Fixing an Unresponsive iPhone Home Button: Are Solutions Safe?
Over the years, one consistent problem that we've been looking at is the case of the unresponsive home button. Almost all models of the iPhone have suffered this. Of late, the iPhone 4 and 4S appear to be the most affected (earlier it was the 3GS) and there are a lot of solutions that I've come across.
Aside from the fact that it could be purely be a software issue, there's a considerable call for arms over the use of liquid solutions like isopropyl alcohol. Someone posted about using WD40 and then it was immediately followed up by a cluster of posts asking you to stop believing that piece of advice.
Whatever it is, the job is to fix the issue. If it's a software problem, you can try something like a recalibration to fix the unresponsive iPhone home button. But what if it's a hardware jam?
The proposed solutions for a hardware issue are:
The home button is the only key on your iPhone which suffers from constant usage. And the sweaty finger and dust are reasons enough to warrant a possible malfunction after prolonged use.
Compressed Air: Safest
When you use compressed air, you are merely dusting away the particles that might have gotten stuck in the innards of the home button. A gas duster is the safest way to handle a delicate hardware like that of the home button in the iPhone.
But of course, not everyone succeeds eliminating the issue with a gas duster. You need something that's a little watery and that's where people use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.
Spray, Alcohol.. Safe?
No, they aren't safe but it's a risk that has paid off well for several thousand users.
Yes, there's a considerable risk but being careful can help. All you have to take care of is:
Before you even decide that it's a hardware problem, make sure you fix unresponsive iPhone home button as a software issue. There are plenty of ways to do that.
Aside from the fact that it could be purely be a software issue, there's a considerable call for arms over the use of liquid solutions like isopropyl alcohol. Someone posted about using WD40 and then it was immediately followed up by a cluster of posts asking you to stop believing that piece of advice.
Whatever it is, the job is to fix the issue. If it's a software problem, you can try something like a recalibration to fix the unresponsive iPhone home button. But what if it's a hardware jam?
The proposed solutions for a hardware issue are:
- Compressed air
- Isopropyl alcohol
- WD-40 or other water-displacing spray
The home button is the only key on your iPhone which suffers from constant usage. And the sweaty finger and dust are reasons enough to warrant a possible malfunction after prolonged use.
Compressed Air: Safest
When you use compressed air, you are merely dusting away the particles that might have gotten stuck in the innards of the home button. A gas duster is the safest way to handle a delicate hardware like that of the home button in the iPhone.
But of course, not everyone succeeds eliminating the issue with a gas duster. You need something that's a little watery and that's where people use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.
Spray, Alcohol.. Safe?
No, they aren't safe but it's a risk that has paid off well for several thousand users.
- You take a small swab of cloth and try to let the spray or alcohol seep into the edges of the home button.
- And then, press the home button several times rapidly so the little liquid gets distributed and hopefully, the humid hardware dust gets out of the way.
Yes, there's a considerable risk but being careful can help. All you have to take care of is:
- Use very little of the spray/alcohol
- Make sure none of the liquid touches any other part of the phone
- Be quick in dusting off and removing the moisture
Before you even decide that it's a hardware problem, make sure you fix unresponsive iPhone home button as a software issue. There are plenty of ways to do that.
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