pressed the Home button is not *under the Home button itself, but beside it*. The Home button is connected to the trigger by a thin piece of metal (the flex).

I have no idea why Apple did this, but my guess is that they tried to make the iPhone 4 as slim as possible (by placing components beside each other instead of above. However it's a terrible design decision in my opinion.

iPhone 4 Home button issue...