Q: iPhone 4 Home Button not working properly

WD40 worked for me - holding it down and 'calibrating' did not.  I got impatient or else I would have tried the air spray (but don't have any right now).  I just prayed it didn't fry my phone which I am going to sell anyway soon as I get the 5 but they do fetch good money so why fry it. 

For me it turned out to be just software related issues and full restore to factory state did help to sleve this problem.

Here is a good tutorial on how to make sure if your iPhone home button is affected by software related problems: http://ubuntulife.net/iphone-home-button-not-working/

I was having the same problem and this does work!!

I was going to pass off my iPhone 4 to my brother for the new iPhone 5 right as my home key stopped working.  I decided to try a tiny squirt of WD40 and its working!!  I covered the rest of my phone with tissue so as to protect it, then squirted a little bit right on the home key, pushed it down a few times, cleared off the excess, let it sit, and now its working like new.

What helps 100% (did it 5 minutes ago): put some drops of isopropylalcohol (sometimes in contactsprays)  onto homebutton... press the "wet" button few times and "blow" it dry sharply. repeat 3 times. -> better than a new one!!!!

I did the same thing with the 'software recalibration' steps but it didn't work for me.

What worked for me was a tiny drop of electronic alcohol over the home button - I dropped a drop of alcohol on the home button and let it seep while pressing the home button gently repeatedly.

Now, my home button is back to its functioning state after being very unresponsive for the past 1.5 years. Hahahaha. Thanks for the alcohol tip! It works!

I would recommend the usage of these electronic alcohol instead of water as you know, there is a liquid contact detector underneath the home button which might void your warranty (if it's still under warranty of coz and you don't want the hassle of getting a swapped phone)

Great solution! Perfect!

Youngwolf2k - I tried recalibration no good; WD40 worked just ok it worked well for a day.. but the alcohol is by far the best solution - thanks!!! 

This works. Before trying this, I would plug the phone in and push on the home button and it would fix it for a few hours then it would stop working again.

Take out battery (with caution) and blow in that area or use an air gun. 

Works like new.

Thanks for this solution...it worked a dream for me

I just dropped a splash of vodka on my home button, pressed it repeatedly for about 10 seconds then wiped it clean, now it works perfectly

Hope this helps.

This is the summery of experiencing the problem twice with my iphone 4s . At first it was a sofware issue and now it is a  hardware one . If it is a software issue then the proposed soltion can solve the problem or in worst case senario by resetting or restoring the phone to its original setting.It worked for me few months ago .

If it is a hardware issue then its better to send the phone to apple care if the warranty valid. Thats what I did last week after a hardware issue appeared on my home button. If it is a hardware issue then you will hear siri talks to herself and the phone will take screen shots just by pressing the power button.

Apple care recived my phone and send me a new replacment the next day after reciving the device and idenfying the issue. However , if your warranty is not valid then.......proposed crazy solutions (DW40 , beer, water,isopropylalcohol ,tequila) i guess should work as well.

Looks This workied for me!!!..

1. Open an official Apple App like the clock or compass

2. Hold the power button until u get the slide to turn off

3. Hold down the home button until the slide to turn off goes away.

Problem fixed! It seems to be a software collaboration issue with the button - rather than mechanical - as unintuitive as that seems. Works everytime.

This 'fix' is being posted repeatedly on the internet and according to the Apple support does not work, I fixed mine with alcohol. Hope this helps.

I seem to have had success with this as well.  I am still skeptical because my home button has been just slow to react, and sometimes works normally. After trying this recalibration technique, it seems to respond to softer interaction.  We'll see.  I am hopeful.  art