Why the button stops working
The Home button on older iPhones and the side button on modern ones are some of the most heavily used mechanical elements in the device. They are pressed several hundred times a day, and sooner or later, something goes wrong. The button sinks, sticks, clicks without a response, or doesn't move at all. It's unpleasant, but in most cases, it's solvable.
Common causes
Most often, we receive iPhones after a drop. An impact shifts the flex cable inside the housing — the contact is broken, and the button stops responding. At the same time, everything on the outside may be intact: no cracks, no dents. It looks like new, but the button is silent.
Another common story is dirt. Dust, pocket lint, and small debris get under the Home button on iPhone 6, 7, and SE. A layer accumulates that interferes with normal travel. The button starts to click with a crunch or sticks halfway.
Sometimes it's a software glitch. After an iOS update or a non-standard app, the button is physically alive, but the system doesn't hear it. It's rare, but it happens.
A separate issue is water. If the phone has been in a puddle or left on a damp surface, oxidation of the contacts under the button is almost inevitable. The second-generation iPhone SE is particularly vulnerable in this regard: its dust and moisture protection is weaker than that of the flagships.
What to try yourself
If the button has become harder to press but hasn't failed completely, there are a few simple steps.
- Restart your iPhone. It sounds banal, but a software freeze sometimes blocks input processing. Hold the side button and the volume down button until the power-off slider appears.
- Turn on AssistiveTouch. This is a temporary workaround, not a repair — but it will give you an on-screen Home button while you deal with the problem. Settings — Accessibility — Touch — AssistiveTouch.
- Blow out the button. Use a can of compressed air, a few short bursts at a slight angle. Don't overdo it. Sometimes this dislodges debris from under the button, and it comes back to life.
- Update iOS. If you suspect a software glitch, check for an update. It rarely helps, but it's worth checking.
If none of these steps worked, it's better not to experiment further. Attempts to disassemble an iPhone at home without experience end in torn flex cables and additional expenses.
When you need a technician
Come in immediately if:
- the button doesn't press at all or has sunk in
- Touch ID stopped working along with the button
- the phone has been in water
- the button started clicking or creaking after a drop
- AssistiveTouch is a temporary fix, but the mechanics are clearly damaged
From our experience: recently, an iPhone 13 was brought to us — the side button wasn't responding at all. The client initially thought the phone was just out of charge. It turned out the button's flex cable had partially detached inside the housing after a drop. The replacement took about an hour, and the device was returned the same day.
There was also a case with an iPhone 7: the Home button pressed, but Touch ID wouldn't trigger. Dirt had reached the fingerprint scanner. After cleaning, everything worked without replacing the part. This happens to us regularly, especially with phones used without a case — the exposed metal rim of the button collects debris like a magnet.
Diagnostics at iClub — free of charge
If the button is unresponsive or working inconsistently, come visit us at 35 Kommunisticheskaya St. A technician will examine the device in your presence, explain the cause, and provide the repair cost. Diagnostics are free. Replacing the Home button or side button flex cable on most iPhone models takes from 30 minutes to two hours.