Hello Rob, Below is the text from an article on CNet about how to fix a problematic home button. I did keep all 4 methods in the text since they talk about "4 ways" and I didn't want to cut the last one or two although the fourth method they list is probably of limited use to a Voiceover user and the third method I would probably not attempt. If I did I would definitely completely turn off my iPhone's power. However, I have often heard the first and second method mentioned and it does help in some cases, once again, be very careful with the second method as too much pressure could damage your 30-Pin port. Here it is:
Four ways to fix an unresponsive iPhone home button If your iPhone button is not responding and you're out of warranty, here are four things you can do to fix it. No matter how anal you are about keeping your iPhone safe and intact, there is still a chance your home button will eventually suffer the effects of normal wear and tear. The iPhone 5, which features a change to the anatomy of the home button, may solve this problem, but previous iPhone models are still susceptible to this common phenomenon. If you're still within the provided one-year warranty and your phone doesn't show signs of accidental damage, head on over to Apple. As long as you're covered by warranty, the company will replace your phone or perform any necessary repairs. Those who got hit with the home button plague after their warranty period can give the following four fixes a try. Just be warned: if you improperly perform methods 2 and 3 and damage your phone, we don't take responsibility. Method 1: Calibrate (and possibly restore) If you're lucky, your slow-to-respond home button is due to a software glitch. To find out, you'll need to calibrate your home button. Here's how: 1. Open up a stock app, like the Clock or the native Weather app. 2. Hold down the Power/sleep button until "Slide to power off" appears (until Voiceover says "Slide to Power Off"). 3. When it does, let go of the sleep button and hold down the home button. After about 5 to 10 seconds, the app will close. That's it. If this solved your problem, you are one lucky iPhone owner. If it didn't you may want to try restoring your iPhone before continuing to the second method. Method 2: Realign the docking port There is a chance that through normal wear and tear, your phone's docking port got misaligned, moving the home button along with it. Although a repair shop might suggest you replace the home button, this YouTuber offered a different solution. 1. Plug a USB cable into your iPhone. Then, gently push down on the 30-pin connector, so that it pushes up behind the home button. 2. While you apply the pressure, click the home button. Remove the cable, and see if that fixed the problem. Method 3: Clean the home button A splash of soda, sticky hands, dirt in the bottom of your purse or pocket -- any of these things can damage your iPhone's home button. For this fix, you'll need 98-99 percent isopropyl alcohol, which can be found at hardware stores. 1. Using a cotton swab, eye dropper, or tissue, apply 2-3 drops of the isopropyl alcohol directly to the home button, avoiding the screen. 2. With a narrow, dull object (like the eraser on the back of a pencil), repeatedly tap the home button so that the alcohol seeps into the frame. 3. Wipe clean, and wait about 10 to 15 minutes before checking to see if that did the trick. Method 4: Enable the on-screen home button If the previous three methods did not work, it sounds like perhaps you have a completely defunct home button. In this case, your home button's connectors may have been misaligned and would require professional repair. (Or, if you're willing to brave it, iFixit shows you how to DIY.) The good news is, you can still use your phone using its on-screen home button. Normally, this is used as an accessibility option, but it's also a common solution for those with non-functioning home buttons. To enable the on-screen home button, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Assistive Touch. Turn Assistive Touch on, and you'll see a small circle appear on screen. Tapping that circle gives you four options: Home, Siri, More (for things like multitasking and playback controls), and Favorites. In your case, ignore Favorites, but tap this on-screen button whenever you need to access your home screen, activate Siri, or get all the options you'd normally see when you double-tap the home button. If the on-screen home button ever gets in the way, simply tap and hold to drag it anywhere else along the frame of your screen. It's hardly an ideal solution, but it'll hold you over until you're ready to purchase a new phone or get your current one fixed. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rob Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 10:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: home button does not work correctly with voiceover Dear list, I sent my iPod to Apple, they checked it & returned it to me saying it was fine, they couldn't find anything wrong. the home button works fine without voiceover running. but with voiceover, I have to press it multiple times to get it to work. sometimes I can press it once and it acts as if I pressed it three times and turns voiceover off or sometimes I press it once and it opens the app switcher. is there a app I can use to reroute the home key to another key or swipe? -- Subscribe to my PodOmatic podcast feed http://musicmaker365.podomatic.com/rss2.xml or visit the podcast page: http://musicmaker365.podomatic.com/ Thanks, Rob You can leave me a voice mail or fax at 206-426-3505 "God is good all the time, & All the time God is good" -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en.
