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+1

Same problem.

It is still happening to me… :(

Unfortunately I am past my 1 year warranty and don’t have AppleCare.

+1

+1. for a few months now.

Check!

My iPhone4 has been doing this for around 4 months. Usually it’s at least 2-3 presses before the home button responds.

Yep, my iPhone 4 home button is a pretty random experience now

I have the same problem currently. A friend of mine also said he had it.

Happened on an iPod touch

The same here, it was replaced by Apple. Seems very common.

yes

Same problem here …

Yep, a couple times a day I will press the home button and nothing will happen. I’ll have to press it a couple times. If my phone’s screen is off, sometimes I am forced to hit the top power button instead of the home button.

Try rubbing alcahol to clean button. Tip from Patrick Norton of Tekzilla.

Bought a Verizon iPhone 4 when it came out in February, this is become an increasingly more often problem.

YES ! This has been happening to me for months.. I thought it was only me… I have to press it multiple times to work. Would like to switch to a 4S if ATT wasn’t such a crappy company that charges their current customers more than new customers.

Yeah, got this same problem

Mine did this a couple months ago (Also a 4, bought when they first came out). I since restored it, which helped – but the problem still comes up intermittently.

Same problem. Never happened on any of the past gen iPhones I have owned.

Yep. Been happening since before I installed any iOS 5 betas. Seems to be getting worse.

I have an original iPhone, the first ten 4gig model. The home button slowly stopped working at some point, to this day, it still works randomly, but I’d say only 1 time out of 10.

Happened on my iPhone 4. Apple replace it, for free, under AppleCare.

Yup, started sometime in the spring. Everyone I know has an iPhone 4 (most purchased right at launch) and they have all had this issue.

+2 (both my phone and my husband’s phone)

I’ve been having this problem for so long that I’ve injured my middle finger from pushing so hard with my thumb.

Yup, I’ve had my phone replaced twice for this exact problem, and it’s about time for another one now. It’s only been about 2 months since my last one as well. :(

I’ve had my phone fixed right in the store for this. Apparently they took it apart and ‘reseated’ the button. Now my wife’s iPhone 4 is doing it as well.

+1 Some presses aren’t registering and it’s becoming more and more difficult to double-tap to bring up backgrounded tasks.

Same thing happening to me. Clicking out of applications seems to require me to push it just right, straight down.

Yup, me too. 1 year old.

It is intermittent [2 month old 16gb white iPhone 4]

+1

I have the same problem as well but I think it’s software related. Related to some jailbreaking perhaps? if I still have the issue after a vanilla iOS5 install I’ll probably check with Apple for a replacement as well.

Also, if it is mechanical perhaps using some cleaning agent on the button could work.

Started happening about a month ago for me. There are times when a reboot is required (so the home button is functioning for the reboot, but not the “wake up”).

I’ve the same issue.

This happened to my iPhone4; thought it was just me…

+1 Same here dude! Is it a software or a hardware issue? I only noticed it after upgrading to iOS 5 and apple care said they wouldn’t cover an iPhone that’s running a beta version

Yup, had this issue for about 3 months.

Both my home and top buttons became sticky and unresponsive. Phone was replaced in 5 minutes at the Apple Store for me (I had extended Apple Care coverage).

Mine is tricky also

+1

+1. It’s been happening for a few months now.

Same problem here. Had to press very hard and deliberately to get the home button to register. It was almost impossible to trigger the multi-task menu.

Went into the store and they replaced it for free, no questions asked.

Same here – assumed it was the iOS5 beta, but it’s not, the button’s sticking.

I have the same problem. I thought it was just me.

+1

Months ago. Haven’t gone in yet. And the keys on my MBA are wearing through too, but the Apple store can’t replace just the keycaps. They have to replace the whole keyboard and track pad.

Yep. Me too. Has been for about a month now.

Yep, this is happening to me as well (but not my wife’s iPhone 4).

Same problem…

+1

+1. Just started happening in the past few weeks.

+1 on an iPod Touch

Yes! Often unresponsive after the first click, and then the second is perceived as a triple click and inverts the colors. Hah. Would love a solution to this!

+1

same here, takes 1-n pushes and it starts working randomly

+1 for intermittent problem

Same here.

Me as well.

Yep. It’s driving my 3 yo crazy as he thinks he’s doing it wrong. Takes 2 or 3 tries to work.

+1

Me to, started 2 weeks ago.

Same problem with my iPhone 4. My Warranty was 11 days past, but they replaced it for free.

I think there’s already a place to track this https://discussions.apple.com/community/iphone/search.jspa?peopleEnabled=true&userID=&containerType=&container=&spotlight=true&q=iPhone%20home%20button

+1. It’s getting harder and harder to make Home button work. Quick double press (to show running apps) – almost impossible yo make.

Same here. Four in the family and they all do it.

Yup, happening to me too.

Yes.

Same issue here. Killing a background app becomes a pain.

My iPhone 3g has had this problem for a loooooooooong time. I almost forgot that the button is supposed to work the first time I press it

Mine has been an issue since about 6 months in.

Same here. Intermittent problem.

Yeah, I have it, sometimes (not always) it takes two or three presses for it to respond. I think I’ll take it to an Apple Store next time I’m Stateside and see what happens. Does anyone know if a U.S. Apple Store will replace an iPhone from a non-U.S. carrier?

I had the same problem but mines seem software related. If you do a fresh restore to either 4.x IOS or IOS5 GM , the home button is very responsive. Once i start restoring my old apps/data back, Home button just goes bad at times.

Same here, bought on launch day

Same here.

Same problem on my iPhone 4.

Yes, so annoying

I took my iPhone 4 (in warranty) to the Clyborn Apple Store and they replaced it.

I had a problem with the lock button / but not the home button.

After about two months of it getting progressively worse, I had the phone replaced last month. Luckily it was just 2 weeks shy of the warranty running out so it didn’t cost me a time. Certainly frustrating though. They replaced the phone in a matter of days, but there was no explanation as to the root cause.

I had searched online for others with the same problem but came up empty handed. Not sure if I’m happy to find out that others are experiencing the same problem. Now I’m wondering how long the replacement will last.

Same here, started 4 months ago.

