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Level 1

27 points

iPhone 4 Power Button Stuck

Out of the blue today the power/lock button on my iPhone 4 became completely unresponsive. It doesn't seem to be jammed and it actually seems to be loose and a bit wiggly. Now I can't restart my phone and I can't lock it. I was wondering if this was a common problem with other iPhone 4 units and what would be the best way to go about getting it fixed. I got this phone from a friend about a month ago who had only used it for about two months before switching to a different phone. Prior to receiving this phone I had been using an iPhone 3G for two years with no problems whatsoever. This iPhone 4 has not been dropped or exposed to water or humidity of any kind. Thanks in advance!

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Jan 8, 2011 8:51 PM

630 replies

CwissyBwear Author

Level 1

27 points

Jan 14, 2011 7:28 PM in response to ali.abbas

Yeah, everything is exactly the same. I synced my phone right before I went to my appointment at the Genius bar and restored my new device as my old one as soon as I got home. The Genius assured me that it was a physical defect and nothing to do with the operating system or anything along those lines. I'm running the newest OS, 4.2.1 I think?

Jan 22, 2011 7:42 PM in response to CwissyBwear

Just had this happen with my iPhone 4. Its a physical failure of the button, so taking into the genius bar in the am to have the phone swapped out. Poor mechanical design or early production faulty parts is my guess. My 3G phone had zero problems after a lot more use (bought the 4 in Sept last year). In the quest to make this phone look slick it appears durability has been sacrificed. Phone had not been damaged from dropping or other impact. The power button should last much longer than the estimated user ownership period.

Feb 18, 2011 4:19 AM in response to jjooee

My button has been stuck for a while now. You can use it if you press really hard.

I still want it fixed though.

If they give you a new phone, do they transfer all the Apps & files from your existing one?

Kwopau

Level 4

1,748 points

Feb 18, 2011 6:12 AM in response to Willard White

Willard White wrote:
My button has been stuck for a while now. You can use it if you press really hard.

I still want it fixed though.

If they give you a new phone, do they transfer all the Apps & files from your existing one?

No they do not transfer any apps and data that you have on your phone.

YOu can simply make a back up through itunes. Connect your iphone to itunes, right click on the iphone on the left panel, and select back up. It pretty much backs up your contact, settings, mms/sms. Apps and photos and music and videos are not included in the back up but as long as all of them is in your itunes you should be fine. Just right click on that iphone again and click transfer purchase and any content that was purchased will be transfered.

When you do get it replaced, they take your old one, and give you a new one. All you need to do is go home, plug your new iphone into the computer and it will ask you if you want to set up as new or from back up, select back up.

Feb 26, 2011 4:53 PM in response to CwissyBwear

My Power/Sleep button went yesterday, thought it was just the Apple bumper I bought but it turns out it's the actual phone...

Now I'll be off to the Apple store in the morning but if they want to swap mine for a new one then I'm kinda screwed as I have a custom Invisible Shield on the back...

I bet Apple wont pay for a new shield as well as the new phone so... 😟 Bad times..

I know I could just get another one but that would be like $40! (shipping to UK)

*****!

mvhobbs

Level 1

9 points

May 11, 2011 5:26 AM in response to jdmhammer

I took my phone to the Apple store last week, made a genius appointment online. They removed the back to see if the button was stuck, they found it was broken or badly damaged & issued me with a replacement there & then, my phone was 9 months old. It's worth backing your phone up before going as I erased at the store & exchanged there & then.

The Apple guys were great, can't fault their customer service in my case.

May 26, 2011 3:25 PM in response to CwissyBwear

I have the same issue starting from two days ago. I have an appointment for them to look at it. It's still within the 1 year warranty, so hopefully it gets fixed or replaced.

Jun 12, 2011 9:51 AM in response to CwissyBwear

Hi everyone, I'm glad to see mines not the only phone with lock button issues, mine has pushed right in and although it still works I really struggle to press it!

Some of the other posts talk about speaking to a genius? I'm obviously not one because it doesn't seem to let me speak to one from the uk? Do they exchange phones in the uk also? Thanks

dorade

Level 1

0 points

Jun 14, 2011 1:17 PM in response to CwissyBwear

Power button issues developed quickly on my phone. I never lost full functionality, but had to put a lot of effort into pushing the button to get any response. A quick trip into the Apple Store fixed the problem. The staff replicated the problem, couldn't fix it and issued me a new phone. In and out in about 15 minutes.

Jul 23, 2011 7:34 AM in response to CwissyBwear

What really ***** is that this happened to BOTH of my iPhone 4s.... my original and my replacement issued to me from an Apple store.

Apple, denied my repair request due to me being 3 DAYS out of warranty...

now before i start complaining, i know they are not obligated to repair a phone out of warranty for free, but man come on.... 3 days!!!!!?

I work for Best Buy, and for something like that, we would take care of our customer.. all they had to do was look at the phone and see that there was NO physical damage to the device whatsoever, but its all good....

I've been loyal to the iPhone since 2007, and I'll most likely have another defective unit in my hands once iPhone 5 releases.

Jul 27, 2011 10:56 PM in response to CwissyBwear

Hey when they issued you guys replacements do they give you the new iphone sealed in the box and everything. The reason I'm asking is becuase I just got the white iphone 4 and the lock button got stuck and I was wondering if when aple issues me a replacement if it would be possible to get the black iphone instead of the white. Thanks

Jul 28, 2011 10:23 PM in response to chris102192

Oh bummer, I'm in the Chicago area. How would you be able to get me a swap? Do you think apple will let me swap? I'm thinking they will find this kinda of odd, as I'm sure people ask to swap their black for a white. Do you think they will let me swap? Thanks for the help

Aug 7, 2011 4:50 PM in response to CwissyBwear

My on/off button seems to be stuck or jammed. Just happened randomly. It was working fine one minute, and the next it was not. I think it's around a year old. Possibly less than a year, so hopefully it's still under warranty!

bobs7349

Level 1

0 points

Aug 14, 2011 7:54 AM in response to touchtonepolarb

My iphone 4 is out of warranty since a couple of months. The power button is stuck and not functional at all anymore. It happened out of the blue. I checked with AT&T and in the Apple store. AT&T sends you straight to Apple. The only option I got from a genius was to do a "repair exchange" to a new iphone for $199. Pretty steep price for a button. And I don't understand why a simple button only lasts 14 months. Aren't they famous for their quality? I'm very disappointed.

tjkim7

Level 1

9 points

Aug 15, 2011 6:09 PM in response to bobs7349

This is ridiculous. I went to the store today and they told me the same thing. That is just great. My phone is out of warranty because I was one of the idiots who skipped work and spent all day sitting outside to get an iphone 4 on the first day, and because a crucial button just SUDDENLY stops working I'm suppose to pay 200 more dollars? Maybe if I dropped my phone and this happened, or I spilled something on it I would understand. But no, literally all of a sudden it just stops working. I don't know what kind of piece of crap product does that. The apple genius guy tells me that the part cannot be fixed on its own either. Thats great, so apple makes a product that has a defect that causes a crucial button to cease functioning at its own disposal and also makes it impossible to be repaired. I hope, I dont really hope but I kind of hope, that all of a sudden everyone elses buttons start suddenly failing and apple will be forced to address the issue.

iPhone 4 Power Button Stuck