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What to do about a broken Home button and Touch ID on iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone 7, and more
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If the Home button on your iPhone isn't working, there may be an easy fix. Your Home button may stop working after a drop or fall if it gets dirty or has a mechanical problem. This wikiHow article will teach you how to fix a Home button on an iPhone that isn't working, and show you how to unlock your iPhone and use an on-screen Home button until you can get your Home button working again.
Things You Should Know
- If your Home button isn't working, power down your iPhone and clean the area with a slightly damp cloth.
- To unlock the screen without the Home button, press the Power button, swipe up, tap a notification, and tap "Use Passcode".
- You can add a temporary on-screen Home button from Accessibility settings until your Home button is fixed.
Steps
Section 1 of 8:
Get a Temporary Home Button
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Unlock your iPhone's screen. Even if your Home button isn't working, you can add a temporary Home "button" to your screen with AssistiveTouch . While this isn't a great long-term solution, it'll allow you to keep using your iPhone as you work toward fixing the Home button. But if your iPhone uses Touch ID, you're probably wondering how to unlock it if the Home button isn't working. It's easier than you'd think:
- Press the side or top button to wake the screen.
- Swipe up on the locked screen to display your notifications.
- Tap a notification to bring up the Touch ID screen.
- Tap Use Passcode and enter your passcode .
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Open the Accessibility settings. If your iPhone opens to the Home screen, this will be easy without a working Home button—just open the Settings app and tap Accessibility in the third group of settings. But if your iPhone opens to the app you were using last, there's a trick to get there:
- First, if you've set up Siri to respond to "Hey Siri," just say, "Hey Siri, open Accessibility Settings."
- If that didn't work, swipe down from the top, type settings into the search field, tap Settings , and then tap Accessibility .
- If that
didn't work, open Control Center
by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, then:
- Tap the Accessibility icon—it's the outline of a person inside a circle.
- Tap Open Settings to enable Accessibility Shortcuts .
- Tap Back at the top-right to get where you need to be.
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Tap Touch . It's the first option in the "Physical and Motor" section.
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Tap AssistiveTouch and toggle on the switch. Once the switch is on, you'll see an on-screen home button on the left side of the screen. You can now use this button as a Home button.
- To unlock your screen with your temporary Home button, press the side button to wake the screen, then tap the on-screen Home button quickly once. You can then enter your passcode when prompted.
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Section 2 of 8:
Reset Your Home Button Settings
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Open your iPhone's Accessibility Settings. If any of your Home button's default settings were changed in Accessibility, it may cause your Home button not to work the way it normally does. To do so, open the Settings app and tap Accessibility .
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Tap Home Button . It's under the "Physical and Motor" header.
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Set "Click Speed" to Default . Now, try pressing the Home button twice quickly to display your apps. If it works as expected, the problem is resolved.
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Toggle on "Rest Finger to Open." If this feature was turned off, Touch ID won't work unless you press down on the Home button. Turning it on allows you to rest your finger on the button to unlock your screen in seconds. [1] X Research source
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Section 3 of 8:
Rule Out Software Issues
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Try using your Home button in another app. Open an app that came with your iPhone, such as the Notes app, and press the Home button. If the Home button works in a built-in app but not other apps, the issue is software-related.
- In this case, a recent app or operating system update may have resolved the issue.
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Check for updates. You'll want to check for both app and operating system updates.
- To check for app updates, open App Store , tap your profile photo at the top-right, and tap Update All if available.
- To check for iOS updates, open Settings , go to General > Software Update , then install any available updates.
- If Touch ID is working but your Home button can't be used to display apps, the Turtle IC chip in the Home button may be damaged. Because this is a mechanical issue, you'll need to contact Apple for repair.
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Section 4 of 8:
Check For Damage
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Make sure the button isn't obstructed. On newer models with Home buttons, the button is integrated into the screen. Adding a screen protector or an ill-fitting case may inadvertently block part of the Home button, which can prevent it from registering your touch. If your screen protector or case is blocking any part of the Home button, remove it.
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Inspect the button for physical damage. If you've dropped your iPhone, the Home button (or the area near it) may have cracked from the fall. In a well-lit room, closely inspect the Home button at different angles and look for anything unusual.
- If your Home button is visibly cracked, it's unlikely you'll get it working again. Set up a service with Apple to have your phone repaired.
- On newer iPhones with Home buttons, the button doesn't click—it only registers touch. The "clicking" feel is due to haptic touch. Pressing too hard on an iPhone 7 or later Home button can easily break it, and these buttons are not replaceable.
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Look for signs of liquid damage. If a significant amount of liquid was introduced to your iPhone's Home button, it may stop working. Is your iPhone wet? Check for signs of liquid damage by locating the Liquid Contact Indicator inside your SIM card slot. Eject your SIM, then use a flashlight to look inside the slot for a red indication line. [2] X Research source If you see the red line, your iPhone got wet, and the wetness may have broken your Home button.
- If you're using an older iPhone model that isn't as water-resistant as newer models, you may need to replace your iPhone.
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Section 5 of 8:
Remove Dirt and Debris
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Turn off your iPhone. It's possible your iPhone's Home button stopped working because something is preventing you from pressing it. On iPhone 6 and earlier, the Home button is mechanical, which means dust and debris can prevent it from working. On newer models, such as iPhone 7 and later and iPhone SE, residue from food, makeup, lotion, or really anything else, could prevent the button from registering your touch.
- To power down your phone, press and hold the top or side button and drag the slider.
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Slightly dampen a soft, lint-free cloth. Not wet! Just slightly dampened. This is important, as you don't want to get any liquids into the grooves. [3] X Research source
- Don't use anything abrasive, such as home cleaners or solvents. Just a few drops of water will do.
- If you can feel thick gunk on the Home button, use a small amount of 98% isopropyl alcohol to dampen the cloth.
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Gently rub the Home button in circles. Continue rubbing over the entire Home button multiple times until you've sufficiently removed anything blocking the Home button. Once you're finished, make sure the button is completely dry, then power your iPhone back on.
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Tips
- Resetting your iPhone to factory settings will not fix a Home button that isn't working. If the Home button does work sometimes, there's a chance a fresh start can help, but it's likely not going to solve the issue.Thanks
- Some third-party charging cables can affect your Home button. If your Home button suddenly stops working when connected to power, unplug the charging cable and see if that resolves the issue. If it does, don't use that cable again—switch to an Apple-certified charger.Thanks
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