iPad home button not working

There does seem to be a systemic problem with the iPad home button. There are countless reports on the net of people who are experiencing problems with the button not working, and I'm now onto my second iPad in a row that's experiencing the same issue - when my first one stopped working I brought it to the Apple Store, who instantly replaced it without question, even though it wouldn't behave badly for me in the store. But now that new iPad is doing exactly the same thing. Symptoms are that the button works very erratically, and often not at all. It's hard to figure out if it's a hardware problem or something else. There are countless solutions proposed on the net, most of which amount to shaking a bag of bat's teeth over it. Anyone had any real success with any technique? It really seems like it's an iOS problem rather than a hardware problem, as iPhones and iPad Touches are also reporting it?

Posted on Jun 3, 2012 5:04 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 1, 2017 10:01 AM

My iPad Pro 12.9 suddenly started misbehaving today. The Home button stopped working intermittently and wouldn't return me to the home screen and in some cases wouldn't turn the screen on from black. I kind of assumed it was a physical switch or contact problem. However, I'd been meaning to update IOS to 11.0.1 for a while so when I could get a screen working I went to Settings and updated the IOS. Everything has now returned to normal - so it seems the glitch was a software one.

78 replies

Dec 25, 2013 4:50 PM in response to Maxplanar

I've just experienced the same problem. I would say that without question that it is a hardware problem with the switch, and that in some situations the switch is at fault. Why? Because the switch on my one seems to have two clicks. The first is, I think, the click on the case - this is the one that doesn't work. If I press a little harder, and toward the bottom of the button it works.


I suspect that the various ram4kids methods work because they help free up the button. Especially if the sticky point is on a particular part of the button. Try feeling around your button and find if there is a point that allows you that second click, and you may find your problem is solved. On mine I found a second "click" towards the bottom in the portrait mode, pressed it a few times and hey presto, problem gone. One trip to the Apple Store on Boxing Day saved!

Mar 18, 2014 12:00 PM in response to Maxplanar

I've also been hWTF? ng increasingly frequent problems with my home button on my iPad 2. I've never used a smart cover, or any cover with any magnetic parts. I tried ram4kid's solution. No joy. Tried landscape-portrait-landscape. No joy. Tried opening Notes and power button then home button. Nothing. Tried blowing in the power jack. Felt silly, but no luck. Tried using my fingernail to go around the edges of the home button. Got a response, but it's inconsistent. iPad is out of warranty, so I'm going with the accessibility option for now, but I'll keep trying these other possible fixes.

Jul 15, 2014 8:10 PM in response to Maxplanar

I might have a solution. I believe this helped my friend who had an iPad 3 having similar issues. Open any APPLE DEFAULT APP, calendar, safari, settings, etc, and hold the power button until the slide to power off screen shows. Now, hold the home button until the slide to power off screen goes away automatically, and the app that was open force-quits. I have tried it myself, just to see if the whole force-quit happens, and it does, although I have never tried it to fix my home button, as I have never had any issues with it. This is a software method that "recallibrates" (not sure of the spelling on that one) the home button I believe, or so I've heard.

Aug 20, 2015 4:04 AM in response to Maxplanar

I think many people here will be experiencing a mixture of hardware and software faults. It is therefor not a fix for all.


I have worked with 1000's of iPads as I support numerous schools with their IT. I have seen hardware faults with the buttons that need to go away for repair but today, I have experienced the software fault with the buttons also, and came across this discussion in my search for a quick fix. This happened on a batch of 30 iPads all at the same time and all after updating IOS. The home AND lock buttons would not work. I could use the gesture to close apps but nothing related to either button.


(BEFORE YOU TRY THIS BACK UP YOUR IPAD TO ITUNES!!!)


This was fixed on all of them by going in to Settings > General > Reset and selecting Reset all Settings.


It takes 2 minutes or so to reboot and come back on. None of my settings had actually changed, or data lost but IOS now detected the buttons again, both home and lock buttons!


The only reason I say to back up your settings first in big shouty letters is to make sure you do not lose any of your personal data, regardless of it remembering all of mine. Experiences may vary. If it is still not working, I would suggest the issue is then hardware related and you will need to take it to a genius bar.


I hope this helps someone.

Jun 26, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Maxplanar

I tried all of these fixes with pushing buttons and twisting this-way-and-that. Nothing worked. Then I turned the iPad off and dropped a drop of rubbing alcohol on the home button and pushed it a bunch of times.I held the iPad firmly and shook it to move the alcohol off of the microswitch inside in hopes that it would move any dirt or debris away from the switch. I then let the switch dry for a while. Turned it back on and it works perfectly.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPad home button not working

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.