Home Button Troubleshooting

iPhone Home Button Not Working

* IMPORTANT: Only the original iPhone's home button is capable of using Touch Id function. Installing a new home button (included with some LCD screens) will restore all standard functions, but NOT Touch Id fingerprint features. To get Touch Id, you will need to transfer home button from your original screen.

 

Here are troubleshooting tips for iPhone Home Button not working after screen is replaced. There are a few problems it could be.

 

1. Check The Cables

 

The home button and 3D touch share a single cable that leads to your phone’s internals. Problem can also be caused by the home button’s extension flex cable running through the back of the lcd, and/or a damaged camera/speaker flex cable on top. So make sure to check all those cables out carefully These cables are incredibly fragile. To check it, remove the metal plate that’s behind the screen. If there’s damage to this cable, it is necessary to replace the entire backlight.

 

2. Check the Screw

 

The screw behind the home button is shorter than the other screws. Make sure you have the right screw. Loosen the screw behind the center of the home button (holding it to the metal bracket). The screw can be too snug. Some have removed that single screw completely.

 

3. Disconnect the battery

 

With old screen/connections attached, disconnect the battery then reconnect your new LCD and home button circuits before connecting the battery again. Battery must be disconnected before repair starts and ANY connectors removed.

 

4. Check Home Button with Original Screen

 

Change things around with your phone and see what happens. Does the old home button still work with the old screen?

 

5. Issue - Return to home not working

 

Wait 5-10 minutes and test again. If isopropyl was used to remove adhesive, this may have gotten the home button wet and caused home button not to work until it dries.

 

6. Reset The Phone

 

Doing a full restore on the phone’s software can sometimes help. Back up your phone, reboot your phone into DFU mode and perform a complete restore. In a lot of cases, this will fix your home button without any hardware work.

 

7. Turn On Assistive Touch

 

While it’s not necessarily an ideal solution, you can turn on a software home button rather than rely on the physical one that failed. When you turn on Assistive Touch, your phone’s operating system will put a virtual home button at the bottom of your screen. It’ll give off a little buzz when you touch it to simulate the feeling of your physical button.

To turn on this feature, use one of these methods:

1. Tell Siri: “Turn on Assistive Touch”
2. Go to Settings -> General -> Accessibility -> Assistive Touch. Turn it on.

This will work for any situation where you find your iPhone home button not working.

 

7. Return to Home Not Working - you

 

 

---

 

 

iPad Home Button Issues

* IMPORTANT: Only the original iPad's home button is capable of using Touch Id function. Installing a new home button (included with some screens) will restore all standard functions, but NOT Touch Id fingerprint features. To get Touch Id, you will need to transfer home button from your original screen.

 

If home button not working after repair or during use, try this to get it to work before you open device. Helps if home button is stuck, jammed, lagging or unresponsive or broken - How to fix a home button issue on an iPad >

 

Transfering home button

Transfering the home button from original to new screen takes patience. Take your time on this.

 

1. Tip: Make sure you have all the components in the home button assembly. Here are typical components and position: Glass, spacer, home button, soft gasket then holding bracket. You can transfer or purchase home button components from the original screen including the gasket or spacer and bracket. Use adhesive to secure bracket which holds home button. If transferring gasket, apply a little heat to loosen so you don't tear.

2. Home button itself not holding - Make sure you're using the plastic spacer ring. It positions the button at the proper depth and helps prevent the edges of the button from catching under the glass. A new gasket may also help to hold button better. Warning: These are delicate so be careful or they can tear.

 

3. Home button bracket not holding - Yyou may need to use combination of adhesive and glue on bracket. Clean the bracket and the glass where the home button bracket sits with isopropyl alcohol. Apply adhesive strips on the bracket to secure it. Some repair professionals use multi-purpose B7000 liquid glue on the left and right hand side edges of the bracket. And let the glue set for 24 hours. Here is an expert video that gives some good tips for any iPad (note: primer mentioned is NOT required) - Transfer Home Button

 

4. Home button will not click or doesn't lay flat - Remove the digitizer, and check for any debris such as broken glass chards near the home button. This is quite common. Also check that the home button bracket is on straight as if it is not straight there will not be click.

 

5. Home button is sunken - Use electrical tape over the home button bracket/plate to hold the home button in place. This will stop the button from sinking.

 

Replacing home button

1. If replacing the home button during a repair, and it doesn't work, make sure the home button is on straight. If the home button is crooked won't make contact with both pins. To correct, you may need to take off home button and straighten it.

 

2. If working with a new home button and having trouble. You may want to go back and transfer the home button assembly from the old screen to the new one.

 

Note: As an interim solution, you may be able to use AssistiveTouch - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202658

 

 

iPad Mini Home Button Not Working

If your home button will not click at all, remove the digitizer, and check for any debris near your home button. The iPad Mini home button does not have any bracket mount to hold button in. All of the home button pressure comes from the metal housing frame of your device. If the glass digitizer is not flush after repair, the home button will not receive the pressure needed to make the button work.

 

If you can hear a click, but you get no response from the device, double check the digitizer flex cable for any signs of nicks or crimps (excessive folding). The home button flex cable on an iPad Mini is part of the digitizer flex cable of this device. If either cable has been damaged, you will need to replace the iPad Mini digitizer before home button will work.

 

If the cables look intact, and you can feel the “click” feature, there may be damage on the motherboard of the iPad. You may need to get help from online forums or take to a professional.