iPhone 5 home button issue

Hey everyone,

I am on my 4th iPhone 5 now, each one has developed an issue about 2 weeks in where the home button becomes loose, and can be wobbled and make a click (a small, annoying click on one side of the button) before the full pressed click.

I've kept each one in a case, and they haven't been dropped (the one I have now has a small nick on top). I had a 4S before this and an iPod touch before that and never had a home buttom problem.

Each time I've brought the phone in and was told they can't fix them yet, so they've replaced them. After the last replacement, they told me it was my last one and they would not replace it again.

So of course, it has happened again and I don't know what to do. Do Apple Stores have the ability to do home button repair yet? If not, how long do you think till they do? I understand they must think I'm scamming them or something for replacements, but each time I ask if they can just fix it and they always say no..It bothers me they won't replace it again since they can't fix it.

r2shyyou said:

I'd ask to speak to a supervisor or manager. Since they've replaced your other ones for the same thing, they've set a precedent that the issue qualifies for replacement under the standard 1 year limited warranty. Considering this, I don't think they can legitimately say you're out of replacements. That would be like saying that the first three had the warranty but the fourth did not. To my knowledge, they all come with the warranty, newly purchased or replaced, and Apple has to abide by it.

Click to expand...

ixodes said:

It sounds normal. Since Apples quality control has declined, these types of things are routine.

Click to expand...

Thanks guys, I will take it in next week or this weekend if the problem persists.

The first few times I took it in, the employees were very friendly and understanding.

The last time I took it in, the Genius I got told me it was probably a Software isssue and that a restore should fix it. It took me about 20 minutes to convince him otherwise and he then told me (and marked in my file) that it would be my last replacement..

I wish they could just fix it and not replace it, it's annoying to have to keep restoring my phone from backups..

Thanks for the input!

Is there anything I could be doing to cause this? When it happend with the first few, I thought it might be the case so I bought a new kind of case..but now it's happening again. I'm very gentle when using the phone, I don't mash down the home button or anything..

The last Genius I spoke to (the rude one who said it was probably software and told me it would be my last replacement) said I must be doing something to have 4 in a row with this problem. But as I said, I had an iPod touch and iPhone 4S for a long time and neither had any issue..

Yeah I've had it replaced 3 times now, and each has had the issue..having it again with my most recent replacement..

Leonard1818 said:

have you conisdered that maybe it's not the phone but the user?

Or perhaps it's a trait of the improved home button?

I can't imagine getting 4 phones with the SAME problem...

Click to expand...

Yes I have, I wish this thread could be merged with the one in the iPhone help subforum..I've touched on that topic.

I have had an iPod Touch and an iPhone 4S for a few years, and have never had a home button issue. I always have a case on my phones, I don't drop them, I don't press hard on the home button, I've never spilt anything on it. I am very careful with my phones and have been especially careful with each replacement, especially regarding the home button.

And yet the issue persists. It's driving me insane. I have modified my use of the phone to touch the home button as little as possible, and when I do touch it it is very gently. It's getting to be such a nuissance to waste time going to the store and then having to restore my phone AGAIN and AGAIN from my backups because they've replaced it..

I wish they could just fix it instead of replacing it, but as of now they say they have no way to just repair it.

Leonard1818 said:

Yeah, but what I'm saying is that they've re-designed the home button for the iPhone 5. It's supposed to now be more durable. So previous "home button" experiences are irrelevant.

I can tell you that my one-year-old 4s (that's now my wifes) has a different feel to the home button.

On my 5, if I press slow and to the side, it doesn't click at all. It registers on the phone, but no click.

All of them that I've seen have the same behavior. I'm still not convinced it's the phone but rather just your expectations.

----------

... for what it's worth, I don't notice any play in the home button on mine. I feel like the first one I had (sent back for different reasons) sort of did... but nothing worth replacing or fretting over.

Click to expand...

I understand what you're saying and appreciate your input, I feel the error is in my description of the issues I've been having.

The issue that comes up (about 2 weeks after I've gotten each phone) almost feels like a loose home button (still not a great description). The button will click when pressed lightly (this time mainly on the right side of the button), but it's not the full, functional click that wakes the phone or sends me to my home screen. For that, I need to press down fully, as is normal.

But this other "click" occurs when lightly pressing the button, and also when I do do the full press. When trying to use the home button as normal. I get a "click" (both in sound and in feel) before fully pressing the button down and getting the real click that is supposed to be there and is part of the phone's normal functioning.

I have friends that have iPhone 5s (two since launch week, like mine) and there phones do not do this, even after all of these months. The genius' I took my original phone and first few replacements to immediately recognized what I was talking about as a problem and not normal action of the home button and issue replacements right on the spot.

As I said, I am not using the phone irregularly, and to touch on what you said about the home button mechanism being more sturdy and different from previous phones - I know about this and it's why I'm even more baffled by what I'm experiencing!

Givmeabrek said:

I think they are all pretty much the same. If you play with the home button anyone can get a similar reaction. Push slowly down on the edge and you can get a double press response or even no response. But why??

Can't you just use it normally? What are you really expecting??

Click to expand...

Trust me, not what I'm talking about. I have played with the home buttons of at least 30 different iPhone 5s (friends, and in-store), and none do what I'm experiencing. It happens now even when pressing the home button normally. It is definitely an issue as 3 different genius' recognized it as not normal and replaced it on the spot.

Leonard1818 said:

Ahh, I see now. Yes, that sounds a bit irregular. I wonder if there was just a bad batch of component parts or something. If I were you, I would:

1. Wait a bit longer before you go back for a replacement (perhaps the "bad" home buttons will have cycled thru or they'll be capable of fixing it at that time)

or

2. Deal with a replacement through the 800 number.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, glad I was able to explain it a little more clearly.

I am probably going to hold onto it for a bit longer. I wish the Apple Store was capable of just fixing it as I don't really want to deal with getting another replacement.

irepairseattle said:

I got my iphone 5 on the first day of launch and within a few weeks my lock switch stopped working. I think you got 1 from a bad batch. Apple store should replace the button because it is easy to replace. If they don't want to fix it try this link http://irepairseattle.com

Click to expand...

Both Apple Stores I have gone to told me they don't have the necessary parts and equipment to do any repairs to the home button. So frustrating.

orpheus1120 said:

OP, time to call AppleCare and tell them your experience, and escalate your issue to Apple Corporate if needed.

Click to expand...

If I have a poor experience the next time I go in (will probably be next week or so) I will do that.