Yep. +1

Yep. Mine only works if I press on the left edge of the button.

Yep.

I replaced it myself while replacing a cracked front screen.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-iPhone-4-Home-Button/3144/1

I’m pretty geeky but it wasn’t too difficult.

I thought I was the only one. Comes and goes and drives me BANANAS . UGH !!

+1 and in india apple people ask me to replace them phone, they wont offer any repairing :(

Same here – it started earlier today!

I have been having these issues since at least March.

I have this problem since iOS5 beta 7. Sometimes it does not work, and I have to press twice. Some others it takes longer to respond, and others I get two presses for the price of one.

All the time after about 5 months of owning the phone.

+1

Happening to my iPhone 4 as well, appeared to start just after the 1 year warranty ran out.

Happens on my iPod touch 4th generation.

Been happening to me the last month or so. Hasn’t stopped working (well it did for one day or so then back to “normal”), but definitely feel like I need to push it harder.

+1

Last month I was at NYC went to the 5th ave. Apple Store to buy a new mbp.

I reported that my iPhone had the exactly same problem and they gave me a brand new iPhone :)

Glad to hear that wasn’t just my phone. Hmm is it the software or hardware?

For the sake of combating confirmation bias: This has never, not even once, happened to me.

But sometimes I have trouble swiping to unlock when I’m getting a call.

yep. its been like this for at least 6 months now.

I just contacted Apple today for warranty service on my iPod Touch for this issue.

I’ve been having it for a few months now. The strange thing is that it doesn’t appear to be strictly a hardware problem. Doing a full on-off cycle makes the problem much better—for a little while.

Same thing for about a month, didn’t bring it in yet.

Happens to me with a 2+ year old 3GS. It might be age or moisture related (frequent extreme cold to heated buildings in winter, high humidity and sweat in summer), but it could be a software problem also because it works consistently if I press firmly and hold for a bit.

My first gen iPhone was exposed to similar conditions and never had a problem.

Yeah, I have this problem. It works well some days, other days it rarely ever works. I resorted to using jailbreak stuff to make other things perform the “Home” command.

+1

Happens to me every once and a while.

Yep.

Same here. +1

Yup. Same here. Has been happening for the past two months, and I just don’t have the time to go get it replaced or fixed.

This same thing happened to me, and I fixed it by dabbing my finger into 95%+ rubbing alcohol and then rubbing+pressing the home button in a circular motion for a little while. Once it dried, everything was back to normal.

Make sure the alcohol you use is as pure as possible, and it’s probably a good idea to turn the iPhone off before doing this. Also, if you’re in warranty, just take it to the Apple Store. Try this at your own risk, etc.

+1

Have the issue

Same issue here. Started a few weeks ago. Bought might on launch day…

Had this problem on my iPod Touch.

I was beginning to have the same problem (on an iPhone 4 I got new in February) but recently replaced it for a different reason (excessive “static” in almost every phone call).

+1

Yup, same issue

Stalling, at doesnt function right

Same here. I usually solve it by tapping the phone firmly against my hand or gently against a table. This solve the problem for a couple of months.

Same problem here; takes 4 or 5 hard presses to get the button to work.

Same here. Have a hard time double-clicking to show the app bar. Started about 2-3 months ago.

Same problem. Upgraded to the iOS5 GM to see if it would help. It’s still doing it.

Yep. I’ve tried everything I can find. People claim you can reset it, but it never works as perfectly as my iPad2 home button. Been broken for half a year now at least. Nearly unusable.

Mine has been bad for a couple of months – takes a few tries to work each time. Tekserve in NYC said they need 24hrs and $49 to replace it. Not bad.

The same thing has been happening to me for several months.

Yep

Been having this issue for ages, randomly worsening and improving (slightly), periodically.

Yep, same here. Shutting down all the apps seems to make it go away (for a while).

I’ve had problems with the home button now and then for a couple of months now, but it started being much more consistent (almost all the time) in the past couple of weeks.

The problem occurs intermittently, it can take up to four firm presses before it responds, and other times, it responds immediately.

Same here. Rebooting the phone seems to help.

Yep, same issue for months now

I had an iPhone 4 for 11 months and had it replaced (under warranty) because of this.

Hopefully the home button lasts until I’m ready to get my next iPhone.

Yep – increasingly unresponsive.

Same—started happening to me about a month ago, but now has become more consistent in the past couple of weeks.

I’m not slapping down another $149 to fix this. I had to do it for my cracked 1st gen OOW iPhone.

I spilt some seltzer water on it one accidentally and it worked fine for a while. Not trying it again though.

Yep, though it’s been better lately…

Same here since a couple of weeks, bought the phone shortly after release.

Depressing to hear this. I had this problem too, but there were a couple good tips at this page: http://www.tipb.com/2011/01/04/tipb-bug-home-button-working-iphone/ This is the formula that worked for my home button, which works like normal now:

1.) Open any application

2.) Press and hold the power button until the slide to shutdown swipe bar appears.

3.) Release Power button

4.) Press and hold Home button Lightly until screen returns to icon screen

5.) Enjoy your functioning home button!!!

This procedure recalibrates the home button after normal wear or heavy use.

Happened to me while under warranty, should of had it fixed, didn’t. Super annoying.

+1

+1, and I have a couple of friends with the same problem

Happens occasionally for me. Sometimes closing apps from background seems to improve it. I’ve heard that the iOS 5 betas are having issues with home button response, so might this be a software, not hardware, issue?

Same problem here

Yes. Requires multiple taps or hard pusg

+1

+1 I have this issue too. Very annoying.

Same problem. And what is worse for me is that I can’t get a replace here in Brazil.

Yes! I was having to push it repeatedly to do anything. I now have an Android phone & a much cheaper monthly bill with Virgin. Another person found a fix after I got the new phone that seems to work. Plug the iPhone in to your computer & immediately hold down the home button until the voice activation pops up, then hit cancel. It seems to reset it.

Yup. It’s been a problem for me too

Same here. Really set in about two months ago. I bought the 4 within the first month (don’t remember exact date)

Thought I was the only one..

Same here.

Me too!!!

+1

No problems with either of our iPhone 4’s picked up on launch day.

