My iphone 4 home button has been losing sensitivity gradually the past couple months and now I basically have to mash it to work. I use the assistive touch feature for now but I just find it annoying more than anything. Is there any way i can fix it either myself or through apple? I've tried restoring it and the power off screen trick, but have had no luck so it must be a hardware problem. I got it at launch over a year ago. Thanks.
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iphone 4 home button lost sensitivity
- Thread starter scadoosh
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I have the same problem with my 6 month old iPhone 4, the last month or so the home button is loosing sensitivity .
On another note. I just handed my 3 month old MacAir into service because the track pad has gone out.
APPLE,S QUALITY CONTROL NEEDS REVIEWED BEFORE THEIR REPUTATION GOES EVEN FURTHER DOWN THE TOILET.
On another note. I just handed my 3 month old MacAir into service because the track pad has gone out.
APPLE,S QUALITY CONTROL NEEDS REVIEWED BEFORE THEIR REPUTATION GOES EVEN FURTHER DOWN THE TOILET.
I've experienced this with two iPhone 4's (my wife's and mine), and sometimes when I use a friend or relative's, I experience the same thing. I've never experienced this problem on a 2G, 3G, or 3GS, and haven't yet had trouble on the iPhone 4S... so maybe it's just a fluke with the design of the button on the 4 in particular?
A lot of times, you have to press straight in and hard on the iPhone 4's home button... I often press at a slight angle, which may have caused the problem in the first place!
A lot of times, you have to press straight in and hard on the iPhone 4's home button... I often press at a slight angle, which may have caused the problem in the first place!
This is such a bad issue. Every iphone 4 I had (3) all had that issue after a while and now my wifes and mother in laws are doing the same thing.
Will the apple store fix the button if you pay (Not $200 replacement phone cost though)?
How long have you had the iPhone?
Apple offers a one year warranty and this definitely falls under it.
I had this issue on my iPhone 3G and it was very aggravating. They replaced it when I brought it into the store.
If you're kind of tech savvy you can open up your iPhone 4 and see if you can see what you can yourself. I know that they have a special tool to take out the screws in the bottom, but you can file down a small flat head screw drive and it'll catch two points of the star.
Apple offers a one year warranty and this definitely falls under it.
I had this issue on my iPhone 3G and it was very aggravating. They replaced it when I brought it into the store.
If you're kind of tech savvy you can open up your iPhone 4 and see if you can see what you can yourself. I know that they have a special tool to take out the screws in the bottom, but you can file down a small flat head screw drive and it'll catch two points of the star.
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Well, if you're under the 1 year warranty still, go to the Genius bar, they would probably swap out your phone for a new one, or at least charge you nothing to get it fixed. Unfortunately, with as much as that button is pushed, it's likely that eventually it will get so broken in, that it wont seem responsive anymore.
I think eventually Apple is going to turn that home button into a capacitive button. Maybe, maybe not.
I think eventually Apple is going to turn that home button into a capacitive button. Maybe, maybe not.
I don't like capacitative buttons on Android phones, they're too easy to press accidentally.
This was just a design defect of the iPhone 4, I imagine the 4S home button was improved.
This was just a design defect of the iPhone 4, I imagine the 4S home button was improved.
Never thought about that, on how they're easy to press accidentally. I don't mind the physical home button, I was just saying to avoid that button from failing I wonder if they ever will turn it into capacitive. Probably not.
Saw this possible solution in a Cult of Mac story. I have no idea if it works 
http://www.cultofmac.com/136785/how-to-make-your-iphones-home-button-more-responsive-ios-tips/
http://www.cultofmac.com/136785/how-to-make-your-iphones-home-button-more-responsive-ios-tips/
I have one on my Samsung focus (now using an iPhone4 myself) but didn't find it that bad. I only wished they would have recessed it a bit to make it a little harder not to bump. That being said, you learn quickly how to avoid it.
Adding to the OPs post, I "built" a 4 out of various parts and the button was one thing I had to buy because both phones that I had were not very responsive. It is not an easy fix as you have to tear the entire phone down but it can be done.
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Saw this possible solution in a Cult of Mac story. I have no idea if it works
http://www.cultofmac.com/136785/how-to-make-your-iphones-home-button-more-responsive-ios-tips/
My iPod Touch 2G's home button was being slow-to-unresponsive, saw this suggestion and tried it - it seems to work.
1) Open an app like Weather or Stocks (something that came with iOS)
2) Hold the Power button until "slide to power off" appears
3) Let go of the Power button
4) Push and hold the Home button until the "slide..." message disappears. This took awhile on the iPod touch, so be patient
Many familiar with the Jailbreaking community will recognize the Cult of Mac method as a Respring or a Force Quit.
