7 Fixes: iPhone Side Button Not Working

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Is the side button on your iPhone not working? Fret not, we’ve got you covered.

The Side button is an all-rounder for your iPhone. It can do a lot of cool things like locking or waking your device, talking to Siri, taking screenshots, and whatnot. But what if it stops working all of a sudden?

In this article, we will investigate why your iPhone’s side button is not working and provide you with effective troubleshooting steps to resolve the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue.

Let’s get started.

Why Is My Side Button Not Working?

Short Answer: The side button on your iPhone may not work properly due to the wrong phone case, water damage, accumulation of dirt around it, or software and hardware issue.

Here are some common culprits of the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue:

Reason#1: Wrong Phone Case

The primary reason for the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue is the wrong phone case. If you’ve put on a hard phone case on your iPhone, then the side button is likely to suffer.

Reason#2: Water Damage

Have you recently dropped your iPhone in the water? If so, then this might be the reason why your iPhone’s side button isn’t responding. While iPhone boasts about being resistant to water, it can still experience malfunctions when comes in contact with water.

Reason#3: Dirt Inside the Button

Another factor contributing to the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue is accumulated dirt and debris inside your side button. If you haven’t cleaned your side button for a while, it might be a good time to do so.

Reason#4: Software or Hardware Issues

Software or hardware issue is also to be blamed for the malfunctioning of your iPhone’s side button.

Now that we know the possible reasons for the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue, let’s move on to effective solutions to resolve this issue.

Fix: iPhone side button not working

Listed below are some effective workarounds to resolve the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” problem.

Fix#1: Remove the Phone Case

First things first, remove the phone case from your iPhone. Let’s face it, everyone loves those giant trendy phone cases, but those fancy phone cases might be exerting too much pressure on your iPhone’s side button. As a result, the functionality of the side button can be hindered.

Therefore, we firmly advise you to remove the phone case from your iPhone. Once you removed your phone case, check if the side button starts working. If it does, then you better throw that phone case out of the window and get the new one that doesn’t put too much pressure on the side button.

If the issue persists, proceed to the next troubleshooting method on the list.

Fix#2: Check and Clean the Side Button

Over time, your side button could accumulate gunk and debris around it which could lead to the malfunctioning of the button.

Therefore, you need to clean out your side button with a soft cloth or Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to get rid of the accumulated dirt. Also, pay close attention to the side button and inspect for any signs of physical damage.

After cleaning the dirt and inspecting for damage, check it the side button functions properly.

Fix#3: Adjust the Side Button Speed

Did you know the side button on your iPhone can be adjusted to work faster or slower? It’s possible that you might have accidentally changed the settings to slow or slowest, which is why the side button is not working properly.

Here’s how you adjust the speed of your side button:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone
Step 2: Scroll down, find, and tap on Accessibility

Step 3: Next, tap on Side Button
Step 4: Select Default under the Click Speed

After adjusting the speed of your side button, check if it starts functioning properly.

Fix#4: Enable Assistive Touch

iOS devices have a helpful feature called Assistive Touch that not many people know about. It comes in handy when your physical button is not working.

Assistive Touch is like a virtual side button that lets you lock, turn off, or even restart your device.

Here’s how you enable assistive touch on your iOS device:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Accessibility

Step 3: Next, tap on Touch

Step 4: Then, tap on Assistive Touch

Step 5: Now, enable the Assistive Touch by switching on the toggle button

Step 6: Lastly, tap on Customize Top Level Menu and design it as per your liking

It’s not a permanent fix, but you can use it to do almost everything temporarily.

Fix#5: Restart Your Phone

Once you’ve enabled the assistive touch, you can restart your device without using the side button. A quick restart helps you refresh the system and resolve any troublesome bugs and glitches in the software that might be hindering the functionality of your device.

Here’s how you restart your iPhone using the assistive touch:

Step 1: Open Assistive Touch by tapping on it
Step 2: Navigate to the Device

Step 3: Next, tap on More

Step 4: Select the Restart option

Step 5: Lastly, hit Restart to confirm

Once your device restarts, check if the side button starts working properly.

Fix#6: Update your Device

If you’re facing the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue, then software bugs are also to be blamed. Outdated versions can often develop troublesome bugs that could lead to various issues in the device.

In this situation, we recommend updating your iOS device to its latest version to rule out software-related bugs and glitches.

To update your iPhone, follow the instructions given below:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iOS device
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on General

Step 3: Next, tap on Software Update

Step 4: Finally, hit Download and Install

After updating the device, check if the “iPhone Side Button Not Working” issue resolves.

Fix#7: Visit Apple Service Center

If you’ve exhausted all the aforementioned fixes without any success, then chances are your side button is physically damaged. In this case, we recommend visiting Apple Service Center near you and seeking professional help.

If your device is under warranty, you’ll be able to get your side button fixed without any charges. However, if the warranty period is over, you’ll have to spend some extra bucks from your pocket.

7 Fixes: iPhone Side Button Not Working