How to fix a stuck iPhone 5s home button?
July 26, 2015 11:09 AM Subscribe
The screen around my iPhone 5s's home button is cracked and the button is now no longer pushing in. Is it possible to fix this?
Last October I tripped while on a run and cracked the bottom part of my iPhone screen. At that time the home button worked fine, so I kept using the phone. Over the last few weeks, though, the home button has become permanently depressed so that it no longer physically moves in and out freely, although it still responds correctly when I touch it.
It now also irregularly goes off on its own, so that I'll be in another app and it'll go to the home screen (particularly when I touch the bottom part of the screen).
Pictures here: http://imgur.com/a/P6ejs
Is it possible to fix this or work around it? I can think of at least two options -- fixing the home button or disabling it altogether -- but I'm open to more creative suggestions. Along those lines:
1. If I bought a repair kit like this one with the 5 point security screwdriver, could I reseat the home button so that it presses in and out again freely? I see a bunch of tutorials online on how to fix a home button but I'm worried those aren't applicable because of the cracked screen. I don't want to make things worse by opening up the phone.
2. Alternatively, is it possible to completely disable the home button? I could use Activator to turn the volume up key into a home button. Some searches suggest it's impossible disable the home button in all contexts (e.g. this stackoverflow thread), but maybe I'm wrong. I'm aware of Guided Access and Incarcerapp but those only seem to disable the home button in certain contexts.
I'm reluctant to spend too much money since I'll be eligible for an upgrade in December anyway, but I also need my phone to work till then too. Thanks!
Last October I tripped while on a run and cracked the bottom part of my iPhone screen. At that time the home button worked fine, so I kept using the phone. Over the last few weeks, though, the home button has become permanently depressed so that it no longer physically moves in and out freely, although it still responds correctly when I touch it.
It now also irregularly goes off on its own, so that I'll be in another app and it'll go to the home screen (particularly when I touch the bottom part of the screen).
Pictures here: http://imgur.com/a/P6ejs
Is it possible to fix this or work around it? I can think of at least two options -- fixing the home button or disabling it altogether -- but I'm open to more creative suggestions. Along those lines:
1. If I bought a repair kit like this one with the 5 point security screwdriver, could I reseat the home button so that it presses in and out again freely? I see a bunch of tutorials online on how to fix a home button but I'm worried those aren't applicable because of the cracked screen. I don't want to make things worse by opening up the phone.
2. Alternatively, is it possible to completely disable the home button? I could use Activator to turn the volume up key into a home button. Some searches suggest it's impossible disable the home button in all contexts (e.g. this stackoverflow thread), but maybe I'm wrong. I'm aware of Guided Access and Incarcerapp but those only seem to disable the home button in certain contexts.
I'm reluctant to spend too much money since I'll be eligible for an upgrade in December anyway, but I also need my phone to work till then too. Thanks!
Best answer: Is there a reason you haven't gone to the Apple Store to ask them to replace it? They've done this for me when my 5S got messed up and the home button stopped working, even though physical damage was obvious.
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:27 AM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:27 AM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: 2nding both answers.
I use the assistive touch button & it's great. Some apps have made it disappear but turning my phone off then back on fixes that.
And going to an Apple store might fix everything. My friend had had her iPhone for ages and they just swapped the whole thing for a new one, moved all her stuff for her. She wasn't under warranty, hadn't bought any insurance or extended warranty.
posted by stellathon at 3:56 PM on July 26, 2015
I use the assistive touch button & it's great. Some apps have made it disappear but turning my phone off then back on fixes that.
And going to an Apple store might fix everything. My friend had had her iPhone for ages and they just swapped the whole thing for a new one, moved all her stuff for her. She wasn't under warranty, hadn't bought any insurance or extended warranty.
posted by stellathon at 3:56 PM on July 26, 2015
Best answer: Going to the Apple Store is a great idea, but a home button replacement on the iPhone 5s is going to involve replacing the screen as well. Since the screen is cracked, this is going to cost real money to do (more than $100, less than $200 from what I recall). Also since it's cracked, they're probably not going to offer to open it up and reseat the button as the screen removal assembly puts suction on the front glass and can cause further damage on an already-damaged screen.
posted by sleeping bear at 6:20 AM on July 27, 2015
posted by sleeping bear at 6:20 AM on July 27, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks all. I ultimately took it to an Apple Store and had them fix it. As sleeping bear correctly pointed out fixing the home button involved a replacement of the whole display, for a cost $129 (+ tax, total ~$145 here in CA). Real money but cheaper than buying a used iPhone 5s on the open market.
posted by crazy with stars at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2015
posted by crazy with stars at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2015
« Older What should I do about cultural appropriation in... | Where should I look for a house in... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Settings -> General -> Accessibility, scroll to the bottom and turn on AssistiveTouch
Once on, you get a little grey box with a circle in it. Tap that and one of the buttons on the main screen is the home button. You can push the box out of the way with your finger when it gets in the way of something else you want to use.
posted by rsclark at 11:18 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]