Why the button stops working

The Home button on older iPhones and the side button on modern ones are among 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 might sink, stick, fail to respond, or stop moving altogether. It is unpleasant, but in most cases, it is fixable.

Common causes

Most often, we receive iPhones after they have been dropped. An impact can shift the flex cable inside the housing, disrupting the contact and causing the button to stop responding. Externally, everything might look intact: no cracks, no dents. It looks like new, but the button remains silent.

Another common story is dirt. Dust, pocket lint, and small debris get under the Home button on iPhone 6, 7, and SE models. A layer accumulates, which interferes with the button's normal travel. The button starts to click with a crunching sound or gets stuck halfway.

Software glitches also happen. After an iOS update or a non-standard app, the button might be physically fine, but the system doesn't register it. It is rare, but it happens.

Water is a separate issue. 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 you can try yourself

If the button has become harder to press but hasn't failed completely, there are a few simple steps to take.

  1. Restart your iPhone. It sounds trivial, but a software freeze sometimes blocks input processing. Hold the side button and the volume down button until the power-off slider appears.
  2. 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.
  3. Blow out the button. Use a can of compressed air with 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.
  4. Update iOS. If you suspect a software glitch, check for an update. It rarely helps, but it is worth checking.

If none of these steps work, it is better not to experiment further. Attempts to disassemble an iPhone at home without experience often end in torn flex cables and additional expenses.

When you need a technician

Come see us immediately if:

  • the button does not press at all or has sunk in
  • Touch ID has 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: we recently had an iPhone 13 brought in where the side button was not responding at all. The client initially thought the phone was just out of battery. 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 would press, 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, visit us at 35 Kommunisticheskaya St. A technician will examine the device in front of you, explain the cause, and provide the cost of the repair. Diagnostics are free. The time required to replace a Home button or side button flex cable depends on the model; we will confirm this after the inspection.