iPhone 7 - double tapping home button doesn't work

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Level 1

12 points

iPhone 7 - double tapping home button doesn't work

I have a brand new (reconditioned but brand new) iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2.6.

Double tapping the Home Button to bring up all the open apps so I can close them only works very intermittently. Most of the time, all that happens is that my home screen slides down about an inch or so. I've noticed that if I go into the Settings app and then out of it, about half the time after that double tapping the Home Button will result in being able to see the apps so then I can close them.

The inconsistency is really bothering me. I saw that someone else had complained of the same problem but the discussion was closed without any solution or suggestion.

The home button works fine for everything else. I've rebooted the phone and that hadn't fixed anything.

Is there a setting that i'm not thinking of that I should check? Is this a bug with this iOS update? I just got the phone. I didn't have that problem with my iPhone 5S that was on 11.2.5.

iPhone 7, iOS 11.2.6

Posted on Feb 23, 2018 6:07 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 23, 2018 6:48 PM in response to NCCIPHONE

If the screen is sliding down, you've activated a feature called Reachability. It means you're tapping your finger on the home button rather than actually pressing it. The iPhone 7 has a very different Home button than the iPhone 5S. So, it's possible that you're just getting used to the different button.

You can try Settings>General>Home Button and selecting a different click.

Or, Tim could be right and there's a problem with the phone.

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Answer 2

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,947 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:46 PM in response to NCCIPHONE

I have an iPhone 7 that I use at home for music, and it works just fine. No problems with double-clicking the home button. If you are getting the reach feature, then you are not double-clicking the home button, you are just double-tapping it. Those are two different actions. For each tap of the home button, you should feel a haptic feedback. If you aren't then there could be an issue with the home button. While it isn't a physical button, it still requires pressure for it to react to the action.

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

231,020 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:11 PM in response to NCCIPHONE

Where did you get this "brand new reconditioned" iPhone 7?

If it's not working right, take it back.

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Answer 4

NCCIPHONE Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:35 PM in response to KiltedTim

My question is whether this is an issue that others are experiencing with the iOS update.

I can't judge whether it's a problem with the phone itself or whether is a more widespread problem caused by a bug in the software, as it seems to happen more and more frequently nowadays.

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Answer 5

NCCIPHONE Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:48 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

ChrisJ4203, you fixed my problem!!! thank you so much. There is nothing wrong with the phone, I just wasn't pressing hard enough on the home button. As you said, I was double tapping it when I should have been exerting more pressure. I wasn't sure what haptic meant so I had to look it up and that, with your feedback, helped me to figure it out.

Thank you so much again 🙂

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Answer 6

NCCIPHONE Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:55 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

IdrisSeabright, I tried replying to you but the forum said I had reached my post limit (?!) and then my reply disappeared so I'm trying again.

You are absolutely right, that's exactly what I was doing! I wasn't aware that there was a difference in how the Home Button works with the iPhone 7. What a relief that the phone is OK, it was just dumb operator error 🙂

Thanks for your help! I hope this will help someone else too.

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Answer 7

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,947 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:54 PM in response to NCCIPHONE

You're welcome. Enjoy your device.

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Answer 8

Feb 23, 2018 6:56 PM in response to NCCIPHONE

It always takes a little while to get used to new devices. I'm glad you've got it figured out.

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Answer 9

NCCIPHONE Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 23, 2018 6:51 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

IdrisSeabright, I just saw your answer after I replied to ChrisJ2403.

You are absolutely correct, that is totally what I was doing. No one warned me that the home button was different from the Iphone 5S! Thanks so much. I'm relieved that there is nothing wrong with the phone!

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iPhone 7 - double tapping home button doesn't work

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