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iPhone 3G home button not working!
- Thread starter rowanmmcdonald
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could be software
I have been experiencing this problem as well. Need to press home button sometimes 20 times to get it to respond.
In another forum, I saw a post that this might be related to recent software updates (either 4.2 or 4.3, a little ambiguous depending on where you read).
That's consistent with when the problem started for me.
Furthermore, someone suggested that if you manage to close all of your apps, the problem might go away. For me, this is the case. If it were a hardware problem with the button, that would have zero effect on the behavior. Thus, I feel that it is certainly software in my case.
Suggest people explore the software angle fully before disassembling your phone!
As for solutions? Not sure. I have restored my phone and the problem didn't go away. I have powered my phone down, and rebooted, and problem didn't go away. It makes no sense that shutting down all apps might fix the issue, but rebooting doesn't.
But that's what I've seen so far.
I have been experiencing this problem as well. Need to press home button sometimes 20 times to get it to respond.
In another forum, I saw a post that this might be related to recent software updates (either 4.2 or 4.3, a little ambiguous depending on where you read).
That's consistent with when the problem started for me.
Furthermore, someone suggested that if you manage to close all of your apps, the problem might go away. For me, this is the case. If it were a hardware problem with the button, that would have zero effect on the behavior. Thus, I feel that it is certainly software in my case.
Suggest people explore the software angle fully before disassembling your phone!
As for solutions? Not sure. I have restored my phone and the problem didn't go away. I have powered my phone down, and rebooted, and problem didn't go away. It makes no sense that shutting down all apps might fix the issue, but rebooting doesn't.
But that's what I've seen so far.
could be protective case
I have a 3G and I had this problem for a long time and it was getting really frustrating. Once I started to look up for solutions on the internet, in one of the articles there was a quick mention that a protective case can also cause such problem. Then I removed the case and thanks god IT WORKED!
I have a 3G and I had this problem for a long time and it was getting really frustrating. Once I started to look up for solutions on the internet, in one of the articles there was a quick mention that a protective case can also cause such problem. Then I removed the case and thanks god IT WORKED!
instant button repair that worked for me on my 3g iphone
After not being able to have my button work for about 3 months & using another phone, I tried everything I found on this site to fix it without having to take it in to get repaired .This is what i did , I put one thumb on the bottom left hand screen in the left hand corner & did the same on the right side of the bottom screen with my other thumb and pressed down on both sides at the same time - after that the button started working immidiately & has been working perfect for 2 weeks now . Try this & if it works for you please post so that others can follow this button repair procedure and save 50 bucks & your time . Good Luck Gilbert
After not being able to have my button work for about 3 months & using another phone, I tried everything I found on this site to fix it without having to take it in to get repaired .This is what i did , I put one thumb on the bottom left hand screen in the left hand corner & did the same on the right side of the bottom screen with my other thumb and pressed down on both sides at the same time - after that the button started working immidiately & has been working perfect for 2 weeks now . Try this & if it works for you please post so that others can follow this button repair procedure and save 50 bucks & your time . Good Luck Gilbert
iPhone 3g home button not working
I had the same problem. My phone got wet while sailing and I immediately turned it off, did the rice trick for 24 hours. When I turned it back on it went to the plug into iTunes mode. I did that, and after two attempts it rebooted. I recovered my data from backup and the phone worked fine for about 12 hours. Then the home button stopped working. I could still use the phone, but I would inevitably get stuck on whatever screen I was on. I would have to use the top power button to reset etc. I did the resets with the home button and power button again and again. Eventually it ended up back at the plug into iTunes screen again. I didn't have time to do a reset again so I left it in the car while I went to work. When I returned 4 hours later, the phone was dead. I plugged it into the charger and turned it on, and alas it worked, including the home button. It did have the heat shut-down message (because the car was probably 120 degrees). After cooling the phone, it has worked fine since.
I've read through this entire thread, and I didn't see anyone mention that heat could fix the problem. For some reason this worked in my case. I know the phone has been water damaged, as this is the second time it has been completely soaked due to sailing. Before abandoning the device, try letting it get hot enough to trigger the heat shutdown. (I wouldn't recommend using an oven or other extreme heat source...but a hot car worked for mine.)
I had the same problem. My phone got wet while sailing and I immediately turned it off, did the rice trick for 24 hours. When I turned it back on it went to the plug into iTunes mode. I did that, and after two attempts it rebooted. I recovered my data from backup and the phone worked fine for about 12 hours. Then the home button stopped working. I could still use the phone, but I would inevitably get stuck on whatever screen I was on. I would have to use the top power button to reset etc. I did the resets with the home button and power button again and again. Eventually it ended up back at the plug into iTunes screen again. I didn't have time to do a reset again so I left it in the car while I went to work. When I returned 4 hours later, the phone was dead. I plugged it into the charger and turned it on, and alas it worked, including the home button. It did have the heat shut-down message (because the car was probably 120 degrees). After cooling the phone, it has worked fine since.
I've read through this entire thread, and I didn't see anyone mention that heat could fix the problem. For some reason this worked in my case. I know the phone has been water damaged, as this is the second time it has been completely soaked due to sailing. Before abandoning the device, try letting it get hot enough to trigger the heat shutdown. (I wouldn't recommend using an oven or other extreme heat source...but a hot car worked for mine.)
