iPhone 4 Power Button Stuck

In light of the terrible customer service most people have receieved with this issue, this blog is quite interesting http://www.seattlerex.com/seattle-rex-vs-apple-the-verdict-is-in/

Honestly its not fair. I've had an iPhone since 2007. On my iPhone 4 this button (along with the Home button as well) stopped working correctly. My warranty ended last July and right before it ended I went in to a "genius" and asked for a replacement (because of some other software defects that weren't fixed by the "simple restore" said "genius" had suggested). He gave me some run-around and told me to come back in a week if it persisted. Needless to say, the warranty ended within that week span and I never went in to replace it again. Now I'm stuck with a phone I can't power on or off and can't return to my home screen from apps unless I press the button a million times.

Not much insight on a repair in this post but I just needed to vent about how sketchy Apple's service is. I refuse to attempt to fix it on my own because I bricked an iPod Classic trying to repair a broken LCD. I also refuse to shell out ANY amount of money to have it repaired on my own dime. So done with this BS.

I have been dealing with a non-functioning power button on my iPhone 4 for about six months or so now. Of course, my phone is out of warranty, but the genius at the store showed me the assistive touch feature just to make me feel better. It was ok for a while, but it still bothered me my power button no longer was working as designed. With iPhone 5 coming hopefully this summer, I know I will want to sell my iPhone 4 (and therefore will need it working perfectly), so I was feeling a bit adventurous this evening and went to this site: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-iPhone-4-Power-Lock-Button/4332/1. Turns out there are extremely tiny tiny screws barely holding the power button to a bracket inside. One of mine was loose...I was always suspicious of something loose inside as I could hear a slight rattle, but just thought that was just the way the button was seated against the frame since it's a moving part. I've never dropped my phone other than from the couch level to a carpeted floor, so I didn't think I had broken anything. Anyway long story short, if you are comfortable, patient, and handy with a small screwdriver set and a plastic knife, carefully peel back the parts on the inside following the instructions on the site, you'll eventually get to the power button screws...check to see if yours is loose, tighten it back up and reverse the instructions. I took my time and fixed it in about 1.5 hours...would have been faster, but I read each step a few times and studied the photos, labeled each screw with a post-it note (stuck the screw on the adhesive part of the post-it so I wouldn't lose it). ***Note: Even though I fixed it myself, Apple still should have a recall on this issue and fix power buttons at no expense. They need a better design or beefy screws on moving parts on future phones. Seems like they went cheap on this or something went wrong with Quality Control in China. Never had this problem with my 3G and I know I used the power button just as much or even more.

By the way is usefull to see the trends of the issue...

http://www.google.com/trends/?q=iphone+4+power+button&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all

it's gonna break.... i hope apple will assume that is a design issue...and obtain a recall...

later i will expose my GeniusBar Experience...

that's all folks!

I have the same issue, but I also have a big problem, one of the moisture indicators has a little purple mark! I need to know if the guarantee still applies. Obviously the issue was not caused by liquid damage, is a design defect.

I don't live in USA that means that I have to fight against my carrier provider.

Any advice? Someone with the same issue and got the iPhone replaced even if one of the moisture indicators was not totally white.

Thank you!

There is a solution to not being able to use the button to lock your screen.

If you go into settings -> General ->Accessability ->Assistive Touch. If you turn that on it gives you a small circle, that can be moved around the screen. If you touch that, and then touch device, it gives you the option to Lock Screen.

If you hold it for a few seconds it will allow you to turn off the phone, however you have to plug the phone into a power source in order for it to turn back on.

