iPad 2 home button fail

If anyone is interested to know what happened with me is that I called AppleCare and they went through their technical support steps (basically restoring the iPad and have nothing installed) and it did not fix my problem. So they setup an appointment with me at a Genius Bar and I brought my iPad 2 over and got it replaced right away. And since then, this new iPad 2 that I got works perfectly now. So if you're getting this Home button failure, then quickly call AppleCare before your warranty is up and you can get it replaced with no extra charges.

OK it's been a week so here is the happy ending - short version is they replaced my iPad.

Long version:

After trying the various work-arounds suggested by various forums the problem persisted. Occasionally my Home button would work flawlessly for a time and then it would degrade. Turning the iPad off and then on again sometimes helped. It was random, but increasingly broken.

I ended up doing another DFU reset and did NOT restore my iPad after that and the problem persisted (read NO APPs in the iPad to be suspect). I'm no expert however it looked to be a hardware problem. So I made another Genuis bar appointment and even saw the same guy from last week (coincidence) and he replaced my iPad immediately.

My iPad history: I owned the original iPad 1 since June of 2010 and used it daily with no Home button problems. When the iPad 2 came out I sold my iPad 1 and bought the iPad 2 within about 10 days of the launch. I used my iPad 2 daily and never had any issues until about 10-12 days ago (late Aug 2011). I take really really good care of my iPad because I love it. Knowing how the iPad is supposed to work, and frustrated by the Home button on a device I use daily, I right away made a Genuis bar appointment and took it into the Apple store.

Good luck to all of you out there with a similar issue.

Michael

i know the problem is. i had the same problem with ipad 2 and the ipod latest 4generation. i can show u what to do

My bet is its a software issue,

my problem is the same unresponsive home button on a brand new ipad 2 (two weeks old)

however the stupid quicklaunch (multitask) bar always pops open on multiple hits many more times, but exiting an app does not respond

also doing an powerbutton+home button restart solves the issue for a bit, but then running a multi-task enabled app gives the same problem, clicking home always presents quicklaunch, but nearly never exits the app.

checked it just now after fresh restart, and its definetly interference of the quicklaunch bar. not hardware respons of button.

why apple doesn't give check to disable the quicklaunch bar is beyond me, its just clutter, if i wanted clutter i'd have gotten a android tab. at least give us an option to disable new features, especially if they're not perfect.

can anybody verify my problem.

I am having the same problem. It is 1 week old. Should we take to an Apple store. I tried a few of the suggestions here to no avail.

What all have you tried to correct this? briefly describe - before you head off to an Apple Store.

Hard reset, I tried the right side of the button suggestion, I tried the sleep and start a program to see if the home button recalibrates. I still don't know if this is a software or hardware problem. Did you resolve your issue?

I don't have the issue. I'm just trying to help a fellow Pittsburgher. This sounds like an odd thing to try - because it involves the home button - but it works once in a while for this issue. Quit all apps and restart.

Go to the home screen first by tapping the home button. Quit/close open apps by double tapping the home button and the task bar will appear with all of you recent/open apps displayed at the bottom. Tap and hold down on any app icon until it begins to wiggle. Tap the minus ➖ sign in the upper left corner to close the apps. Restart the iPad. Restart the iPad by holding down on the sleep button until the red slider appears and then slide to shut off. To power up hold the sleep button until the Apple logo appears and let go of the button.

Ok thanks. I think closing all my apps helped.

It is still a bit problematic. I'll give it a week and head to the Apple Store.

Same problem here with my iPad 2- only it does it once in a while for a few hours, then stops. I've had mine since the day they came out, and it's only happened a few times... Just happened again today. A simple solution is to download iOS 5 and just pinch with 5 fingers to exit app.

Dear all users,

The problem can be solved by upgrading the system to 5.0.1 where the multi gestures will compensate the need for using the home button.

Thank you very much Steve. We tried what you said and now it works perfect 🙂

Dear all users,

The problem can be solved by upgrading the system to 5.0.1 where the multi gestures will compensate the need for using the home button.

This is ridiculous , i have updated to 5.0.1. and apparently you can use multi touch gestures to circumvent the home buttons.

But guys my home button is still regularly unresponsive as a back button (multitask quickbar always responds though).

you simple said, hey its stil broken, but use this feautre, and you will never need the broken button.

That is simply very insulting to me as a user. SImply answer me if my home button is defective and if it needs a repair.! i;m about to take my ipad 2 to the apple store for replacement, as its a few months old. and i've had this problem since the unpacking.

and for the record, I enjoy physical buttons a lot more than multi-touch gestures. If the entire world is going to wave their arms and fingers abound for every single silly action, we;d better stock up on certified physical therapist;)

Yes I agree with it...