Same here on iPhone 4. Replaced by Apple for free even though I was 2 weeks out of the 1 year warranty, which was nice of them. Didn’t realize it was this common…

+1 $149 to fix out of warranty? Boo.

Yup, had to replace two of them.

@Kevan this totally works!!!! At least for now :) Going to watch it like a hawk from now on :p

I got this problem too.. Got my iphone last november, and its already horrible!

It happened to me with all my iPhones…

+1, 11 month old iPhone 4

same problem on an ipad 2. must press hard for response.

Happened to me too, but a trip to the Apple Store and it was replaced even thought it was out of warranty.

Definitely having this problem. Requires multiple presses sometimes on my iPhone 4. Also sometimes won’t recognize a double-press, which gets annoying fast.

Yes, me too! Good to know that some others had this problem and got it replaced.

Yep, +4. My wife’s, two of my friends’, and mine all suffer from some home button troubles.

I have a 3 years old iPhone 3G. The problem started to happen 1 year ago. I have some friends that have the same problem.

Yep, same here. Not every time but enough that it drives me nuts. iPhone 4.

Yes, same problem here

+1 I hate his problem

+1

3gs had that problem. Cracked the screen and had the $100 replacement at the Apple store and it 100% fixed the problem.

I read through some more comments—it seems like @Kevan’s recommendation worked for me.

Problem happened with iPhone 4 around the 8-month point. Replaced for free at Genius Bar in Atlanta. Replacement phone is beginning to show the same symptoms…

Sorry to say this, but that supposed trick to “recalibrate” the home button does no such thing. That simply acts as another method of killing apps besides the multitasking drawer. It will do you about as much good as waving a rubber chicken over your iPhone. Any improvement is only in your head.

Me too, ever since the iOS 5 betas.

+1

Same problem

Guys, try recalibrating as mentioned by Kevan & JM -> https://gist.github.com/1168475

You have to hold it for a ridiculously long time until the app exits itself (without you unpressing the button). Over 20 seconds at least. But it happens eventually and after that I really feel an improvement :)

+1

I had this issue last spring… when my finger constantly throbbed from pushing so hard, I finally took my iPhone 4 into the Apple Store on Michigan Ave. and they replaced it with a new (refurb) phone.

Made an appointment online, was taken 5 min. early and in-and-out in about 15 minutes total. My one and only experience with Apple tech/customer support at the Genius Bar and they were great.

Happened to me, had to get it replaced at the apple store about a month ago. Hoping it doesnt happen again before iphone 5 comes out next year. So frustrating.

Me too, for a few months.

Yep! Happened to me today! Thats why I was intrigued to find this post. I pressed, pressed, pressed x5 times then it worked. I did have the IPod open previously (correlation?).

I thought it was just me. I have to tap it several tines to get it to respond.

+1 Replaced free Apparently humidity related

+1

Happened on my old iPhone edge. Happened on my current 3GS.

Won’t bother getting it repaired, repairs on cellphones are a poor mix.

Seems apple should put in higher durability buttons, on the few buttons that are actually on the phone. My on/off button is also acting up.

has been happening to my phone for MONTHS and can’t get my phone replaced because I am passed the one year mark. sigh…

+1

+ 1 year, out of warranty, advised by UK apple store genius no replacement/repair available and only option to buy a new phone :( intermittent failure of home button usually temporarily fixed (for an hour or so) by a soft re-set, also tried back up and restore with no long term effect

Wow, yes. exactly this. WTF im blown away by how many people have this happening to them.

+1

$149 for me to fix because it’s the only Apple product without an international warranty and I bought it while on holiday.

+1, button presses don’t register 70% of the time and falling fast.

+1!

i found some weird fixes on the web that involved plugging in the iphone to a computer then holding down the button until the voice control came up. this seemed to work for whatever reason.

+1

Yes, this started happening to me a few months ago.

I had dropped my phone a couple times without a case and attributed the brutal response rate to this.. Perhaps it’s not entirely my fault? +1

??? = ((1-1)*2)+4(-2)(+1)(-8)-64+1

Sometime after iOS 5. Apple store fixes the issue. Pray you’re still under warranty.

Yup me too. If I drop my phone it sometimes gets better. +1

I’m on my third iPhone 4 in 9 months, both previous phones replaced (under warranty) for this problem. Not looking forward to the day AppleCare expires.

+2

Both my black iPhone, purchased very early on after release. Then upgraded to white iPhone and same problem after a while.

Seems related to OS responsiveness but then sometimes not, annoying!!

Yup – happened to me 3 months ago. Never knew that this was such a common issue, but it’s sure nice to bitch about it somewhere. I’ve tried pushing down and to the side, wiggling the button… everything. The worst is when driving and I want to use the Voice Command feature, which requires holding that damn thing down for awhile now.

+1 had it for ages, getting worse, should really try and sort before warranty runs out!

Same thing started happening to me recently too.

I had the problem too. I live in country where there’s no official Apple support. So I had to order replacement front panel. I a few month that had the same problem with broken home button.

I had the same problem with my first iPhone 4—right out of the box. It would only happen intermittently, but it was annoying in light of the otherwise perfect phone. Passing by an Apple Store one day, I decided to take care of the problem. The Genius wasn’t able to duplicate the issue (or she didn’t understand the problem), but she simply said, “If it’s that annoying to you, we will replace it.” Five minutes later, I was walking out of the store. The new phone has no such problem.

Yes- just started happening to my phone a week or two ago. The phone is about 7 months old. I wondered if it was just me- or a software glitch.

Yes, happens all the time!!! I hate it, but just that, on the rest iPhone 4 is awesome.

I have had the same issue. This was recently as of the last iOS update. Never noticed this before.

Happened on an iPod touch

Same problem. I’m ready to jump ship because of this.

Thephone is almost unusable. Happened around the 11-month mark. Unfortunately I failed to take it in before the warranty was out.

Really frustrating just trying to use the phone.

I have had this issue for about 6 months – on and off. So annoying! And Apple wouldn’t replace my phone because when I happened to bring my phone in to the Genius Bar they couldn’t duplicate the problem.

Happened on my iPhone 3G and a friends iPhone 1 a few months ago.

