iPad Home Button Not Working: Here is How to Solve

The Home button of the iPad is required for a variety of functions. It can be very frustrating when the button is not working, as you cannot use the device smoothly without it. The button can be unresponsive, lagging, or stuck and avert you from using it.

In this write-up, we will discuss what reasons prevent the iPad Home button and what you can do to fix it. Keep reading.

Part 1. What Causes iPad Home button to Stop Working?

To find out why the iPad’s Home button is not functioning, begin by visually inspecting it. Is it stuck when you press it? If so, the button is physically damaged. If not, the below-mentioned reasons may be affecting the operation of the button:

• There might be a software interference that is affecting the operation of the button.
• The button can be damaged and need to be changed.
• Sometimes a hardware issue can also prevent the button from triggering and identifying the click.
• Some external issues may also prevent the button from working correctly.

If you find the button stuck or sticking while physically inspecting, these problems can be:

• The button is totally damaged or broken.
• Sometimes an external protective case or screen protector may also prevent the button from working.

Part 2. Free Ways to Fix ‘iPad Home Button Not Working’

Here are some free ways to fix the iPad Home button if it’s not working:

Clean the Home Button

Sometimes the button might not work as it accumulates dirt and grime buildup, which interferes with the mechanism of the button. In this case, cleaning the Home button in the correct way might help you to solve the issue. Here is how to do so:

• Begin with wiping the button with a dry and clean microfiber cloth.
• If the button is still not working, slightly dampen the microfiber cloth with 98% or 99% isopropyl alcohol. It is secure to utilize the chemical as it won’t cause any damage to the device.
• Rub the dampened cloth and, at the same time, click the Home button repeatedly. This will allow a small amount of alcohol to enter and loosen the buildup.

Remove the iPad Case

As we said earlier, external factors like the protective iPad case can prevent the Home button from working. If you use a case, consider removing it and clicking the button.

If it works, this means the iPad case was causing the issue. Consider using the device without the case. If it’s not working, move to the next method.

Portrait View/Landscape View

As per some users, altering between the portrait/landscape view helped to solve the issue. Here are the steps to follow:

• Tap and hold the Home button of the iPad in the portrait view. Hold the button until landscape mode occurs.
• Once you are in landscape mode, get back to the portrait view. Make sure the iPad display rotates while doing so.
• Once you are in portrait mode, let go of the Home button. The Home button may start working efficiently now.

Use Charger to Press Against the Home Button

Your iPhone’s Home button is attached to other components above the charging port. Some users were able to fix the Home button by putting a little pressure on it while the device was connected to the charging cable. The entire process is a bit risky as it can damage delicate components in the area. So, make sure to do it cautiously. Here are the steps to follow:

• Attach the charging cable to the iPad.
• Firmly press the back of the charger’s connector near the place where the Home button is situated.
• While keeping the pressure on the connector, press the Home button a few times.

This method may fix the Home button for a few weeks. However, you will need to replace it in the long run.

Enable 5-Finger Gesture

You can use the 5-finger gesture to perform some of the tasks of the iPad. Here is how to turn it on:

• Go to Settings of your iPad.
• Switch on Multitasking Gestures.
• Come back to the Home screen by putting the five fingers on the screen and pinching them together.

Restart Your iPad

Sometimes minor software glitches can cause the issue. Restarting iPad might help you eliminate the glitch and solve the issue. Here is how to do so:

• Long-press the iPad power button and keep holding it until you see the "Slide to power off” screen occur. Turn off the iPad by moving the slider.
• To turn on the iPad, tap and hold the Power button until the Apple logo occurs.

Put iPad In DFU Mode

If the problem is caused by a major software issue, putting it into DFU mode and restoring it might help. However, it is going to be tough as there is the Home button is not working. The good news is you can use a third-party tool like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to put the device to DFU mode and restore it.

Note that it’s not guaranteed that putting the device in DFU mode will solve the issue, as a hardware issue can also cause it. However, you can still try this if you think the button is not physically damaged and the nuisance is rendered by a software issue.

Update iPad Version

Updating the iPad might help to repair the Home button. Here are the steps to update it:

• Open iPad’s Settings and go to General.
• Now find and open Software Update.
• If an update is available, tap “Download and Install”.

Using AssistiveTouch

You can also use the AssistiveTouch temporarily when the iPad Home button isn't working. When it’s on, you will see a virtual button on display. You can use it for various tasks like locking the iPad, turning it off, etc.

Go to Settings > Accessibility, and from there, toggle on the switch for AssistiveTouch. You will find the virtual button on display immediately after doing so.

Repair iPad System

If the home button is still not working, the button might be physically damaged, and you should consider repairing it. You can contact Apple Support, and if the iPad still has a warranty, you may get it fixed for free.

Note that Apple won’t solve it if the button is affected by water damage. In this case, you might have to depend on third parties to fix it.

Part 3. Try to Use a Professional Repair Tool

If you desire to restore your iPad to eliminate the Home button not working issue, consider using a professional repair tool like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. It is a powerful and efficient iOS repair tool that can help you fix over 150 plus iPhone, iPad, or iPod-related system issues. Moreover, you can solve these errors without losing any data. There are two modes which are Standard Mode and Advanced Mode, to help you fix the errors.

Here is how to utilize the tool:

• Get the Joyoshare UltFix on your PC and install it. Launch the program when done and select “Standard Mode”.

• Attach the iPad to the PC and select “Start” to initiate the repair mode.
• Put the iPad into DFU mode using the on-screen guide. After that, choose and download the firmware package.

• Click the “Fix Now” button on the app screen to unzip the firmware file and begin the repairing process. It should be done within a while, and your iPad’s Home button should work normally.

Final Words

If the iPad Home button is not working, you can consider utilizing the above solutions. They should help you to fix the issue with the button so that you can use it smoothly. If you are sure that the situation is caused by a system error, you can directly try Joyoshare UltFix to restore the phone. This might be the fastest way to solve the problem.