iPhone 5 lock button not working

My lock button only works half the time. I have to press it a few times before it actually locks. Also sometimes the app that I am in will close on its on while I'm in the middle of using it, I have no idea if these problems are related or not.

Having the same issue myself - it's not EVERY time, but much of the time. I'm actually going to the apple store this afternoon to have a "genius" take a look, but my assumption is that it's some kind of hardware issue...seems a lot of folks are seeing the same thing.

Out of curiosity, did you people have cases on yours that had an external power button? Just wondering if maybe having the external button somehow caused an issue...

- M

Update: went to the genius bar appointment and the phone was replaced almost immediately. There's evidently a big run of the power buttons starting to fail: usually it starts on one side of the button and you can still press the other side, but it will eventually fail altogether.

Get yourself to an apple store ASAP - if, like me, you got the IP5 on or around launch day, you still have a few months of warranty, and it IS covered 🙂

I to have the same issue going to my appointment tomoz, Seems to be a issue with iphone 5 lunch day phones. Mine started as me just not realising that it was'nt locking a week or so ago.

Gradually throughout the week more of the button has become unresponsive almost 3/4 gone now.

Litrally have one corner left to push down and on the back of bighabeeb i will leave a message as to what happened.

Hopefully a quick in and out with a replacement.

Mines doing exactly the same as all these posts and I've had to use the assistive touch thing on accessibility to lock my phone, so I am planning on going to the apple store too. I was just wondering, did they do a back up of your phone whilst there and update your new phone with all your apps/pics/contacts etc. or did you back up all your information yourself at home?

You will need to do the backup prior to coming in...though I suppose, in theory, if you use icloud to backup you could do that in store - they do ask you if you've done a backup prior to swapping out the device.

This is helpful, I had the same problem starting off at one side then now all of a sudden the whole button just doesnt work at all. I need to book in to genius ASAP, but if I got the phone from carphone warehouse, do I still take it to the apple store because they are the manufactorers?

Thanks :-)

By default, unless you have a counterfit item or something, it's covered by apple for 1 year from date of purchase. So as long as it's in their database, yes, you contact apple for hardware issues.

Good luck!

- M

I've had three replacement iPhones so far. They were all like this. It's probably a lot more common than Apple wants to admit. The current replacement I have now seems to be fine but there seems to be something wrong with the compass. The free replacements are nice but the lock buttons don't seem to last for more than a few months. I've had two of my replacements suck within the first day of using it.

So I went and got my iPhone replaced with what looks like a brand new iPhone with model number NE486LL/A

They told me you can usually click the left side of the lock button and that usually works!

They switched my phone no questions asked. Every new iPhone is under a one year warranty.

Yeah I knew it was under warranty but I have heard that they issue refurbs and not brand new phones. I guess I will head to the Apple store, refurb or not it's better than a non working lock button! (Mine does work half the time if you push the left side of it but it's tedious)

How can you distinguish if its a new one or not? They must have worked real hard to make it look like a new one on mine! True that, make sure to make an appt and arrive on time, they don't accept late in comers.

They are not brand new phones, they are re-manufactured ones most likely using parts from other broken phones.

I know this because I've had to have my iPhone 5 replaced 4 times already and each of them were crap.

there is a reason why the warrantees on refurbished items are never longer than 3 months. The failure rate of refurbished units are extremely high and thus why you get a discount (if you are buying one), a and short warrantee. It’s also why they use refurbished units for warrantee replacements, it costs them the least. These companies are dumb.

That being said, you are correct, that’s what the refurbish process is. However, that doesn’t mean that they always find and replace/fix ALL the problems with a particular unit before certifying it and reselling. I’m always very wary when I buy refurb units. I have an Xbox that I’ve had for over a year and still works like a champ, but that’s a much lower risk at $120 bucks than say a smartphone or TV.

For reference, I’m a Tier 3 tech on a maintenance support desk, I deal with this stuff all the time.

Having the same problem. Apple just told me that they only cover the product for 90 days, I would have to purchase a $69 plan....?

If this is a problem for most iPhone 5 users I think they should be replacing for FREE!!!