iPhone Side Button Not Working? Here’s How to Fix

The Side button on your iPhone is a critical component of the device to perform various tasks. It can be a major inconvenience to find out that your iPhone's side button is not working.

In this article, we will discuss why your iPhone’s side button not working and how you can fix it. Let’s get started!

Why is My iPhone Side Button Not Working?

The side button not working on your iPhone may occur because of hardware or software issues. Here are a few possible reasons:

• Hardware Issue: Although the iPhone is known for its high-quality components, sometimes the button can be damaged because of over-use, wrong-use, or long-duration wear and tear. In rare cases, iPhone with a malfunctioning button can be unintentionally manufactured and cause the issue.
• Wrong Phone Case: Utilizing the wrong phone case can prevent you from clicking the side button properly. This may lead you to think that the button is not working. Sometimes, these covers may also stress the buttons and lead them to damage.
• Water Damage: Although the newer iPhone models are water resistant, there are still chances that the water can affect the buttons of the device. If you are encountering the issue after dropping the device into water, then there are chances that the button is malfunctioned because of water.

How to Fix iPhone Power/Side Button Not Working

Here are the possible solutions that you can utilize to solve the iPhone Side/Power button not working issue.

1. Remove the Phone Case

A lot of us use a phone case to prevent the device from any sort of damage. However, the covers designed by third-party companies can stress the device's exterior. In the long run, it can affect the physical buttons like the volume or side buttons.

So, if you are encountering any issues with your iPhone's power or side button, remove the phone case first. If the button starts working again, then there is an issue with the cover you are using, and you should consider replacing it with a proper one.

2. Clean the Power/Side Button

Dirt or dust is something that often impairs tech appliances, and our smartphone is no exception. Sometimes, these substances can stick to the button and prevent it from working properly.

Make use of a soft and fresh cleaning cloth or a mini air blower to get rid of the dirt. You should hear the tactile feedback after successfully removing the dirt when you click the button.

3. Adjust the Click Speed of Side Button

Sometimes you may feel that the side button is working, but it is not as comfortable as you cherish. In this case, simply adjusting the click speed may help the button. Here is how to do so:

• Go to Accessibility from Settings of your iPhone.
• Find and click the Side Button.
• Pick the preferred options based on your preferred intensity.

4. Enable Assistive Touch

If none of the above solutions helps you, consider turning on the Assistive Touch feature on the iPhone. In case you don't know, the Assistive Touch enables you to use a virtual button to use the phone when the physical button is not working. Although it is not a permanent solution, it can be very useful to keep using the device.

Here is how to turn on the button:

• Navigate to Accessibility under your iPhone’s Settings.
• Click Touch and then press the toggle-on AssistiveTouch option.
• Customize the virtual buttons for the preferred functionality.

5. Restart iPhone without Side Button

Restarting the iPhone helps fix various glitches and temporary issues in the device. However, you can't do that in this case since the side/power button is not working. Here is how to restart your iPhone without utilizing the physical button:

• Start by opening General under Settings of your iPhone.
• Find and press Shut Down.
• Now, the power slider will occur. Drag it to switch off the iPhone.

The device should restart within a while. If not, attach the iPhone to a PC to switch it on.

6. Update iPhone Software

On rare occasions, bugs in your iPhone's software can prevent the button from functioning. These bugs usually occur when your iPhone is running on an outdated version. In this case, consider updating the iOS version following the below instructions:

• Browse General under iPhone’s Settings.
• Open Software Update.
• Press Download and Install if the option is available.

7. Fix iPhone Power Button Not Working due to Software Errors

If you are encountering other system issues on your iPhone, along with the buttons not working, there are chances that the system in your iPhone is corrupted. In such cases, tools like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery can help you to solve the issue and get your device back to its normal state.

The top features of FoneGeek iOS System Recovery include the following:

• Enables you to fix all varieties of issues on your iPhone without eradicating any data.
• Available for all versions of iOS and iPhone models, including iOS 16 and iPhone 14.
• Obtainable for both Windows and Mac computers; 100$ secure.
• Easy to use with just a few clicks; 100 % safe to use.

Here is how to utilize the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to fix the Side button not working on your iPhone:

Step 1. Unlock your iPhone and attach it to your device through the right cable. Next, select Standard Mode from the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery and press Next.

Step 2. If your iPhone is not detected by the program, boot the device into Recovery/DFU Mode by employing the instructions on the screen.

Step 3. On the new page, press Download to begin the download of the firmware. Once the firmware download is completed, press Fix Now to begin the fixing.

Step 4. The fixing process should be completed within a while. Once done, the phone will restart and return to its normal state.

8. Visit Apple Store for Repair

If you have tried everything we discussed above but still cannot solve the issue, then the button might be physically damaged. In this case, your last resort is to visit Apple Servicing Center. They should fix the button for free if the phone is under warranty coverage. If not, you may require to pay for the service.

Conclusion

It can be disconcerting if you cannot use your iPhone normally because of the side button not working. However, we hope the above guide will assist you in fixing the issue. Also, make sure to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery tool to quickly resolve such issues without losing any data on your iPhone.