iPhone 4 Power Button Stuck

...and yet another slightly over one year iPhone 4S' power button goes bust!

what is amazing is that one minute it is working beautifully, the next it is stuck and cant be used at all. I am starting to believe that the power button has a chip with a timer that goes off after 14 months rendering the button unusable.

Mine just died yesterday, May 30th. I've had the phone for almost two years. I will check the warranty on it today. XxfrankendroidxX had a great answer to the issue for now:

"Go into Settings. Go to General. Go to Accessibility. Turn on Assistive Touch. The button will show up on the screen. Press the button. Open up device. Then hold down lock device. Let go and you should be able to turn it off. I know it is slightly inconvenient but it works."

However, I would not recommend turning it off completely. Turning it back on requires the actual button, and it took me a bit to push down on it to get it back on. But, it does work for what I need it for.

I am sure Apple will do the same thing to me, as they've done to the rest of you, and offer to send a refurbished phone. I shall see. This *****. If I upgrade to a new phone, the iPhone 5, Verizon wants me to change my plan. And, I don't want to. I have unlimited data, which I use, since I travel a lot. If I buy from them, they will make me change. Any suggestions on how to avoid that? Thanks!!

haha I thought of that, after I posted. Thank you for the information, though!

I found many DIY sites that show how to change the button out on your own, if you are not under warranty, but you have to replace the cable, too. It's about 20 bucks. There is a link to the cable on this DIY site:

http://www.imore.com/how-diy-repair-stuck-or-broken-iphone-4s-power-button

I just talked with Verizon, as they are my provider. In order for me to buy a new phone, they will not honor my current contract with unlimited data, and they charge 30 dollars for an "upgrade" fee. So, I researched further, and the iPhone 5 also has power button issues. So, if I changed to that, I would have another button issue down the road. It's just not worth it. I am using the assist button now, and I can get use to it. I hope.

I defend Apple to my husband all the time. He's a Virtual Architech. He has a Galaxy and loves it. Of course, when he bought it, his plan was put to 2GB, and no longer unlimited, but he doesn't even come close to using the full amount.

I guess it's a matter of whether I can deal with the assisble button on the phone, instead of the actual power button.

I'm having the same issue with my iPhone 4s. After a year my power button stopped working . I though it was an error on my side but after researching it seems there are countless consumers with this same issue. My phone is in mint condition so the problem could not have risen from abuse. I have not taken it to apple since my 1 year warranty is over & I'm thinking they will probaly try to charge me $150 for a refurbished replacement . Has anyone been able to get apple to fix this? It seems like a simple fix. And if so how big of a dent did it make on the wallet?

I've had the same issue with my iPhone 4, the button stopped working after about 15 months - I have read some news stories online this month saying apparently a class action been filed against Apple by a woman in California, claiming Apple knew about the defect that causes the on/off button to suddenly stop working just after the 1-year warranty expires...?

i had to change the button 1 year and 2 month afther i bought the ihpone... i spent 60€ to repair the button because it was unusable... i hope apple take care this because a telephone that cost more than 600€ can't broke afther 1 year and people can't pay other money only to have the same telephone

sarefin88 wrote:

hey everyone,

I have had the same problem for about a week now. the turn off/on button seems locked/depressed and doesnt work. The only problem is I am currently living in Germany and my phone was bought when i was still living in Australia. Does anyone know if i can go into a genius bar here in Germany and they will replace the phone or do i actually have to go back to Australia?? its such a shame because I wont be due to go back to Australia until October!!!

any help would be appreciated!!

Apple's warranties are worldwide.

Just had the power button fail on my iPhone 4S, about 18 months after purchase. For a couple of hours it worked if I put heavy pressure on it, but now it's completely inoperative. Am using Trixie215's accessibility workaround, which means I can still use the phone, but it's not the same as having a working power button. Getting ready for my trip to the Apple Store to see if public pressure means they'll be more forthcoming with a fix. Am not optimistic about this.

@gulabishtri - the "lock screen" button will power off the phone, and you can power on using the home screen. It's a kludge, but a good kludge - it works.

One additional point - the lock-screen button workaround won't help when you have to reboot the iPhone. Can't do a power button + home button restart. So I suppose it's off to find a Genius (TM) and pay the ransom...

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I also have a iphone 4. My power button all of a sudden is very hard to mash or impossible at times to mash at all. just started this bout 2 days ago. My iphone is in excellent condition and has had a otter box on it from the first day I got it. I see others also are having this problem and this is RIDICULOUS...SORRY BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO UPGRADE OR GET NEW PHONES BECAUSE U GUYS DON'T FIX THIS ISSUE.. APPARENTLY IT IS A BIG ISSUE AND APPLE U SHOULD FIX THIS AT NO CHARGE OR ISSUE A NEW PHONE.. WE BUY YOUR PHONES BECAUSE WE TRUST IN APPLE AND LOVE THEIR PRODUCTS BUT OUT OF RESPECT U SHOULD FIX ALL KNOWN BUGS OR ISSUES..

It looks like a have this problem too. The lock button became unresponsive on my 4S. I have an appointment tomorrow in the genius bar. I was just wondering what should I expect to pay since it is out of warranty.

To Alan_G_A:

If you have powered off after holding down the Lock Screen button, then to power it back on you have to plug in the USB charger and it will power ON (got this from some previous post on this discussion).

I tried the apple store today and since its out of warranty I had to pay. If you can upgrade to an iphone 5 through your provider for $200.. better to do that or you can use the workaround for a few months until the iphone 5S gets released.

Just had the same problem - iPhone 4S bought about 18 months ago - I did not bother to take out more than a year's warranty or insurance... Lock button faulty, after completely normal use.

I would like Apple to acknowledge this as an official fault and repair it for free.

BTW thanks to the posters who offered advice about workarounds - Accessibility etc

I have this problem too. I bought my iPhone 4 two and a half years ago y I have taken very good care of it. This is a BIG issue and Apple should fix this for free despite they are on or out warranty. As Sam says, it is SO lame that Apple hasn't pronounced yet.