Wow I have had this issue for mOnths now. I didn’t know its this common and it’s also covered on the one year. I better check if I’m still covered

+1 and it’s driving me crazy.

+1

The opposite: Pressing the home button opens the taskbar nearly every time.

Me too. iPhone 4. About 3 months ago.

+1 for my boyfriend – he had to visit the Apple store twice to get it addressed (it didn’t repro the first time). His phone was barely in warranty, otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten a replacement.

+1

I have an inccccreeedible hard time ever getting to the task switcher! Most of the times it either assumes one click on three (shows task switcher and exits to home screen).

Doesn’t happen on my wife’s iPhone 4! Has been like this almost since I got it in August 2010 but never thought it’d be reason enough to have it switched… :(

i had it. still had apple care, so they replaced it for free.

+1

I took it to the Apple store, and they suggested that I clear out the recently used apps list. Sigh.

Yes this just started on my iPhone 4 (AT&T) a few weeks ago. Of course I am a few weeks out of warranty and the Genius at the Apple Store told me tough luck. He suggested reinstalling the OS, which I tried and did not work.

Yup, same problem.

My home button has been giving me issues for the last few months. I generally have to repeatedly press it or firmly press it just to get to the home screen. It is almost impossible to bring up the app list because of this problem.

Same here…this has been happening for a few months. It’s really getting irritating.

Exact same thing started happening to my iPhone 4 about a month ago.

yup. thx for posting this.

Man! I thought it was only me! Yes! this happens to me all the time. I thought my phone was busted!

Me too. Same problem here.

Same problem here.

My home button works most of the time, but is definitely becoming less responsive.

I’m currently dealing with same issue. Have to press home button hard to make it work

Yes – I’ve got the same problem

yep, same problem.

Yep. Got a refurb phone when I brought the issue up at the Genius Bar, though. Apple’s customer service always seems to come through on this kind of stuff in my experience.

Ditto.

Yep, I’ve got the home button blues.

Same here.

Exact same problem.

Me too :(

Same problem for both me and my girlfriend :-(

Same problem. Thought it was just me.

Same problem for about 4 months. Double clicking my home button works 25% of the time.

Same problem with my phone for a couple months now. Bought the phone on launch day. Same situation for a coworker.

The part costs US$6 at Amazon, can be replaced in 5 min at home.

me too! and my wife’s phone as well

Same. Feels like a software issue.

Same situation on a Ipod touch

+1

Yep, had this same issue a month ago. I assumed it was a hardware issue, but recalibrating using the method mentioned above solved it for me. It hasn’t happened since!

Yep. Thought it was just me too.

+1

Same. +1

I’ve had that problem with 2 different iPhone 4’s. The first one I got replaced under warranty, but my replacement unit is doing it now after a few months of use.

My wife is getting the issue now on her iPhone 4, but it’s out of warranty. Might be better off just getting a 4s than paying for the replacement.

I had this problem last year with an iPod Touch (still had Apple Care). The problem would start gradually and eventually the button would become erratic and unusable.

Apple set me refurbished replacement, it had the same problem. The sent me another, again it had the same flaw. They finally sent me a new one and all was good. During my last call to them, a senior customer rep came on the line and apologized, also gave me his email and phone number if the problem happened again. Apple was very nice about through the whole process.

Not sure if it was a bad batch of hardware or what. It was truly maddening when it happened.

Yep happened to me too.

had it for more than a few months now.

Here I thought it was just me. It goes back and forth, either completely unresponsive or sometimes registering a double-press when I press just once.

I think I’m still just within warranty, perhaps I should get a move on and see if I can get it taken care of.

+1

yah, happened to my wife. took it in, they said the water damage strip was pink and that meant it had water damage. In or out of warranty they will charge you full rate for water damage.

We’re not sure if or when her phone got water on it but that part seems to be extra sensitive to moisture.

Same issue iphone 3gs

+1

It happened to mine a little while back, but I was within the exchange timeframe so they gave me a new one. Mine was a little different, though, because it would only intermittently not work.

It also happened to my fiancé’s phone just the other day, where the button basically stopped working – same thing with her, where they swapped phones out.

Same on 3GS (often takes two presses, but no more)

My boss spanks his iPhone 4 like a naughty child to get his home button to work.

+2 for my wife and I.

I already got it replaced once. Free. Will head to apple store soon to check again.

+1, started happening just 3 months after purchase. Has since degraded (once per week to all the time).

I had the same problem, thankfully while I was still under the 1 year warranty. Took it to the Apple store said the button didn’t work. Genius tech confirmed it with one press and handed me a new phone. I love Apple service.

+1

+1

+1 on Ipod Touch

Same problem here. Going to get it replaced soon, under warranty!

+1, really frustrating!

Yes It happened to me to…until i cracked my screen and pieces of the glass around the home button fell off which relaxed the pressure and caused the button to work again.

Yes for me.

It went away when I left my phone in the car on a sunny (not humid) hot day. I think it might be moisture related. Do you use your phone with wet hands (after washing hands or cooking)? I wonder if you try the rice trick if that might fix it. My other thought for me, was it dirty.

Now, I wonder if it is a design issue seeing everyone’s comments.

Yes for months.

+1 Home button works off and on for me

+1 for my click four times to go home button.

Same here. It actually comes and goes for me. Every time I’m fed up and am about to go to the Genius Bar, it starts working again.

I really hope the 4S fixes the issue.

+1

Sporatic behavior throughout the day.

SOLUTION (for me and 3 of my friends with the same problem) Rubbing alcohol! My home button was working worse and worse for the last 4 months and i finally found this (while deciding to google iPod touch home button fixes rather than iPhone)

this has worked for myself and 3 of my friends with the same problem (even worse than mine) in all cases, our home buttons work like new now. amazing.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1969583?start=0&tstart=0

Same here!

+1

Yes, intermittently.

When it gets sluggish to respond, I open an app, hold down the power button and then hold down the home button until it goes back to the home screen. This normally resolved the issue.

This happened on my 3G but haven’t had it on the 4.

My iPhone 4’s home button is having trouble with double-clicking.

Yup, it’s a problem

Same here – like many others, it began with the iOS 5 betas – it does seem to be SW related since whenever the home button would consistently become an issue a reboot fixed it 100% of the time.

