Tempermental iPhone 4 home button 4.1

[RITZFit]

Mine has recently stared acting up out of the blue (about 4 months old now). The severity of the issue varies as does the frequency of when it comes around. Usually it seems to play up if I let it sit idle...but if I keep messing with it directly afterward it acts perfectly normal

 

[Sir Ruben]

I think the problem we have is caused by lint buildup under the home button as time passes:

Would explain how it gets worse over time.

Wonder if blowing air into the dock connector port would help, or would the phone need to be opened?

 

[lansi23]

I think the problem we have is caused by lint buildup under the home button as time passes:

Image

Would explain how it gets worse over time.

Wonder if blowing air into the dock connector port would help, or would the phone need to be opened?

yup, this is exactly what i mentioned a few posts back. mine didn't look as bad as yours, but basically this is the cause.

blowing air into dock connector will not help as the air will not travel to the bottom of the home button.

best way is to dismantle and clean

 

[reaborg]

Wow, hard to imagine that much lint/dust can get into the home button through that tiny gap around the button.

I think the problem we have is caused by lint buildup under the home button as time passes:

Would explain how it gets worse over time.

Wonder if blowing air into the dock connector port would help, or would the phone need to be opened?

 

[whsbuss]

I had this ****** home button bug since 4.3.1, starting with the day of the update.
but now, doing a "set as new iphone" DFU reset. with a fresh 4.3.2, it´s gone since 4 days...

let´s see what the future will bring

So to be clear, you did a full backup first, then set as new in DFU mode, then restored backup. Correct?

 

[whsbuss]

What's the real difference between their refurb and new replacement?

 

[maclaptop]

Disclaimer: I'm a huge Apple enthusiast of many years.

But I'm convinced quality is on the decline. After living with mine for some time, I gave up and had it replaced.

On one hand I'm happy Apples so successful, yet they are showing signs of great compromise.

They seem a bit lost. Edgy, paranoid about Android... All for nothing.

 

[whsbuss]

Disclaimer: I'm a huge Apple enthusiast of many years.

But I'm convinced quality is on the decline. After living with mine for some time, I gave up and had it replaced.

On one hand I'm happy Apples so successful, yet they are showing signs of great compromise.

They seem a bit lost. Edgy, paranoid about Android... All for nothing.

I just scheduled my Appt for May 2. Tired of dealing with it. I sure hope the replacement has no sensor or dropped calls issues. Haven't had any of those problems.

 

[Sir Ruben]

Taking the back off the phone is easy, but will this allow me to reach the gap between the home button and where it makes contact to, or will that require I dismantle the phone further?

If it takes too much work then theres no point as it happens rarely and I will be using my free upgrade for the iPhone 4s/Iphone 5 in the next few months.

 

[funky1975]

@whsbuss: no, no backup!
i do a restore of all settings and apps by hand... takes a few hours, but the problem is still gone

 

[PrimaFacie]

Well, my iPhone started acting up again after updating to 4.3.2. So, I took it back to the Apple Store today, and now I'm on my second replacement (interestingly, this one is not a refurb). I've only had it a few hours, but so far so good. Of course, my first replacement lasted a month before it started going bad.

 

[PrimaFacie]

Well, my iPhone started acting up again after updating to 4.3.2. So, I took it back to the Apple Store today, and now I'm on my second replacement (interestingly, this one is not a refurb). I've only had it a few hours, but so far so good. Of course, my first replacement lasted a month before it started going bad.

This was quite a short lived victory. While the home button works flawlessly, the proximity sensor is really messed up. Back to the Apple Store ... <sigh>

 

[whsbuss]

Got mine replaced today. No questions asked by the "genius". So far the home buttons is perfect. She said I could do a restore in iTunes because the home button issue is hardware related. That's what I did.

 

[Marconelly]

@whsbuss: no, no backup!
i do a restore of all settings and apps by hand... takes a few hours, but the problem is still gone

Maybe it happened to get unstuck for you by sheer luck, but it's a bad advice to give as this is not a software issue. It slowly gets progressively worse, and for most people that have it, they can replicate it almost 100% of the time when pressing a certain portion of the button. For me, it's the top portion. If I press the button angling the thumb upwards, it almost never works as it should. If I press it angling downwards, almost always works. Lint buildup as in picture above is most likely cause.

I should be calling apple about this soon, as my 1y warranty will be expiring. I hope they repair it when I send it to them, instead of giving me a refurb? I don't want to get something that has some bigger problem.

 

[whsbuss]

I too think its hardware related (lint/dust). Why would Apple just replace it so easily? I'm thinking of getting the Otterbox Defender (ugly & bulky but may reduce dust buildup)

 

[Sir Ruben]

This was quite a short lived victory. While the home button works flawlessly, the proximity sensor is really messed up. Back to the Apple Store ... <sigh>

THIS is exactly the kind of reason why I plan to live with it until the next iPhone, my phone is perfect in every respect since day one except the occasional button issue.