In my own experience it does seem to help when you do this.
In my own experience it does seem to help when you do this.
I have the same problem with my current 4g as do a few of my friends at work. I've been told they will replace it,however I'm not sure about the warranty thing.
It is just the switch that is broken. You can get it for about $10 on ebay. The button and the switch are different parts (the switch is just glued to the button), so make sure you get the switch or the assembly with both the button and the switch.
Mine started losing responsiveness when it was about 7-8 months old. You could tell it was the button since it didn't have a positive click feel like my iPad. I was dumb and procrastinated and before I realized it my warranty expired. I found a repair place on Craigslist and had it replaced today. Talk about a PITA to replace, I watched the guy putting it back together and I'm glad I didn't attempt it myself.
Is it under the warranty? If so, do what they suggest below. Go to Apple Store, they look up the serial, if under warranty, youll get a new phone. Just make sure you have a backup.
Do as explained above if its only 6months old.
Yes again, if under warranty
I would love to see this move as well as long as there was a feature that took away from the easy android sensitivity like madmaxmedia described.
The alcohol-fix worked for me
On other threads I saw a tip that worked for me! I was also having intermittent problems with the button--sometimes pushing several times for a reaction, sometimes getting a double-click from one push. I am kind of tired of visits to the genius bar, so decided to try a fix I had seen.
Anyway, what I read (think it's on YouTube too) was to:
1. shut off the phone
2. put the phone flat on the table, put a small drop of rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) on the button
3. Use something plastic (but not scratchy) to work the drop around the edges of the button as you push down on it. The alcohol will work its way under the button.
On my specific phone this completely fixed the issue. I am actually a little surprised how good it worked.
A slight modification I have heard is to apply the alcohol and rub using a Q-tip.
On other threads I saw a tip that worked for me! I was also having intermittent problems with the button--sometimes pushing several times for a reaction, sometimes getting a double-click from one push. I am kind of tired of visits to the genius bar, so decided to try a fix I had seen.
Anyway, what I read (think it's on YouTube too) was to:
1. shut off the phone
2. put the phone flat on the table, put a small drop of rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) on the button
3. Use something plastic (but not scratchy) to work the drop around the edges of the button as you push down on it. The alcohol will work its way under the button.
On my specific phone this completely fixed the issue. I am actually a little surprised how good it worked.
A slight modification I have heard is to apply the alcohol and rub using a Q-tip.
Tried it with a q-tip and it works like a charm. Really work in the alcohol and let it sit and evaporate before trying it.
Saw this possible solution in a Cult of Mac story. I have no idea if it works
http://www.cultofmac.com/136785/how-to-make-your-iphones-home-button-more-responsive-ios-tips/
That actually made quite a difference. Thank you.
Home button unresponsive
The fora (plural of forum?) win again. I tried the method linked in the cult of mac article, and it appears to have worked. Saved me a trip to the genius bar.
http://www.cultofmac.com/136785/how-to-make-your-iphones-home-button-more-responsive-ios-tips/
iDownloadBlog passes on an incredibly helpful tip that many probably dont know about. Its actually a very simple process to recalibrate your Home button; simply open a stock iOS app (Weather, Stocks, Clock, etc.). Once the app is open, press your iPhones power button until the slide to power off screen appears. From that screen, press and hold your Home button until iOS force quits the stock app you have open. Youre done! No rocket science required.
Eric
The fora (plural of forum?) win again. I tried the method linked in the cult of mac article, and it appears to have worked. Saved me a trip to the genius bar.
http://www.cultofmac.com/136785/how-to-make-your-iphones-home-button-more-responsive-ios-tips/
iDownloadBlog passes on an incredibly helpful tip that many probably dont know about. Its actually a very simple process to recalibrate your Home button; simply open a stock iOS app (Weather, Stocks, Clock, etc.). Once the app is open, press your iPhones power button until the slide to power off screen appears. From that screen, press and hold your Home button until iOS force quits the stock app you have open. Youre done! No rocket science required.
Eric
quick solution for iphone home button
here's my quick solution, im doing it just a minute ago. lay your iphone on the table, pour a little amount of isopropyl alcohol to the home button and rub it,keep on pressing again and again, you may notice the home button started to work
here's my quick solution, im doing it just a minute ago. lay your iphone on the table, pour a little amount of isopropyl alcohol to the home button and rub it,keep on pressing again and again, you may notice the home button started to work