I have this problem too.

I had the exact same problem with a brand new iPad 2. Bought it @ Target, took it back after 5 minutes of trying. They replaced it for me and that iPad 2 worked fine.

+1 on iPod Touch

+1

Same problem, since 9 months. The recalibration stuff made it a little bit better, but still.

My current workaround is to tapping it multiples times against my hand or leg. Solves the problem for few hours…

I’m gonna try the alcohol solution and/or opening the iPhone to see what’s going on.

Yes

Also, it’s kind of a poor UX experience to have to scroll through all the comments to find this box and post my own.

Here too. The apple store tried to tell me I was using too much memory. I wiped the phone and still had the problem. Finally I made work buy me a new one. No problems since.

I’ve experienced the same. Apple refused to replace my phone as it was out of warranty (1 yr)

+2, mine and my wife’s. Started a few months ago.

I brought it to the store but I was given the “too many open apps” run around. The guy didn’t seem to believe that I knew it was a hardware problem and not software related.

All of you people must have dirty fingers and have built up residue. Like the magic mouse and other mac parts, there is a touch sensor in the button to avoid false clicks. Just get an electronic cleaning wipe (they sell bottles of the self-moistened stuff at office max) and give the phone a complete rub-down. It should work better. Also works great for getting the residue off of an aluminum macbook pro.

Yeah it started happening to me too, a few months out of warranty.

I went to the Apple Store today for the exact problem!

Me too. Phone was 10 months old so they replaced it at no cost.

+1, for a few months now .

Wow can’t beleive it’s not just me… been happening for a month or so now

Yep – I had this problem.

This was happening in iOS 4.x but it continued in the early iOS5 beta also.

I took it in only a week before Apple Care expired and they replaced it with one of their ‘black box’ iPhones – which I assume are refurbs.

My iPhone 3G has had this problem for many months.

Been having it for a while now in iPhone4. Had the same problem in iphone 3G as well.

Yep, I have been having this problem intermittently for a few months now.

Yes. iPhone 4.

+1 . same here and sucks!

Yes, I’m having this problem, as is the GF, as if her friend who also has a iPhone 4 purchased on launch date.

And to think, I’m just waiting a few more months until I can get another subsidized iPhone, even though this one broke to quick for me. :/

+1

Yep, me too

Yep. Same here. And same with three of my coworkers who have iPhone 4s.

Same here.

+1 Really became an since right after the staandard 1 year warr expired.

+1

Yep. This has been happening for a while now. First I thought it was am issue with junk collecting under the micro switch but it seems too random for that to be the problem.

This started happening to me after working in the garden and answering the phone with dirty hands. I think it may be dirt particles getting caught inside. If I press the home button on the left side it’ll work no problem.

It happened to me about 3 months ago.

yes

Yes, just started happening the last couple days.

My dad had this problem with his… you have to be creative with the geniuses to get a free replacement. I’ve had my own phone replaced for free twice by calling ahead of time and get someone on the phone to tell you that they will replace the phone if it actually has the problem you describe. If someone from apple told you they would replace it… the genius has to honor it.

I had it happen to me about 1-2 weeks ago. It hasn’t been noticeable in the last day though.

Same here :(

Had this problem with my two first iphones (2g and 3g)... In both cases, the silent mode switch also fell off :(

Same happened to me recently. I’m out of warranty as well. I mean, you’d think with one main button on the phone it’d be a little more durable.

This just started happening in the last 2 weeks. So this is what it feels like when doves cry.

Yes. Me too. Same problem.

Same issue here

I went thru 3 3Gs and now my 4 ish doing it.

Happens with mine too

I had the same problem with my fourth generation iPod touch. Tried a lot of software fixes, but they were all temporary. I was still in warranty and got it replaced.

Yep me too. I took mine in on the last day of warrantee. Apple blamed it on water damage but fixed it. It was frustrating as you all know.

Same here. Bought from Verizon when they launched.

Same problem.

Yepp, same.

Yep.. having to press it a few times and sometimes accidentally double press.

Same here.

yes!

Same problem

+1

same

Nope, never happened to me!

Happened to me. It’s a known issue. Took mine in to the Apple Store and they replaced it without question. That is if you are still within your warranty or have apple care.

Here too.

I SOLVED it by tapping the bottom of the phone firmly against my hand or gently against a table top.

Same problem for me after – started after about 8 months of use. Replaced the phone.

Mine sometimes is unresponsive

I’ve been having this issue for a few months. i’m sad that I’ve just passed the 1-year warranty and did not have it replaced. I hope I’ll get a new one for free anyway.

Gotcha – just a little prank to remember me by..;-) Who says I didn’t have a sense of humor?

Got it replaced

+1

Same here…HAAALP!!

+1 And I still have the fitst iphone, it works like a charm!

Happened to my 3gs, only after about 4 months.

Problem here, too.

Same thing here

Same problem here. Anyone knows if it’s hardware or software related?

Same problem here for the last month or two

Same problem!

YES . +2

+1

oh yes…. hate this problem!

Yeah…. I had this issues serial times. That really kill me …. :(

Problem start when I switch to iOS 4.3.3. Now with iOS 5 beta 7 is still here

+1

Yes! It is happening to me. On a Verizon iPhone.

Same thing happening to my 4 for the last couple of months! Sort it out Apple!

This problem also just happened to me, you think Jobs put something in our phones so when he dies all our stuff also stops working?

stopped working for a full day… i plug into iTunes and held home key and started working again…

see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjY2kptRUDo&feature=related

Same problem. Then at Apple Store they said to restore the original settings because some data may be “confused”, and in fact it worked… But after some days I had the impression that it started to get worse. Then on day my iPhone fell off on the floor without damage, BUT since then (one month) it works perfectly!

This has been happening to me and a friend at work. Both started in the last couple of weeks.

Same for me and a friend of mine. iPhone 4 running latest iOS. Quite annoying.

+1, iPod touch

+1

But I think this is a software error and replacing the phone shouldn’t make a difference.

+1

yep :( unfortunately i’ve got the same problem too

+1, I thought I was going nuts with this one…

Wow! This literally starting happening to me last week, and also to my girlfriends iPhone. We both have 4s bought in February.