 

[gadget123]

Got mine replaced today. No questions asked by the "genius". So far the home buttons is perfect. She said I could do a restore in iTunes because the home button issue is hardware related. That's what I did.

I took mine back a few weeks ago they claimed it was fine.

I pointed out I had to really press on it and the sides don't respond..so he kept saying you have to press the "centre" and he kept pressing hard and said he can't see my issue..

He said I could have seen a genius but I gave up clearly he wouldn't change my Iphone. So still I have to press my Iphone button hard sometimes for it to respond.

 

[whsbuss]

I took mine back a few weeks ago they claimed it was fine.

I pointed out I had to really press on it and the sides don't respond..so he kept saying you have to press the "centre" and he kept pressing hard and said he can't see my issue..

He said I could have seen a genius but I gave up clearly he wouldn't change my Iphone. So still I have to press my Iphone button hard sometimes for it to respond.

Try again w/genius. If this was software Apple would not so easily change units. She never even tried to recreate the problem when I was there.... 5 mins top and I had a new IP4. With so many reporting the problem, I believe its either lint/dust/dirt getting into the home button area or there was a bad run of buttons during manfacturing.

 

[Sparky9292]

Going to ask for replacement at Apple store.....

Got mine replaced today. No questions asked by the "genius". So far the home buttons is perfect. She said I could do a restore in iTunes because the home button issue is hardware related. That's what I did.

I have a "Genius" appointment today about the button issue. I completely erased my phone and restored to a fresh 4.3.2 to avoid the usual blame on 3rd party apps/cruft.

It happens about 1 out of every 10 times I press the home button. Sometimes it takes three presses to get the home button to respond.

I've had this problem since 4.0.1 so I thought it was just a quirk in the firmware.

In the past, the local store is pretty good about simply replacing it. Last time I bitched about the GPS not working on my 3G and the genius simply replaced it on the spot. That would be incredibly hard to prove unless I took the Genius for a ride in my car around the city.

 

[whsbuss]

I have a "Genius" appointment today about the button issue. I completely erased my phone and restored to a fresh 4.3.2 to avoid the usual blame on 3rd party apps/cruft.

It happens about 1 out of every 10 times I press the home button. Sometimes it takes three presses to get the home button to respond.

I've had this problem since 4.0.1 so I thought it was just a quirk in the firmware.

In the past, the local store is pretty good about simply replacing it. Last time I bitched about the GPS not working on my 3G and the genius simply replaced it on the spot. That would be incredibly hard to prove unless I took the Genius for a ride in my car around the city.

Very interesting. I didn't see any problems till 4.2 was loaded and then just very intermittent. Got worse till it happened 80% of the time. Since you've seen this all the way back to 4.0.1 makes me think it a hardware issue.

 

[Sparky9292]

Ftw!

Well good news...

I told the "Genius" my problem, and he said "Nah, you don't have to prove it.. it happens all of the time and it's annoying. How bout we just replace it."

FTW!

 

[saintforlife]

I have the same issue and want to exchange my iP4 for a different one.

Which is the preferred Apple Store in the San Francisco South Bay Area to get your phone replaced with the least number of questions and hassle?

Apple Store Valley Fair
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95050

Apple Store Oakridge
925 Blossom Hill Road
San Jose, CA 95123

Apple Store Palo Alto
451 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301

I hate to do multiple trips to the Apple store and want to get it replaced on the first try. I appreciate any previous experiences you can share about any of the above store. TIA!

 

[whsbuss]

Well good news...

I told the "Genius" my problem, and he said "Nah, you don't have to prove it.. it happens all of the time and it's annoying. How bout we just replace it."

FTW!

There you go. I wish Apple would at least acknowledge what the problem is. Dust/lint or bad batch of buttons.

 

[Goldinboy17]

So I think I'll schedule a Genius appointment since this is an occasional bother. Hopefully they won't be too difficult to persuade.

 

[ATC]

I was reluctant about going into an Apple store to get my iPhone looked at thinking it was a software issue all along.

Yesterday I popped into the Apple Store in Vancouver (Pacific center) and wanted to get their opinion on the issue. A Genius was available (without an appointment) and he asked me if I tried restoring the phone which I had done, he also tried to replicate it but of course it didn't happen. He suggested replacing my unit. Within a few mins I walked out with a brand new iP4 and the home button is perfect. I have tried to replicate the issue since I got it yesterday and it hasn't happened.

I now think it's definitely a hardware issue. My only regret is not having it replaced sooner.

My advice for anyone having this annoying issue is go into your nearest Apple store and get it replaced.