Volume down button doesn't work on iPhone 5

The lower ➖ button stopped working on my iphone 5 just out of the blue one day. The twisting of the phone did work but was difficult to maneuver. Then I accidentally dropped it on the laminate flooring at home and now it works every time. Note: I DO NOT think it is a viable way to correct the issue though.

Yup, the bending of the phone works for me. Interestingly the volume down control works fine through my apple headphones so I think it is purely hardware. This will tide me over until my next upgrade. Ta.

OH MY WORD! This JUST worked for me too!! It's been driving me crazy! Thanks daniel.early79!!!

Permanent fix to Volume Buttons iphone 5, that work only when bending the screen frame and possibly buttons that simply do not work at all. Semi Easy Fix. 5-10 minutes depending on skill level. I also performed this same trick on my iphone 4, and an iphone 4s without the issue resurfacing.

Items needed:

Apple pentalobe screwdriver, flat head screwdriver for prying, and suction cup (items can be bought single or in a kit for less than $10 total on amazon)

1: remove pentalobe screws

2: use suction cup to lift up screen

3: use screwdriver to pry up the screen frame all the way around from phone frame (approximately 1/4 inch)

4: lift up screen but do not detach

5: use screw driver to slightly pry away volume button assembly aluminum frame. Just slightly. you may have to try bending it in or further out if it does not initially work

Doing this will simulate "bending the phone" permanently

I tried a few different ways. I tried pushing the button mounting brackets in (which did not work) then I pried it away (did not work) then I pried it slightly further (WORKED). I put the phone back together and have not had a volume button not work in months.

Watch this tutorial (only the first couple minutes till it gets to where the screen is lifted up at a 90 degree angle but is not removed. If you are comfortable doing going this far, then you should be able to do it no problem. Just make sure that when you are lifting the screen, do not lift it from the backing that it sits in, and that you are removing it from the casing.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+5+Display+Assembly+Replacement/10906

thanks killa, it worked for me. Now i can sell my iphone 5 with no defects to help me pay for iphone 6 plus.

They say you should never buy the first new model of anything because the engineering will be perfected in the follow up models after.

I wonder if this was a defect of the iphone 5 first model only? I hope no defects will be found in my soon to be new iphone 6 ?

daniel.early79 wrote:

dude996tt:

I just experienced the same issue of my down volume button not working but the up volume button does. I messed around with the phone for a bit. I just found out that if I hold the iPhone in my right hand with my thumb on the upper right corner of the phone and apply slight pressure on the upper right corner, the down volume button worked. After doing this a couple times it started working normally again. Must be a design issue. Hope this helps!

This solution sounded so crazy and implausible that I had to try it right away. And I'll be a barnwoggled migglefrump if it didn't work right away. Volume down button completely back to normal now. Thanks, daniel.early79.

THIS WORKED FOR ME THANK YOU!

Squeezing the upper right corner very hard while pushing the down button makes my button work temporarily. Evidently the circuit board is low quality. I see where Apple is repairing some phones for bad sleep/wake button.

I found out that torquing the phone worked for me but was always a hassle.

Ends up, the solution is simple. All I did was lift up the screen and place a 1/2" by 1/2" (ish) piece of plastic on top of the battery, like an old credit card or equivalent thickness. Placement of plastic piece is in the upper corner nearest the volume button.

The problem is that it needed more pressure and torquing it helped. So, just by adding a layer of plastic, and closing it shut, it added enough force to solve the issue. May need multiple layers. This has worked for over 24 hours not and not a long term fix but is working for me since I am out of warranty.

Worked thank you!

This worked like a champ for me - Thanks!

What a simple fix!

I've had this problem for months and the twist method works for me but isn't very convenient. However, I seem to have got the volume down button working again permanently. whilst holding the volume down button in fairly firmly, I twisted the phone backwards and forwards. It's almost as if the button had become dislocated and has now relocated.

Very pleased that I now longer need to twist the phone. Hope this works for others.

Same problem. Tried toggling + and - with no success. Tried a couple other suggested remedies. With the protective cover off and while in the settings volume screen, I tapped the - button on corner of a desk sharply but not really hard. After a couple taps the buttons are functioning normally. Definitely a hardware issue with the 2+ year old iPhone5.

if this is a software problem then i do not know what the repair will be. maybe just a flashing of the phone.

but if this is off of warranty and it is a hardware problem, then they will not repair the button, you will have to replace the phone.

happened to me, i just decided to keep the phone and not worry about the volume down button