Do you iOS created the defect in time for the iPhone 4S launch?

Same here, and also on my girlfriends and brothers iphone 4

+1 (found the following solution: drop the phone two days later. get a replacement.)

Yes, same problem here, I am trying now to get it replaced via my (luckily expanded) Apple Care Protection Plan

+1

same over here – started ocassionally & gets worse

Yep, same problem here.

Mine does this, and my take is it’s software, not hardware – it happens occasionally, has for months, and mostly when I undock it, but I’ve worked out how to fix it:

Dock it again, or plug in a powered up charge cable, hit the home button a couple of times (so the switching bar shows), tap again to hide the bar, then unplug.

Have the same Issue…

It’ve been happening with my GF for a while

It happened to me as well. Luckily I was able to get to an Apple store 15 days before my 1 year hardware warranty was up and they swapped it out. They acted like they hadn’t seen it before. After seeing all the comments, that’s hard to believe.

+1 Same here, home button has been transformed into something totally random…

Same here, black iPhone 4 AT&T, never jailbrokem/etc. Home button needs to be pressed hard or several times to work.

Don’t have an iPhone myself, but all of my company’s senior management iPhone’s have this problem.

+0 no problems with the home button (yet). The timing is rather good, since you can all upgrade to a 4S now.

Same happened to me. Had to go to my carrier office and change phone to a brand new one. Here in Denmark we don’t have an Apple store so we have to manage this kinda issues through carrier company.

Been having this problem for months. I tried the method JM suggested https://gist.github.com/1168475 but didn’t work for me. Then I pressed the home button about 50 times in a row and that seems to have fixed it, or at least reduced the frequency of error…

+1

+1

Yes. I was about to use my AppleCare coverage to replace the phone. Glad to know others are having the problem. It seems to come and go.

It happened to my wife a few months ago but things like that happen frequently for her. As we neared the announcement for the 4S, mine stopped too!

Yea, it’s happened to my iphone 4 too.

Me too..

+1 Started 2-3 weeks ago.

I see, I’m not the only one.

Yes, 3GS in warranty got replaced with a new 3GS simply. Sad that it happens on 4 and iPads too though.

+1 started last week. Tried the procedure on github (see comments above.) seems better now.

Same here, but Apple replaced for free after the standard reset didn’t help.

I had the same problem. Got a new phone and did not have to pay anything for it.

Yep, mine too.

It happened to me, and none of the software or resetting solutions worked for longer than a few hours. Eventually I unscrewed the two tiny screws at the bottom of the phone, slid the glass back off, put it back on, and put the screws back in. That’s done it, but I dont know if it was the screws or something inside that had gone out of whack. Hope that helps!

Just started for me about 1 month ago.

+1

I had home button issues with my previous iPhone 4. I took it in and, as I had AppleCare, they replaced it on the spot. I would think this should happen in other Apple Stores too

Same here… started recently just started shortly after my iPhone 4 went out of warranty. But I hope Apple will still replace it.

Same thing. Started happening out-of-the-blue about two weeks ago.

Had the same issue. Rather than pressing straight down on the button, I started pressing it at an angle and it started working. Eventually it regained full functionality – for now.

Yep. My iPhone 3g (yeah…I still have a 3g) has been doing this for several months now. I’ve had it almost 3 years and have probably hit that home button a million times, so I’m not too upset about it. Overall the device has held up pretty well when considering the relentless matter in which I use it.

Have that problem too unfortunately. Since I bought it a year ago

Go to the Genius Bar and they will replace your phone for you. Takes 15 minutes, tops. It is free if you have AppleCare, and it is cheap if you decided to fly without a parachute.

It happened to my friends daughter. She took it in to the Apple store and they replaced it no questions asked. It must be a problem that is showing up and Apple knows about it and wants to keep it quiet. Just take it in and they will give you a new (refurbished) one.

Started happening to mine a few weeks ago.

Yes.

yep, same here. got a new phone, no questions asked.

Happens to my boyfriend’s phone all the time. I have an older model…

+1 started about 1 month ago

Same problem

+1

Started 2 months ago with iPhone 3GS.

Started à month ago on my 14 month old iPhone.

+1

I just got my iPhone 4 replaced for free, mine was within the warranty, as a result of the button not corresponding properly. It was painless getting a replacement, in fact, right on the spot!

Working properly… 1 year i think… im from brazil.

Same thing, almost a year. Sometimes I got to hit it real hard.

I’ve had this for a while now and just assumed it was me not pressing hard enough. Finding the problem most pronounced when double tapping to switch apps.

Yes, the same thing happened to me on an iPhone 4. The first time I took it in, they thought it was a software issue and restored my phone. The problem seemed to go away, but was back a few days later. I went back, got a new (replacement) phone, and haven’t had the same problem since.

This just started happening to me recently, in the past few weeks to a month. Figured it was just me, but apparently not.

+1

Same Problem. The home button needs to be pressed hard and multiple times

+1—restarting usually makes it go away (for a time) but I can’t see any rhyme or reason to it. Majorly irritating.

+1 on my 4th gen iPod Touch

+1

Happens to mine too, 32G iPhone 4

Same here. It’s been a few months now.

Just stumbled upon this info: http://jelleprins.tumblr.com/post/11175210700

Don’t know if that does the trick for everyone.

happened to me and got a brand new phone from apple.

+1 for iphone 3g.

+1 (iPhone 3G)

This is an old issue. Happened to several first generation ipod touches and my iphone 3g.

I believe it’s because of the proximity of the dock connector to the home button. Too much movement by a connected cable and you damage board connections at the home button.

My son played around with my/my wife’s 1st ipod touch when he was 2… Both of them suffered the same fate.

+1. Apple replaced without question though (was still under warranty)

+1, double tapping is biggest problem. I’m going to try a Genius, but Im around 2 months out of warranty now.

+1

Bizarrely an iOS update to 4.3.5 seemed to improve it.

+1 It is really more common than I thought

Problem occured about 2 months ago on my 3gs.

Here comes a trick that I have tried to restore iPhone 4 home button function: 1. Long press the power button until you see “slide to power off ”. 2. In the mean time,long press the home button until “slide to power off” message disappears. 3. After that you might feel the home button problem improved.

