Q: iPhone 4 Home button issue...

Dude i have used rubbing alcohol and it worked i was on the phone with apple care for almost an hour without a promissing solution beside taking it to the store or send it through the mail. However, i used rubbing alcohol and voila it is perfectly operational again round of applause y'all i learned that apple is just a rip off i learned my lesson next time i know what to do. peace out forum bye

+1 billion votes for the alcohol method. I always thought it was a software problem. Many would agree that its a hardware issue and definitely not software!

So get out there and buy yourself some alcohol or an alcohol swab (squeeze a couple of drops on your finger) and ensure some alcohol is leaked INTO the home button. Blow on the home button from left right center for a few seconds and it should work like a charm!

Living without a functional home button is like leaving the house without an underwear!

Of course Apple can, if you're happy to pay £/€/$100 more on the retail price for an iPhone so they can maintain their 80% margins, which most including myself aren't.

Disclaimer: this is clearly speculative rhetorical exaggeration (or is it?), I do not know Apples margins on hardware

Update. Solved. 1 turn off iPhone. 2 wipe button with a lint free cloth for at least a minute cleaning every possible angle or side of the button. Turn back on. Do it frequently. Works alot better.

Yes!!!!! The alcohol method worked!! You're a genius!! The only thing is that I used a glass cleaner. Nevertheless I love you alcohol guy!!! xD

UPDATE: I cleaned it twice and now the button is super sensitive! No more hard pressing for me!

1. Turn iPhone off (doesn't matter what battery % you're on).

2. Put 2 drops of alcohol or glass cleaner on the home button.

3. Repeatevely press the home button and while doing so circle around to make sure the liquid is getting inside.

4. After you notice theres no liquid left, turn your iPhone upside down (the screen facing down) for about 3 minutes.

5. Turn it on and see for your self! If it's not sensitive enough do it one more time and see the changes.

Found the ultimate solution, much better than the perpetual alcohol rubbing maintenance thing:

1) Switch off iPhone 4

2) Turn on computer

3) Open safari (or other browser)

4) Point to apple.com > retail stores > book apple genii appointment

5) Attend appointment with Apple genii quoting how product is not fit for purpose if it has to be rubbed down with White spirit / rubbing alcohol every 2 days to ensure optimal working of one of only 3 buttons on the handset (yes, the volume is technically only one button), demand replacement quoting consumer trade rights

6) Report findings here

7) ...

Well, you know the rest.

- D

Iam having this problem too and it is getting worse. Usually have to press the button several times to get the unlock screen to come up.

I went to the store with same home button issue. They are not much helpful other than offering me to spend $199 to replace with a same kinda 6 month working phone ( current one is also a replacement for my first phone when warranty is active)....Hope this alcohol helps me to get thru my next phone (<> 5)

I got the same response $199 for a new phone... Thanks Apple

I recently found an iP4 in a river and have so far brought it back to working order other than the intermittent home button and camera issues.

Was thinking the button was a hardware issue but now not sure after reading about problems showing after updating.
Anyways, I just finished ordering a replacement home button assembly on Ebay for 6$, but I guess i will give the 'rubbing solution' solution a go while I wait.

Make sure that this home button is not a chinese copy :>

Thought of that...but would that make it a chinese copy of the chinese original?

Do you think apple will give me a new iPhone4 if I'm in my last month of limited warranty my home button works when it wants to sometimes have to push it down so hard I feel like I'm gonna break something I have a appointment at apple this week I was wondering if it's enough reason for them to replace it its annoying as **** I saw some post on the alcohol thing I just don't wanna try it before I take it to them for them to have that against me on not exchanging it what do you all think do I have a shot of getting a replacement if not anything I could argue to try and get a replacement battery isn't as good as it use to be would be nice to get a replacement to start fresh before my warranty is out.

I would definitly not do the alcohol trick until taking it in if you are under warranty they will do something for you. In my case I was not and they wanted me to pay 200 for another phone. So nice of them