It doesn't fix the button, but it may save some frustration of having to pay to replace it right away.

cutigers - I'm having the same problem, and I think I'll try the guide that you found. It turns out that you don't have to label the screws with sticky notes. There is a pdf file screw template designed to allow you to place each screw in a designated place: http://ifixit-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/ONtTXDcDcgKfLqif.pdf !

cutigers9396 wrote:

I have been dealing with a non-functioning power button on my iPhone 4 for about six months or so now. Of course, my phone is out of warranty, but the genius at the store showed me the assistive touch feature just to make me feel better. It was ok for a while, but it still bothered me my power button no longer was working as designed. With iPhone 5 coming hopefully this summer, I know I will want to sell my iPhone 4 (and therefore will need it working perfectly), so I was feeling a bit adventurous this evening and went to this site: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-iPhone-4-Power-Lock-Button/4332/1. Turns out there are extremely tiny tiny screws barely holding the power button to a bracket inside. One of mine was loose...I was always suspicious of something loose inside as I could hear a slight rattle, but just thought that was just the way the button was seated against the frame since it's a moving part. I've never dropped my phone other than from the couch level to a carpeted floor, so I didn't think I had broken anything. Anyway long story short, if you are comfortable, patient, and handy with a small screwdriver set and a plastic knife, carefully peel back the parts on the inside following the instructions on the site, you'll eventually get to the power button screws...check to see if yours is loose, tighten it back up and reverse the instructions. I took my time and fixed it in about 1.5 hours...would have been faster, but I read each step a few times and studied the photos, labeled each screw with a post-it note (stuck the screw on the adhesive part of the post-it so I wouldn't lose it). ***Note: Even though I fixed it myself, Apple still should have a recall on this issue and fix power buttons at no expense. They need a better design or beefy screws on moving parts on future phones. Seems like they went cheap on this or something went wrong with Quality Control in China. Never had this problem with my 3G and I know I used the power button just as much or even more.

Yep, I'm adding to these statistics, my button broke as well yesterday, boo hoo.

I have the same problem described in this thread with the stuck/unresponsive power button. I had been using the Assistive Touch option, and didn't know until reading this thread that the "Lock Screen" option can also be used to turn off the phone. Very helpful!

Yup- another one. My power button had been stuck for 3 weeks, just tried to update the software on the iphone and now it's stuck in recovery mode and as there's no button, I can't reset it. It's another trip to the Genius Bar for what will be my 3rd iphone 4 (othere two were defective too...)

HEEEEY iPhoners!!! My button was playing up also and now it's completely useless. The button is loose and there's a slight rattle inside, possibly due to the screws or bracket coming undone.

I've had my iphone just over a year now meaning the WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED and I HAVE NO INSURANCE.

I have booked an appointment with the guys at the genius bar tomorrow. I hope and pray (yes I'm that desperate, I've resorted to praying) they replace my phone there and then. As I have read from a few forums there is slight chance they might be able to replace it with a refurbished phone (which is more than good enough for me, as paying ridonkulous amounts of money isn't an option right now). that's right I said Ridonkulous!

If there is anyone out there who is in the same boat as me please respond to this, so we can exchange notes and have a little banter! My broken iphone button is making me sad! 😟

Cat, I was in the same boat, though my phone was 8 months out of warranty. The genius took it into the back for about 10 minutes, and then returned telling me that I could order a replacement for $150.

At the time, I didn't know that this was a widespread problem, so I told him that I would just live with the phone as it is. I have since decided that I can't live with the phone as it is - it is driving me crazy - and so I'm contemplating doing the phone surgery referenced in this thread.

This is my fourth such device, and I've had no problems with the earlier models. This is very disappointing.

Katie, thanks for sharing this. I am now using this to lock my screen only, which doesn't requre a power plug-in to awake. It is slow and multi-stepped, but better than not being able to put my phone to sleep! Thanks!

KatieCoop wrote:

There is a solution to not being able to use the button to lock your screen.

If you go into settings -> General ->Accessability ->Assistive Touch. If you turn that on it gives you a small circle, that can be moved around the screen. If you touch that, and then touch device, it gives you the option to Lock Screen.

If you hold it for a few seconds it will allow you to turn off the phone, however you have to plug the phone into a power source in order for it to turn back on.

It doesn't fix the button, but it may save some frustration of having to pay to replace it right away.

Hi Katie,

Do u have an Iphone 4 or 4S.. I have the 4 and it does not give me this option. I get as far as accessibility, but I do not see the assistive touch. Please help.

Add me to the list of defective power button iphone 4 users :-( Having to drive 3 hours to get to the nearest apple store to have it replaced. Still under warranty. Not happy about the drive though.