If you are an iPhone user, you already grasped that the home button is one of the most important parts of the device because it controls important functions. With this, you try hard to keep it safe and intact. However, there will a time that it will be unresponsive as an effect of normal wear and tear. If this happens, it can be annoying and challenging to navigate through your iPhone.
To help you deal with iPhone home button problems, here’s how you can fix it:
Method 1: Think about the warranty
When your iPhone is behaving strangely, your first instinct is to think about the warranty. As much as possible, you should not touch your iPhone or do some changes if you want it to be covered. If you are still within the one-year warranty period and your phone does not show any signs of accidental damage, you can get it fixed for free.
As long as you are covered by warranty, Apple will perform necessary repairs. However, it is useful if you know the nuances of the warranty. At the end of the day, learning the details of your warranty can mean the difference between free service and costly service.
To check if you are still under warranty, you should do the following:
- Use the online tool by visiting Apple’s warranty checker tool.
- Enter the serial number of your iPhone by tapping the Settings >General>About>Serial Number.
- After entering the serial number, you should click Continue. You will now see information like the type of device you have, whether the purchase date is valid, telephone support status, whether the device is still under warranty and if it is eligible to extend the warranty.
Method 2: Revisit your AppleCare extended warranty
If you opted to extend your warranty through AppleCare+, it means you have two full years of support for hardware repairs. You also have two years of telephone support. The main selling point is the coverage and repairs for two incidents of damage. However, every repair has a fee linked to it. When you think about it, AppleCare+ is still cheaper compared to most repairs without the extra coverage. You just have to make sure to register with Apple.
Method 3: Calibrate
If you found out that the warranty period lapsed and you did not opt for AppleCare+, the first thing that you should do is to recalibrate the home button. You must understand that the unresponsive home button is mostly caused by a software glitch.
Here’s how to find out if you need to calibrate your home button:
- Initially open an app like Clock.
- After, you need to hold down the sleep button until the “Slide to power off” emerges.
- When the “Slide to power off” emerges, you have to let go of the sleep button then hold down the home button. Typically, in about 5-10 seconds the app will close.
Method 4: Realign the phone’s docking port
It is also possible that your phone’s docking port is misaligned. This will cause the home button to move along with it. When you go to Apple service centers, they will suggest that you replace it but if you are patient, there are many DIY videos – you just have to make sure that you get it right the first time around.
To realign the phone’s docking port, you have to do the following:
- Plug a USB cable into your phone.
- Push the 30-pin connector gently behind the home button while applying pressure.
- You should click the home button at the same time then remove the cable.
Method 5: Clean the home button
Sometimes the fix is as easy as cleaning. You must understand that dirt in the bottom of your pocket or purse can gather around the home button. This might seem harmless to you but in truth, it can damage the home button. For a quick fix, you should consider the following:
- Use a cotton swab then add 2-3 drops of isopropyl alcohol directly to the home button but avoid the screen.
- Pick a narrow and dull object like an eraser to repeatedly tap the home button. This is to ensure that the alcohol seeps into the frame.
- Wipe the home button clean then wait for 10-15 minutes before checking to see if the functionality of your home button is restored.
Method 6: Enable AssistiveTouch
If the other methods did not work, there is a possibility that the home button’s connectors are misaligned and it requires professional repair. Fortunately, you can still use your phone through the AssistiveTouch feature. The AssistiveTouch works by putting a virtual home button your screen so you can still avail of its functions.
To enable AssistiveTouch on iPhone, you should do the following:
- Tap the Settings on your home screen.
- After, tap General then Accessibility.
- You will see the AssistiveTouch. To enable, you should move the slider to On/green.
- Once done, you will see a small icon with a white circle appearing on your screen.
Bottom Line
Given that the home button is the only button on all iPhones, it is not a surprise that the button is important but it is also a double-edged sword: it is also prone to abuse. With this, it is important that you are mindful when you press it.
If your phone has touch id failure, you can visit us to get it repaired.