Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I never imagined this thread would help out so many people....wow!

Glad everyone managed to fix their phones! I feel honored to help out
 
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
 
WOW!! my phones power button is toast...so I have been using assistive touch for the last year!! Everything locked up and I tried everything...until i saw this post...push the power button into my table while holding home button and voila!!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

Worked for me. You are awesome. Thanks.

M
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

it worked for me too! it was an excellent idea. Thank You Very Much
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
Holy cow dude it worked. Damn. Thanks alot dude from 2012. He probably wont even check this site anymore but I wanna thank. It worked on a iphone 5. Our iphones power button was broken AND somehow the touchscreen's calibration was broken so touching at the bottom of the screen would actually active something at the middle. So Unlocking the lock was impossible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
Holy cow dude it worked. Damn. Thanks alot dude from 2012. He probably wont even check this site anymore but I wanna thank. It worked on a iphone 5. Our iphones power button was broken AND somehow the touchscreen's calibration was broken so touching at the bottom of the screen would actually active something at the middle. So Unlocking the lock was impossible.

Damn, thanks for making a screen name after me :) Nice!

I frequent this site daily. Very good site!

Glad it worked!
 
Damn, thanks for making a screen name after me :) Nice!

I frequent this site daily. Very good site!

Glad it worked!

You're damn right! Here's another happy iphone-cruncher.
After all, I'm thinking about getting the free sleep button repair, my phone is eligible.

Thanks for the evidence that technical things just sometimes need brute force to get going!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.


I have had the same problem on multiple occasions, the best method for me (since my power button is completely destroyed) is to put my phone inside the freezer for 10-15 minutes. When the phone drops to a certain temperature, it will freeze the lithium within the battery and eccentrically have the same effect you would have if the phone simply died completely. Once you remove the phone from the freezer, let it take a few minutes to return to room temperature then plug it in. It'll kick back on like nothing ever happen!
 
Last edited:
I have had the same problem on multiple occasions, the best method for me (since my power button is completely destroyed) is to put my phone inside the freezer for 10-15 minutes. When the phone drops to a certain temperature, it will freeze the lithium within the battery and eccentrically have the same effect you would have if the phone simply died completely. Once you remove the phone from the freezer, let it take a few minutes to return to room temperature then plug it in. It'll kick back on like nothing ever happen!
And what about any moisture/condensation considerations related to any of that?
 
You are AWESOME! I froze my husband's phone, it went black. But it would still ring when I called him. I did what you said and it worked !!! Total life saver!

"Costino1, post: 18862817, member: 747763"]This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.[/QUOTE]
You are
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
And what about any moisture/condensation considerations related to any of that?

There are zero issues with condensation/moisture from my experiences. The phone screen looks exactly as it did before going black each time and there is no damage to ports whatsoever. Its the only technique that I've been successful with in hopes of resetting my iPhone.
 
Is it still showing the connect to iTunes sign.. If yes .. Download the software "tiny umbrella" on your PC.. Plug in your iphone .. And kick your iphone out of restore...

Can some one help me? I have tiny umbrella on my PC now but I can't find the Iphone I am trying to fix...
I know this is an old topic but I would like some help with the same problem that is named in the subject.
 
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.


wow man, thank you a lot. this really helped me :))
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
[doublepost=1477303102][/doublepost] Re Costino1 tip - i just want to say that worked for me! Not sure why, but excellent tip and thanks.:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
[doublepost=1477303102][/doublepost]
Re Costino1 tip - i just want to say that worked for me! Not sure why, but excellent tip and thanks.:)

Cool, glad it worked! Never imagined my post on here would be so helpful.
 
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

to be honest, i didn't think it would work. I actually tried it, and it did. omg lol thanks for that!
 
Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.

Hold Home button then insert usb cable to charge, your phone should go to recovery mode (itunes icon will appear on the screen). Then using "Reiboot" software you will be able to exit from recovery mode. Wait till phone reboots completely and you are good to go.
 
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
yo, your actually a genius!!! it worked, god damn, thanks a lot :)
[doublepost=1486805996][/doublepost]
Ha! Glad it worked. Did for me a few years ago. Had a dead iPhone and i was like crap my button is broke i can't do a hard reset. So i broke my muscles out and smashed it against the desk for a bit and boom...worked.

Glad to help
saaammeee, made an account just to say thanks :)
[doublepost=1486806046][/doublepost]
I never imagined this thread would help out so many people....wow!

Glad everyone managed to fix their phones! I feel honored to help out
thanks :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

its 2017 and id thank you so much because it worked, thought the buttons broken and my screens cacked a bit but somehow it worked. Thank You!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

HEY!!! I was panicking because my Iphone wouldn't turn on. I tried this and it worked! It actually worked!!!! I am so happy, thank you so much random person! you saved my weekend!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
Thanks alooot. It worked!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
Thank you. It works!!!
 
worked for me, thanks!

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Costino1
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.