Volume down button doesn't work on iPhone 5

Lower (-) button does not work. Raising (+) button does but lower does not. Software is current and I don't have other devices. Any ideas other than resetting everything?

Dawood

The only solution for me has been to twist / bend the top right corner of the phone backwards. The Apple store recommended I use the assitive device / software to lower the volume, but that is not user friendly in my opinion. Very frustrating as I know we all pay a premium for Apple products and they should not have a failure on such a simple function as the volume button.

I had the problem start about 10 months after I purchased the iPhone, right around the time I updated to iOS 7 so I thought it might be related to that. Unfortunately by the time the button failed completely it was 13 months after purchasing. In the past I have found Apple to be very customer service focused and understanding of a problem that started during the warranty period and brought in shortly after the warranty period ended. This is no longer the case. They certainly have every right to strictly enforce the 12-month date for reporting a problem... I just have found them to be more flexible / trusing in the past when a problem arises near the expiration of the warranty or when a customer explains the problem started within the warranty period but only recently worsened. So since they are very strict now on the warrany, I will bring in my Apple products for service before the 12 months are up no matter how minor or intermittent the issue is.

It will be interesting to see if there is a replacement program issued for the volume down button as there was for the sleep / wake button recently. I believe they use the same flex cable.

I just sent my iPhone 5 in for the sleep / wake button replacment / fix. I asked them to note the volume down button issue as well when it was sent in for repair (which they did). I am hoping the volume down button will be fixed and working when I get the phone back in about a week (just dropped it off on Thursday at the local Apple store).

@Mike968:

I second that! Twisting my phone will make the Volume-down button work again, but this is not a structural solution. At best it will possibly damage other parts in the phone. So have your phone repaired or checked instead of twisting it to fix loose contacts, thereby possibly damaging other (more expensive?) parts.

Did you get your phone back, Thrifty One? Did they manage to fix the Volume Down button as well when they swap the Sleep/Wake button?

Tony - yes, got the phone back on Friday and the volume down button was fixed. They replaced the flex cable assembly and that includes the volume button connections.

The phone had a couple of small "bubbles" between the glass and the display, but they were very small (size of a grain of sand) and right on the edge of the glass that is covered by my case. I had to hold the phone close to even notice them - not a big deal for me. The tech at the store looked at it and tried to remove them, but could not. They said I could send it back again if it was not acceptable - was not worth it to me.

The other issue was a big piece of some material covering over half the camera lens inside. The tech was able to remove that easily.

The tech had pulled up the notes from the repair and shared that they had replaced several things when it was sent in. Apparently if things did not meet certain standards / tests, they are replaced. Here is what they did on my phone:

- replaced the display

- replaced the camera module

- replaced the flex cable for sleep/wake and volume control

- replaced the battery

So I had several things replaced. None of these issues showed up on the diagnostics they ran when I dropped off the phone - not sure if some were damaged during repair or they ran more intensive tests at the repair center.

Anyway, I was very happy to get a new battery in my 17-month old phone. And it is great to have the volume buttons working!!!

Thank you very much, this is very helpful. I will try to do it this weekend or next depending on the time slot they have available to book on their website.

I've read a lot of people exchanging their phones or replacing many part, etc. It seems like it's just a software issue.

The reason being is if you have it JB you can goto activator and assign volume down to the button. Works fine & I don't have to twist my phone around or swap it in for one that smells like cigarets.

Got the phone back and everything working including the Volume Down button. Lovely. Thank you Thrifty One for the tips.

Below is the list of the items being replaced. Not quite sure which one is which as no descriptions. I do know the battery been replaced as it lasts much longer now.

Parts and Services

I was able to correct this issue on my wife's iPhone 5 by pushing the down volume button in and twisting it back and forth slightly. I assume it is a connector or alignment issue.

i know soomeone with exactly the same problem. if i press the down volume button like from the back pushing quite hard it sometimes works but just clicking it doesnt. quite annoying issue, and it seems to be a physical button issue :[

This, for me, is 100% a hardware issue. My guess, from reading through this forum, is that if you carry you iPhone in your pocket it will eventually bend just enough to make the button stop working. I found if I twisted the phone a bit then it would work so I held the button down and twisted the phone back and forth a couple of time (heard a slight clicking as I did it) and now it works again. Apple's policy of $35 to tell you utter nonsense followed by a $200 repair estimate shows you just how bad Apple has become as a company. Its obviously an issue with the phone and they should be fixing it out of warranty for free - the old Job's Apple would have - the new Cook Apple is clearly focused on nothing more than making a buck - sad really.

I have been having the same problem volume down button on. Tapping the corner seems to help for a couple of days and then the problem resurfaces. Is there a long term solution for this?

Just to be sure you did not miss it above, check to see if your iPhone 5 is part of the sleep / wake button replacement program. If so, bring your phone in due to trouble with that button and your volume button will also be fixed as part of that repair since it is all the same flex cable.

I did that and it is what fixed my volume down button problem.

I also keep my phone in my front pant pocket every day. I'm sure it was bent / twisted ever so slightly and that messed up the volume button. Never had a problem with any other prior iPhone. This is what I don't like about things getting smaller / thinner... don't hold up as well. I'll take an extra millimeter of thickness if it is a sturdier product.

Had the same issue, the slight twist worked for me. Thanks.

daniel.early79

AWESOME Idea!!! Thank u so much! I've been dealing with this for over a month now - so frustrating and this technique worked! I could kiss u right now! Thanks again.Again- the pressure, click technique worked!