+1 – had this for a little while now. It has been intermittent, but always seems to spring up at the most inopportune moments!

+1

Yup me too… more so for the double tap to bring up multi-tasking, which now requires me to make hard, deliberate taps to work. Was using my sister’s iPad 1 recently, and immediately noticed how much ‘crisper’ the feeling was compared to my phone

I have the same problem with my 3G. Don’t know if this is related. Workaround: Jailbreak the phone, install Activator and map the home button to long-press-volume-down.

I had that problem too A sorta fix - iOS5 has a soft button that goes on your screen and let’s you have a home button on the screen. It’s a gesture in the accessibility options

And I had this problem, stopped by the store and had the phone replaced

Happened to me too, got a free replacement from an authorized reseller (during 1-year warranty period, in the EU)

A friend has the same problem

+1, happens occasionally… Maybe once a day. I assumed it was just how i was using it.

+1.

Apple replaced mine for free yesterday. In was 19 days out of my 1 yr warranty too. The woman said shed been seeing this a lot lately. Within minutes I walked out with a replacement phone, free. Great customer service by apple, especially since i couldn’t reproduce the problem in the store and my phone was also cracked in the back…

It stopped working about on months after the one year warranty expired. I bought it on the release day. If I hold it down for a second or two it seems to work.

Same thing happened to me. I could usually get back to the home screen by pressing and holding, but the double tap worked maybe 1 in 4 tries. I had my unit replaced before the 1 year mark, then it happened again on my second unit about 6 months in.

Same here. It started a couple weeks ago and the problem is getting worse. I noticed that the app store was having trouble updating my apps when this problem started, ie. the app store would insist that the update wasn’t installed when it did. I’d have to do a restart.

software or hardware?—from prefer comments, it seems like hardware.

I have no idea why but this actually worked for me:

1) Plug phone into computer, let iTunes launch 2) Hold Home button till Voice Control show up 3) Now press Cancel and your Home button should be reactivate.

Yes, for quite some time.

Not on my iPhone 4, not on my wife’s, but I have a colleague who had this problem on his. After a few weeks, the button stopped working completely, and the iPhone was replaced by his phone company. But a few months after getting the new one, its button is beginning to malfunction…

Happening intermittently on my fiancée’s and my iPhone 4s. Makes double-clicking for app switching a PITA .

See. This is why you don’t make a device that only has one button that does absolutely everything. Well, unless you want that button to wear out really quickly and force people to have to return that device for service all the time.

Oh. Wait.

NOPE … no problems for me and my iPhone4. My wife’s iPhone 4 – no problems.

Son’s iPhone4 – no problem. Friend’s iPhone4 – no problem. Employers iPhone4 – no problem. Checked with 2 clients who have iPhone4 – no problems.

Yes – same issue for months, it sucks.

Happened to me after 13 months of iPhone 4 ownership. Took to the Apple store, in and even though it was out of warranty, apple swapped it for a new (or refurbished) replacement.

Happened to me and I got a replacement 6 months ago, now happening again!!!

Same problem, again!

+1

Started happening to me recently on my 3GS

Happened after a month of use with my firs 3G, Apple replaced it. The main problem is that it collects dust, solved the problem by using a case which covers the home button. (like this one: http://www.google.com.au/search?q=belkin+Verve+Sleeve&tbm=isch )

Ohh and the mute switch can develop similar problems. My wife’s phone is randomly switching on and off.

+1. Apple replaced the phone under warranty

+1

This happened to me too, thought it was an issue with the iOS5 beta but reverting back to 4 did not solve the problem.

The button eventually started working normally though, still is fine after a couple months knocks on wood

My home button does this. Saw this fix else where. It works for me every time.

Blow some air into the cable slot and give the bottom of the phone a slight tap on a hard surface or drop vertically from half a cm.

This hasn’t happened on my iPhone4 yet but it did happen to my OG iPhone (I can’t remember what the first one was called) to the extent that it hurt my thumb to use the home button.

+1 same problem

Yep, just started happening on my iPhone 4. I took it to Apple and they did a fresh install of my OS, but it didn’t fix anything.

Yepp. same problem :(

A Childhood song comes to mind: But it stopped. short. never to go again when the old man died.

Had this issue myself. Blow into the cable slot on the bottom of the phone and then try a restart.

Mine was a bit dodgy for about a day but after the fix above its worked fine since.

+1

Same here, been like that for the past 6 months.

+

+1

Had same issue after about 10 months. Got a free replacement.

Yes

+1

same problem but it seems like Kevan’s recommendation worked for me. he recommended this site. http://www.tipb.com/2011/01/04/tipb-bug-home-button-working-iphone/

+1 – got it fixed one week before warranty ran out

Yes—got it replaced for free, though.

1+ sucks! On my Ipad 2 as well !!

Happened on my 3G, dropping it in the pool fixed it…

+1

Yes also here!

+1 same

+1 – Happened after 6 months. They (telco not apple) gave us a hard time replacing it saying the screws on bottom looked like they had been moved.

+1

+1 again

Same here, starting after about 9 months of use. First thought this was a problem of humidity, but it’s not. Clean restore didn’t help.

Same here : have to press it multiple times to get it working.

And the power/sleep button seems to be stucked now, can’t use it anymore.

+1

+1

+1

My boss and I had this problem. The recalibration @DHH linked to on twitter worked for both of us. Really sucks they sold him a replacement instead of giving him the built-in fix. I would complain and demand a refund.

+1

+3 girlfrienda, friend and myself

The same problem… +1 :(

+1 – very annoying

On my iPad 1 it’s the same – using iOS 4.3.3. There are days that it won’t work. Even after reboot. And then it works as nothing happend.

+1

Comes and goes for me.

I had this problem. First genius told me it was because I “had too many apps running” and that I should force quit apps in the multitasking bar because “it can really only handle one or two at a time.”

Went to the other Apple Store in town and talked the genius there into a free replacement.

Same for me ! For at least 4 month now. It started one year after I bought the iphone 4

Same here. Pressing on the left (or right) side of the button, as opposed to the middle, is my work around.

Try rebooting the phone. It fixes the problem for a few days. It seems to me like a software problem.

