Without warning, your iPhone’s home button stopped working. No matter how many times you press the home button, it either fails or inconsistently responds. There’s no reason to panic if you have warranty since Apple has you covered. But even if you’re out of warranty, you shouldn’t sweat it out because you can still fix your broken iPhone home button, DIY style.
Step 1: Fix software glitches
Software glitches can affect the functionality of hardware and in this case, it could be your home button. To fix a software-related malfunctioning of the home button, launch a stock application like Safari and keep it open.
Next, hold down the sleep button. When prompted to “Slide to power off,” release the sleep button and hold down your iPhone’s home button. Wait for 5 to 10 seconds until the app closes. Check to see if your home button is now working.
Note: If this method doesn’t work, reset your phone to factory settings. If it works, it’s also a sign that a software glitch caused the problem. Consider updating to the latest iOS version to avoid this from happening again. If it doesn’t work, you can try the next method which involves cleaning your home button.
Step 2: Clean your home button
Dirt and moisture are the two greatest enemies of a smartphone. They can get into the round crack surrounding your home button and keep it from functioning.
To clean it and the area underneath, you need 99% isopropyl alcohol. Now, put your iPhone on a flat surface. Place 2-3 drops of it on your home button while carefully avoiding the screen. You can use a dropper or syringe to place the drops.
Using a hard, dull object such the back of a pen, repeatedly tap the home button and allow the alcohol to seep through the crack. Wipe any alcohol left on the surface and don’t use your iPhone for the next 10 minutes or so.
Then, check to see if your broken home button now functions.
Step 3: Realign your home button
A misaligned docking port can also result in a malfunctioning home button by causing it to sink. With the following procedure, you can realign your docking port and lift up the home button.
Start by placing your iPhone on a flat surface. Then, attach it to a 30-pin dock connector. Gently push down on the connector using one hand and click on the home button with your other hand. Remove the cable and check if your home button is functioning.
My iPhone’s home button is still malfunctioning. What do I do?
If your home button continues to malfunction after performing DIY repairs, your next best option is to have it fixed by a professional. For the meantime, you can enable Assistive Touch to replace the function of your home button.
You can do this by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Assistive Touch. Turn it on and a round button will appear on your screen. This guest post is written by Paul from Broadbandexpert.com