What to do if an iPhone Button is Stuck

The buttons that you use most with your iPhone are probably going to be the Home and the Volume buttons. You use them almost every time you have a session with the device. But what can you do if one of these buttons gets stuck in place? In this article, we’ll go over some of the reasons these buttons can get stuck, as well as what you can do to fix them.

Your iPhone Home Button is Stuck

First, let’s talk about the Home button getting stuck. This button is a feature of all the earlier generations of iPhones, and it is sometimes prone to lag or be unresponsive. Misalignment can be a reason for this button to get stuck, or accumulated grime might be causing it. Moisture could be to blame, as well. Trying to calibrate the device is what makes the most sense to try before you do anything else.

Calibrating Your Device if an iPhone Button is Stuck

To calibrate your iPhone, open one of the native apps, like the Clock or the Weather. Press and hold your Side button till the Slide to Power Off slider appears on the screen. Now, you must press and hold the Home button until the phone goes back to the phone screen.

Your phone is now calibrated. It’s an easy fix, but sometimes it works. If the Home button still seems to be stuck, go on to the next option.

Realign Your Connector if an iPhone Button is Stuck

When you plug the iPhone in to charge it and then take it off the charger, you might inadvertently shift some of the elements. There’s something called a thirty-pin connector that’s used with iPhone chargers, and it is made up of several delicate parts. The Home button is located right above the connector port. That’s why charging it can sometimes knock this button out of its alignment.

Plug the connector into your iPhone. Next, push down gently on it, forcing the Home button upward. As you are pushing, press the Home button. That might pop it loose again if it was stuck. If that doesn’t work, keep reading.

Restore the iPhone for a Stuck Button

Doing a restoration of the device can help if you’re experiencing Home button lag. Make sure that all of your data is backed up with iTunes before you attempt this next fix.

Connect the iPhone to your laptop or PC with an Apple-approved USB cable. Enable iTunes, and make sure you’re running the latest version of it. Find your phone under Devices on the left-hand side of the screen. Press the Summary tab. Click Restore.

Clean the Stuck iPhone Home Button

Cleaning the Home button is another thing for you to try. Lint from your pocket can get caught up in the circle in which the button rests. It could also be food crumbs or some other kind of particulate matter. You can take some isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab and gently clean the button and the circle in which it sits. Wait for a few minutes, and then see if that has made any difference.

Twist and Spin the Device for a Stuck iPhone Button

The one other fix that you can try is to turn the phone over on its back. Take it out of its case, if it is in one. Hold the Home button down firmly. Then, twist the phone in a clockwise motion. Apple recommends this method because it can loosen the button in its holding circle if it has become jammed. Don’t be too rough, though, or you could cause damage to other parts of the phone.

Now, let’s move on to the Volume buttons.

Hardware Damage can Cause a Stuck iPhone Volume Button  

The Volume buttons on your iPhone can be equally vital to your Home button in some cases, depending on what it is you’re attempting to do. Obviously, they adjust the volume, but you also need them when it comes to certain other functions. If one of your Volume buttons is stuck, then you should first check for hardware problems, which is to say notable exterior damage to the iPhone.

Scrutinize the button and see if there’s anything that indicates external damage has taken place. If you dropped the phone while it was out of its case or moisture got on it, then that could be what’s led to a Volume button getting stuck. If that’s what is happening, then you’ll need to take the device to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar. The employees there can determine whether you need to get a component replaced or if it is a matter of a minor adjustment.

Cleaning a Stuck iPhone Volume Button

You can try cleaning a Volume button in the same way that you would for a Home button. You’ll need rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. Go over the surface and try to get any grime or other debris that is coating the buttons or the housing in which they sit.

Vacuuming a Stuck iPhone Volume Button

You can also try cleaning out any accumulated grime with a hand-held vacuum. Don’t use a full-sized vacuum or one of the hose attachments that comes with it. Instead, try one that you’d use for upholstery in your car or something along those lines. Run it over the Volume buttons to see if that gets them unstuck again.

Try Pressing the Volume Buttons a Few Times

After you have cleaned the buttons with rubbing alcohol and vacuumed the area around them, you can try pressing them firmly a few times. If there was no external damage that you detected, then the button is probably simply stuck in place. Some persistent pressing on your part might free it up.

Update iOS for a Stuck iPhone Volume Button

If the issue is not hardware-related, then presumably it is software-related. If that’s the case, then you might have some luck with an iOS upgrade. To do it, first go to Settings, then General. Go to Software Update and see if there’s one available. If there is, download it. Be sure that you’re connected to Wi-Fi with a stable network, or else you can use your cellular data. Once the new version of iOS is running, try the Volume buttons again.

Use Assistive Touch for a Stuck iPhone Volume Button

If you haven’t been able to figure out a way to unstick your iPhone’s Volume buttons, then you’ll need to head to an Apple Store to consult the Geniuses. If you’re not able to do that immediately, though, you can use Assistive Touch as a temporary fix. 

Go to Settings, then General. Go to Accessibility, and toggle on the Assistive Touch feature. Now, whenever you want to turn the phone’s volume up or down, you can go back to Assistive Touch. Go to the Device option, and you can then adjust the volume as much as you’d like.

IMAGE: Assistive Touch for iPhone Button Stuck

Hopefully, one of these fixes has worked for you, and now both your Home and Volume buttons are fully functional again.