I had this problem a few months ago. Still in warranty, Apple swapped it out with a new phone on the spot.

My home button also stopped working one day out of no where… went to apple store, the guy pressed down on it harder than i normally do and gave it back to me, works fine now, must have had something stuck on it but now it’s working great. no iOS changing or reset or clearing out and erasing the phone.

I really thought I needed to get a new phone but I didn’t.

+1

+1, reinstalled the OS and it seemed to temporarily improve, but it’s sticking again….

Happend on my iPad – 1st gen, had to be replaced by apple store.

+1. And the speaker recently stopped working, too. And it ain’t even a year old.

And I don’t know why I’m not at the store complaining, instead of here :)

yes very annoying

yes, on the 3GS

Guys, how many of you use hard cover case and how many don’t?

It happened on my wife’s 3rd gen iPod Touch.

+1

Just throwing in my “me too.” Just bought the thing a few months ago.

Yes – my home button works 75% of the time. Getting worse and worse!

+1 Started a couple months ago. Has happened a couple times. Bought it when the 4’s first came out.

Yes, same problem here.

+1. Still under insurance so have to make a claim.

Happened to me. They replaced the whole top of the phone under warranty. New button works fine, so it’s not a software issue.

My dad touched my button a few times and now it’s broken. He told me not to tell anybody, but I’m making a statement now.

Apple has already anticipated that the next iPhone generation might not be as has desirable compared to the previous one as the iPhone 4 was when they have built it. So they have built in a remotely activated death pill. They have tried to hide this by spreading the activations in time and space but the significant rise in the number of complaints around the announcement of the 4S clearly revealed their dark secret.

Either this or you should wipe your hand between eating french fries and touching your phone :)

EASY FIX use both thumbs, press down briefly and simultaneously just to the left and right of the bad button

now the button will work

this even works if you have it in an Otterbox

yep, happening to me also

Happens to me from time to time. My 4S is coming this week so I’ll be offloading the 4 via Craigslist.

yep, same problem

You should write “for both Jason and me” not “for both Jason and I”. Normally I wouldn’t care, but since you guys stress writing so much I figured that I should help you out here.

And good luck with your phone.

Yep

it is not the button

it is the software

same thing for “slide to open” which sometimes will not work when a call comes in – software glitch

+1—had this problem with iPhone 4… got a new iPhone 4 and problem went away. Seemed to happen over time, I suspected hardware, as in I wore it out, but not sure.

+1 Been happening for several months now – swapped it for another iPhone 4 which was fine for a few weeks then started happening again.

That ‘fix’ doesn’t really work imho.

Haven’t tried cleaning it as suggested – perhaps next step .. but 80% of the time it works perfectly which makes me lean toward software issue…

+1 respondes after pushing 3x-4x in different spots on the button.

Yup very annoying

+1 iphone 4. happened in the past, hasn’t happened in a while.

This started happening to me in September, but resolved itself a couple days later (was on vacation the whole time). Happened again last week, went to the Apple store to ask about it, and 5 minutes later walked out with a replacement phone.

I experienced the same issue. Apple replaced the phone with a functional unit. It’s definitely a hardware defect.

This might sound ridiculous, but I found blowing hard into the connector slot sorts this issue out.

Yes, happened to me just 1 month ago (a few weeks before the iphone 4s launch). Planted bug?

The re-calibration thing didn’t work. The complete replacement from Apple did work. :-)

It’s been happening to me as well … usually a good whack will take care of it (with my OtterBox case).

Mine goes in waves. It will act up for a week and then work perfect for the next month. Strange and frustrating.

-1 , Fortunately mine is still working, but base on above comments I think it’s general issue and will happen soon.

yes

Wow, I thought I was the only one. I was even joking that it seems like a timed event to coincide with new release. Been doing it for a few weeks now.

Yes, same problem. On O2 4G in Ireland.

I had the same issue with my iPod Touch, but it seems to be working fine after doing the iOS5 update.

iPhone 3G, problem started about 8 months ago. Ordered a 4S to replace worn out 3G.

Apple does a great job on design, so well that they bake in planned obsolescence. Well done Mr. Ive.

In a blog titled Signal vs. Noise I would call this post noise.

Took mine into the Apple store (Cincinnati), they said they couldn’t repair it it would be $149 to replace the phone. When I told the guy I could get it repaired by a third party for $65 he said “if something happened to your phone we wouldn’t be able to repair it in that case”. To which I said “you can’t repair it now, you want to charge me $149 to replace it”. He gave me a nasty look and I left with the problem unresolved. VERY unhappy with Apple service at this point!

Same problem here (iPhone 4 purchased in Mexico).

Same problem here. I think it may be software related. My home button seems fine immediately after restarting, but starts to crap out again almost immediately after the phone sleeps the first time.

It seems that the ios5 update to my phone has eliminated the problem. I’m not totally sure, but it seems that way.

Same problem, and it wasn’t fixed by installing iOS 5 either.

I have this problem. iOS 5 didn’t fix it but I’m using the Assistive Touch feature as a workaround.

Yes. I had this problem with my Verizon iPhone. I made a Genius Bar appointment last month, and they replaced it for free.

Started to happen to me about a month ago. I did some research on the web and found someone who suggested tapping the phone from the back behind the button. Works like a charm, but can’t wait to get me 4s tomorrow : )

Lol this has happened to me for a while with an iPhone 4 – you press the button once and sometimes it’s interpreted as a double-press.

So sometimes you mean to double-press and you actually triple-press, which opens and closes the “tasks” panel.

Actually, this has happened to some colleagues of mine at work. Turns out it was the Facebook app causing this error. After they removed it, the Home button started working again. Don’t know why this was happening. But after removing and then reinstalling the app, this problem just vanished.

Its happened to my iphone4 twice… first time after 7 months so it was swapped under warranty and now the new one has done it to after …yep you guessed it… another 4 months… only now its out of warranty and apple dont want to know.. Just got off the phone to customer service and they wont do good will.

Happened to me several times.

Happens to me as well lately in the last three weeks, 10 months in.. very surprising, actually, that it did not happen earlier. I have dropped this thing well over 100 times, without a case.. Only a large crack going from the top left (above the touchscreen area) through the front camera hole to the top of the middle of the phone.