Is your iPhone home button stuck? The most probable cause is dust or dirt lodged inside. You can fix this with a compressed air can or some rubbing alcohol.
Of course, the issue could also be due to a software bug or glitch. You'll have to either calibrate your home button, update your system, or restore iOS.
I've dealt with this problem several times on my iPhone 8 Plus, and yes, it is tricky. However, you're sure to find a solution if you keep reading.
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How Do You Fix a Jammed iPhone Button?
There are many fixes for this, and they include:
Solution 1: Enable On Screen Home Button
Regardless of the cause, a temporary solution is enabling an onscreen home button via Assistive Touch.
Here's how:
On iOS 14:
- Go to Settings > General
- Tap Accessibility
- Tap Assistive Touch
On iOS 15 and newer vesions:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Accessibility
- Tap Touch
- Toggle on Assistive Touch
A virtual button will be pinned to your iPhone screen. You can set it to do various things, not just act as a replacement home button. For example, to take screenshots.
It’s a great temporary solution until you get your device repaired.
Solution 2: Calibrate iPhone
Your home button could be stuck due to a software glitch Try recalibrating your handset. All you have to do is:
- Open any stock app (like Notes or Weather)
- Hold the Sleep Button until the slide to shut-down screen appears
- Let go of the Sleep button and start holding the Home button (the app you opened will automatically close after 5-10 seconds)
Solution 3: Clean the Home Button
Your iPhone's home button may simply not be working because of clogged dust and dirt. If you live in a particularly dusty area, this shouldn't come as a surprise.
There are many ways to solve this, but the best would be to:
- Dampen a cotton swab with 98-99% isopropyl alcohol
- Use a narrow, dull object (like an eraser on the back of a pencil) to press the home button as you wipe the swab over it
- Repeatedly tap the home button afterwards to ensure the isopropyl seeps in
- Wipe the area clean
Wait 10-15 minutes to see if that solves it.
Instead of going the above route, you can also press the home button and then shoot short controlled bursts from a compressed air can.
Solution 4: Realign the Docking Port
If you own the iPhone 4s, regularly plugging and then unplugging your USB cable can inadvertently shift its internal components. Although this sounds like too much work, it's not:
- Plug your USB cable into your device
- Press the Home button as you gently push down the connector so that it pushes behind your home button
Solution 5: Twist Your Phone
I know this sounds strange, but twisting your mobile can fix the issue.
Here's what you need to do:
- Remove your device from its case
- Place it on its back
- Twist it in a clockwise motion slowly while you hold the home button
Solution 6: Upgrade iOS
If you haven't updated iOS in a while, the chances of a bug causing problems like the one in question are high. Clear them by updating iOS.
Here's how to update an iPhone:
- Go to Settings > tap General > Software Update
- Download any firmware available
Your mobile will reboot afterwards.
Solution 7: Restore iPhone
A serious software problem could be the culprit. However, Apple may not have released a patch to fix it yet. The only way around this is to restore an older, more stable version of your operating system.
Just a warning, though, you will lose all your personal data. Backup your files to iCloud beforehand.
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You'll have to enter recovery mode:
- Launch iTunes (use the latest version if you don't want errors)
- Close all other programs that are running, or the restoration process might get interrupted
- Connect your handset to your desktop via USB or lightning cable
- On iPhone 8 and later models (including iPhone SE 2nd generation)
- Press and hold the Volume up button
- Press and hold the Volume Down button
- Keep pressing the Power button until the recovery mode screen appears on your phone
- On iPhone 7 and 7 plus
- Press and hold the top or side power buttons and the volume down button at the same time
- Keep pressing the Power button until the recovery mode screen appears on your phone
- On iPhone 6 or earlier (including iPhone SE 1st generation)
- Press and hold the top or side power buttons and the home button at the same time
- Keep pressing the Power button until the recovery mode screen appears on your phone
- Locate your device on iTunes.
- You will either be able to Restore or Update your device
- Click "Restore"
Don't disconnect from your computer until the restoration is complete. Sit back and relax as it will take around half an hour.
Solution 8: Contact Apple
None of the above solutions will work if you dropped your iPhone and badly damaged its home button.
Depending on the warranty, your local Apple store should fix this for free. Visit Apple's website to check the status of your warranty.
If it's not a hardware issue due to the handset being dropped, it could be a manufacturing defect. Apple manufactures 1000s of smartphones a day. You will get a free replacement iPhone if this is the case.
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FAQ
I've answered some common questions below:
Why Does My Home Button Feel Stuck?
There are many reasons for this:
- There could be dust and debris lodged inside. Dampen a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol and rub it, or shoot short controlled bursts from an air can.
- The internal components might be dislodged (possibly due to constant plugging in of the USB cable). Hold the button down and then twist your mobile, as mentioned in solution 3.
- Alternatively, you might have dropped your device and broken the button. Depending on your warranty, Apple should repair it for free.
- The issue could also be software-related. There might be a bug, which you can fix by updating or restoring iOS.
Why is My iPhone Home Button So Sensitive?
This is one of the peskiest iPhone problems, particularly if it's causing Touch ID to fail.
It's most likely due to water damage or because you meddled with the accessibility settings.
If you tinkered with your accessibility settings, here's how you can fix this:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap General
- Click on Accessibility
- Find and click Home Button (scroll down)
- Choose the Default click speed
- Press your home button afterwards to update the new settings
Related Reading
- iPhone 12 Touch Screen Is Not Working! What to Do (Resolved)
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Final Thoughts
It's concerning when your home button is stuck, but it's not something to worry about. You can fix the iPhone home button with a cloth dampened with some rubbing alcohol, recalibrating your handset, realigning your docking port, or updating iOS.
If the stuck iPhone home button is due to a major hardware problem, you'll have to contact Apple.
As mentioned, you can always use the Assistive touch button as a temporary fix.
Hopefully these solutions work for you.
