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When a phone has only one main button, it can be pretty frustrating when that one
button doesn't really work anymore. If you have an iPhone 4 or 4S, you know exactly
what I'm talking about. Yep, the Home button, which is prone to unresponsiveness
and lag.
Most users blame the Home button issues on either dirt, moisture, or misalignment.
No matter what the reason, having a busted Home button sucks, especially for those
of you no longer under warranty. But that's okay, because there are a few things you
can try out, Apple being your last resort.
Fix 1: Calibrate Your iPhone
The very first thing you should try with your iPhone is calibration. It's the fastest and
easiest method for fixing your Home button, though, it won't work for everyone. Just
open up one of the native iPhone apps, like Weather or Clock, and follow these steps.
1. Press and hold the sleep button until the slide to power off swipe bar appears,
then release the button.
Image via whited00r.com
1. Now, press and hold the Home button until the phone returns to the home
screen.
That's it. Two steps. If it worked for you, cool, it was probably due to an app not
loading or closing properly. If you never even made it past the second step, then
you've got some more possible fixes to try out...
Fix 2: Realign Your iPhone's Connector
How long have you had your iPhone for? A while probably, and you've more than
likely charged it every single day since you got it. So, it's quite possible that you
might have inadvertently shifted some things out of place plugging and unplugging
that 30-pin connecter everyday.
Since the Home button is directly above the connector port, it's common for the 30-
pin connector to knock the home button out of alignment.
To remedy this, simply plug the connector into your iPhone and push down gently on
the connector, which will force the Home button upward. As you're pushing the
connector, press the Home button and see if that solved your problem. If so, cool.
No? Try this...
Fix 3: Restore Your iPhone
Restoring your iPhone is the most common fix for your Home button lag. Just make
sure to back up all of your data in iTunes before you restore your device.
To restore your iOS software, connect your iPhone to iTunes and select it under
Devices. Find the Summary tab, then click Restore.
Image via apple.com
You can find more details and tips on Apple's support page.
Fix 4: Clean Your Home Button
Like anything, after a ton of use, the iPhone's Home button can get dirty, causing it to
lose it functionality. Lint from your pocket or old Cheetos dust can find its way into
the small crevice encircling the home button.
In order to clean this out properly you want to use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and a
cotton swab. Put a few droplets of alcohol directly on the Home button and push
down on it using the cotton swab. Wait a few minutes and then check to see if that
fixed the problem.
Fix 5: Twist and Spin
I found this method on a bunch of Mac forums, but never tried it out. While I cannot
promise you that this will do the trick, it never hurts to try. Simply place your iPhone
on its back, hold the Home button down firmly, and then twist the phone clockwise.
If you have a case, you will probably want to remove it to allow for easier rotating.
Why would such a thing work? I have no idea. But if you want your Home button to
work again, it's worth a try.
Faux Fix: On-Screen Home Button
If all of these other methods fail and your Home button simply does not function, you
always have the option to enable the on-screen Home button. Go to Settings ->
General -> Accessibility -> Assistive Touch.
button doesn't really work anymore. If you have an iPhone 4 or 4S, you know exactly
what I'm talking about. Yep, the Home button, which is prone to unresponsiveness
and lag.
Most users blame the Home button issues on either dirt, moisture, or misalignment.
No matter what the reason, having a busted Home button sucks, especially for those
of you no longer under warranty. But that's okay, because there are a few things you
can try out, Apple being your last resort.
Fix 1: Calibrate Your iPhone
The very first thing you should try with your iPhone is calibration. It's the fastest and
easiest method for fixing your Home button, though, it won't work for everyone. Just
open up one of the native iPhone apps, like Weather or Clock, and follow these steps.
1. Press and hold the sleep button until the slide to power off swipe bar appears,
then release the button.
Image via whited00r.com
1. Now, press and hold the Home button until the phone returns to the home
screen.
That's it. Two steps. If it worked for you, cool, it was probably due to an app not
loading or closing properly. If you never even made it past the second step, then
you've got some more possible fixes to try out...
Fix 2: Realign Your iPhone's Connector
How long have you had your iPhone for? A while probably, and you've more than
likely charged it every single day since you got it. So, it's quite possible that you
might have inadvertently shifted some things out of place plugging and unplugging
that 30-pin connecter everyday.
Since the Home button is directly above the connector port, it's common for the 30-
pin connector to knock the home button out of alignment.
To remedy this, simply plug the connector into your iPhone and push down gently on
the connector, which will force the Home button upward. As you're pushing the
connector, press the Home button and see if that solved your problem. If so, cool.
No? Try this...
Fix 3: Restore Your iPhone
Restoring your iPhone is the most common fix for your Home button lag. Just make
sure to back up all of your data in iTunes before you restore your device.
To restore your iOS software, connect your iPhone to iTunes and select it under
Devices. Find the Summary tab, then click Restore.
Image via apple.com
You can find more details and tips on Apple's support page.
Fix 4: Clean Your Home Button
Like anything, after a ton of use, the iPhone's Home button can get dirty, causing it to
lose it functionality. Lint from your pocket or old Cheetos dust can find its way into
the small crevice encircling the home button.
In order to clean this out properly you want to use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and a
cotton swab. Put a few droplets of alcohol directly on the Home button and push
down on it using the cotton swab. Wait a few minutes and then check to see if that
fixed the problem.
Fix 5: Twist and Spin
I found this method on a bunch of Mac forums, but never tried it out. While I cannot
promise you that this will do the trick, it never hurts to try. Simply place your iPhone
on its back, hold the Home button down firmly, and then twist the phone clockwise.
If you have a case, you will probably want to remove it to allow for easier rotating.
Why would such a thing work? I have no idea. But if you want your Home button to
work again, it's worth a try.
Faux Fix: On-Screen Home Button
If all of these other methods fail and your Home button simply does not function, you
always have the option to enable the on-screen Home button. Go to Settings ->
General -> Accessibility -> Assistive Touch.