What to Do When Your iPhone Home Button Stops Working: 5 Quick Fixes

If your iPhone home button suddenly stops working, don’t panic. There are several troubleshooting steps you can try to get it back up and running. Here are 5 quick fixes to try when your iPhone home button is not working:

1. Add an AssistiveTouch Home Button to the Screen

One of the easiest workarounds is to enable the AssistiveTouch feature in your iPhone’s accessibility settings. This adds a small virtual home button to your screen that functions just like the physical button. To enable it:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and toggle it on.
2. You can then tap the on-screen button to perform home button functions.

2. Clean the Home Button Using Isopropyl Alcohol

Sometimes a malfunctioning home button is caused by dirt or debris buildup. Gently clean the button and surrounding area with a cotton swab dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Avoid getting moisture inside the phone.

3. “Recalibrate” the Home Button

You can try a pseudo-recalibration process to reset the home button:

1. Open a few apps like Notes or Messages.
2. Press and hold the power button until “Slide to Power Off” appears.
3. Press and hold both the home button and power button together until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.
4. Let go of the buttons and your iPhone will restart.

This can sometimes reset a finicky home button.

4. Restore the Firmware on Your iPhone

If the home button issue is software-related, restoring your iPhone’s firmware may help. Back up your data, then:

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed.
2. Put your iPhone in recovery mode by pressing and holding the home and power buttons until the recovery mode screen appears.
3. iTunes will prompt you to restore or update your iPhone. Choose “Restore” to reinstall iOS.

This will erase all data, so be sure to back up first.

5. Use Your Charger to Press Against the Home Button

In a pinch, you can use the end of your iPhone charger cable to press against the home button. This provides an external “press” to trigger the button if it’s stuck. Be very gentle and avoid pressing too hard.

If none of these fixes work, your home button may have a hardware issue that requires repair. Contact Apple Support for further assistance.