Q: iPhone 4 Home Button not working properly

Hi everyone,

I had the same problem. It is very likely the decrease in responsiveness is due to dirt underneath the button.

I did this and it instantly resolved the issue:

• Take a can of compressed air (buy it at your local computer store);
• Press the home button while spraying air on it. (You need to press it so the air can go through);
• Spray some air in the place where the USB connector goes.

Of course it works to replace the home button, because a new home button is clean also .

I recommend first trying cleaning with air before trying the replacement of hardware.

Good luck!

I have an iPhone 4 and have suffered with an unresponsive home button for the last 4 months. I believe it to be a hardware issue, since plugging in the USB connector (even with other end NOT connected to anything) and waggling it about a bit allows the home button to start working (for a while).

Extremenly frustrated as if the going back to the Apple store to have it repaired will leave me without a phone for considerable time (used for business).

When my home button stopped working,I too was very annoyed as I expected better from an apple product! However all I did to resolve it was backup my iPhone and book a genius bar session. I paid £119 to have the handset replace and my problem was sorted within 15mins and I came away with a brand new handset, even though my old one was out of the AppleCare warranty! It you are still in warranty then I presume it would be free!! Then all I did was go home and sync the new handset to iTunes and it was as though I never changed phones eg same camera roll photos, same messages and emails etc!! Don't hesitate this problem I easily overcome by a quick visit to the apple store! Hope this helps. Oli

@ME2008 It is definitely a hardware problem. Thank you for recognizing this and stating it in a public forum. Hopefully it will help quell some of these "since the iOS upgrade" complaints and "recalibrate the home button" suggestions.

While I'm not sure this will make you feel any better, but you won't be without your phone for any amount of time. Apple has a strict policy of not repairing the iPhone 4 or newer. There are no repair options, only a $150 replacement option.

@OliWhyte I think most people are aware that Apple is glad to resolve this problem by replacing the phone. The problem is that they want $150-200 USD (depending on whether it is a iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S) to replace the entire phone if it is not under warranty (a practice you are obviously now familiar with). The current home button design is obviously flawed and Apple should be covering these issues for free, even for phones that are out of warranty. The home button is a $5 part on eBay, so even if they charged for a repair, $150 is completely unreasonable. A $25 repair or a $25 replacement under special exception for a known hardware issue might be more reasonable for everyone.

Good point Ceaser113! When I went to the apple store I was told that it was impossible to take the iPhone apart to such a level where the home button could be fixed or replaced! I am sure that this is a hardware problem as multiple resets, updates and so on did not solve anything! However it was so annoying and such a repetitive problem I felt a replacement was the only solution. Oli

@Caesar113 many thanks for your contribution. I shall wend my way into the Apple Store tomorrow and see what can be done. There is 3 months left on the guarantee so perhaps all will be saved!

It definitely worked!! Thanks guys!!

Try pressing button a few hundred times fast and firm - quite often dislodges dust etc

Reposting this simple HARDWARE solution again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXlY-VcxbCU&feature=youtu.be

Using the iPhone cable to push up on the underside of home button worked to solve this issue - mine's been problem free for months now.

1) Plug iPhone cord into the phone

2) Grip cord near the phone and gently tilt it up (thumb on or near Home button, index finger under the cord, pushing it up)

That's it!

Guys had the same problem, try this http://www.iphonestuffs4u.com/iphone-home-button-not-working/

or http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-recalibrate-iphone-home-button-to-make-it-more- responsive/

might help for few for a while !

If this problem occurs within the first 1 or so of you owning the iphone then, more than likely, the problem is humidity ---- it's not dirt.  Using 91% alcohol, turn off the iphone and wipe the button area throughly.  This will dry out the button area and your button will start to work to perfection.

Apple has a soft screen home button that they can install in moments until you get the phone replaced.

it really works!!! thank you

Temporary Solution: Settings > General > Accessibility > (turn on) Assistive Touch

This will enable a "Home" button on the touch screen.

As in @esharveypost above: I was shown this by the Apple Genius. Since it turns out my iPhone is out of warranty and I do not feel like partng wit £116 to get a replacement handset, this on-screen assistive technologies "Home" button is the best work around.

It is also true that the dodgy home button can sometimes work for a short while by plugging in a doc conector plug (do not require that the the other end is plugged into anything) and wiggling it around. Definitely appreast that the problem is a hardwear fault.