Trick to fixing home button
Hey guys, I see alot of your home buttons aren't working, I recently changed my cracked screen and while scraping the glass out I pushed the connectors on the back of the home button backwards I then tried to push them back the correct way which caused them to snap off leaving me with a faulty home button. I opened the phone back up and Put a square of foil on top of the 2 broken connectors and another square of foil onto the 2 buttons on the motherboard that are meant to touch the connectors and success my home button is fully working now!! Just make sure u don't put too much foil as it can have the opposite affect and push the button all the time even when your not pushing it!
Hey guys, I see alot of your home buttons aren't working, I recently changed my cracked screen and while scraping the glass out I pushed the connectors on the back of the home button backwards I then tried to push them back the correct way which caused them to snap off leaving me with a faulty home button. I opened the phone back up and Put a square of foil on top of the 2 broken connectors and another square of foil onto the 2 buttons on the motherboard that are meant to touch the connectors and success my home button is fully working now!! Just make sure u don't put too much foil as it can have the opposite affect and push the button all the time even when your not pushing it!
help me please
help me please i put my phone on to charge the other night and when i got up it was fully charged but the round button on it doesnt work no more ive reset it and all thats happened is all my music and games and apps have gone ive also tried to do what that person down below said to try and all that did was turn my phone off due to the button not working can someone please help me before i go spend the £14.99 the shop wants me to pay to get them to just look at it
help me please i put my phone on to charge the other night and when i got up it was fully charged but the round button on it doesnt work no more ive reset it and all thats happened is all my music and games and apps have gone ive also tried to do what that person down below said to try and all that did was turn my phone off due to the button not working can someone please help me before i go spend the £14.99 the shop wants me to pay to get them to just look at it
assistive touch
don't bother with all the other methods presented unless they work. just go into settings, general, accessibility and then activate assistive touch.
don't bother with all the other methods presented unless they work. just go into settings, general, accessibility and then activate assistive touch.
how to fix
possibly the water dirtyed the button, or the heat made the plastic loose and pressing it loosened dirt...
the button is basically pressing 2 contacts together which allows electricity to flow between 2 small contacts on the motherboard.
If you open your phone and look at the back of the home button, youll see (or you wont see if its broke) 2 small gold colored tabs. they need to be able to reach the 2 small square gold contacts on the motherboard.
A) the gold tabs need to not be flat against the part of the phone with the home button. If they are FLAT it wont work, they need to reach out and touch the contacts on the motherboard. (youll see if you short the contacts on the motherboard while the phone is on it will be like you pressed the home button)
B) you need to be able to press the button... if you cant, its jammed. either the plastic warped a bit from weather dmg or its dirty for some reason. When you press the button your pressing 2 electrical contacts together which allows electricity to flow, if you cant press it down right it wont flow.
if A is your problem : Either buy new a new button assembly on ebay, along with new digitizer glue pads. its easy and cheap. View youtube for changing button assembly, hardest part is taking off digitizer which is a few screws and a hair dryer...
OR you can try to push up the contacts with a tiny flathead screwdriver a bit so that they can reach the gold contact pads when you close up the phone.
OR you can actually solder a wire from the pad to the place where the gold prongs are (behind the button) or where there supposed to be....
If B is your problem -
You can try heating up the button with a hair dryer from the top (after you open the phone ofcoarse and press it many times trying to loosen dirt/reshape it.
OR you can try shooting compressed air at the button
or.... you can try scraping the button smaller with a exacto knife... so that it will make the contact easyer when you press it...
I dont think it will break your warrenty to do this unless you remove tape thats blocking certain screws. if you just open the phone and mess around with the button/move the contacts up it should be ok...
honestly, its apples fault for making those prongs badly. they break easily ! and flatten ! why would they make it like this.... I guess so you buy a new one.
possibly the water dirtyed the button, or the heat made the plastic loose and pressing it loosened dirt...
the button is basically pressing 2 contacts together which allows electricity to flow between 2 small contacts on the motherboard.
If you open your phone and look at the back of the home button, youll see (or you wont see if its broke) 2 small gold colored tabs. they need to be able to reach the 2 small square gold contacts on the motherboard.
A) the gold tabs need to not be flat against the part of the phone with the home button. If they are FLAT it wont work, they need to reach out and touch the contacts on the motherboard. (youll see if you short the contacts on the motherboard while the phone is on it will be like you pressed the home button)
B) you need to be able to press the button... if you cant, its jammed. either the plastic warped a bit from weather dmg or its dirty for some reason. When you press the button your pressing 2 electrical contacts together which allows electricity to flow, if you cant press it down right it wont flow.
if A is your problem : Either buy new a new button assembly on ebay, along with new digitizer glue pads. its easy and cheap. View youtube for changing button assembly, hardest part is taking off digitizer which is a few screws and a hair dryer...
OR you can try to push up the contacts with a tiny flathead screwdriver a bit so that they can reach the gold contact pads when you close up the phone.
OR you can actually solder a wire from the pad to the place where the gold prongs are (behind the button) or where there supposed to be....
If B is your problem -
You can try heating up the button with a hair dryer from the top (after you open the phone ofcoarse and press it many times trying to loosen dirt/reshape it.
OR you can try shooting compressed air at the button
or.... you can try scraping the button smaller with a exacto knife... so that it will make the contact easyer when you press it...
I dont think it will break your warrenty to do this unless you remove tape thats blocking certain screws. if you just open the phone and mess around with the button/move the contacts up it should be ok...
honestly, its apples fault for making those prongs badly. they break easily ! and flatten ! why would they make it like this.... I guess so you buy a new one.