iPhone 7 Home Button Replacement & Repair

With the release of the iPhone 7 came a massive change to one of Apple’s main features—the home button. Instead of including the physical button that we are all accustomed to, Apple replaced it with a sensory driven button that, when pushed, no longer depresses. Though the feature is undeniably brilliant, with change always comes room for error. If you’re experiencing issues with the home button, consider our suggestions for an iPhone 7 home button replacement.

iPhone 7 Home Button Functions

Though Apple revamped the design of the home button, the basic functions it performs remain the same. You can still:

Multitask
Unlock your phone using Touch ID
Access Siri
Access Apple Pay
Return to the home screen

Apple’s Taptic Engine powers the new home button. This means that even though you aren’t pushing a button, it can recognize if you are force touching, tapping, or pushing it. These actions can also be customized in your Settings app to respond to specific pressures of your choosing.

iPhone 7 Home Button Not Working?

If you’ve found that your home button is not working properly, you’ll also notice Apple has designed a feature to address the issue. Once your phone detects a malfunction with the home button, it will display a message that says, “The home button may need service.” After this message is displayed, an on-screen home button will appear for your use as a temporary fix.

There are many reasons why your home button may be malfunctioning, but the most common issues involve falls and water damage. The iPhone 7 received an IP67 rating, meaning it is dust resistant and water resistant (up to 1 meter of water, for 30 minutes), but accidental damage still happens.

iPhone 7 Home Button Replacement Service

Currently, the only home button repair available that will restore the phone to its full functionality is through Apple. Starting with this model, it appears that Apple is using new software locks to prohibit independent repair to certain parts of the phone. Unlike the iPhone 6, the iPhone 7 home button will only work with the original, which renders any efforts made by users to repair their own phones, useless.

It’s hard to say why Apple has decided to make this change. One reason could be that because the button is now software controlled, and the lock would prevent hacking and security breaches. Another possibility is that Apple is ramping up its proprietary efforts by restricting the repairability of their products.

Official Apple Store

Every iPhone comes with a year-long warranty from Apple. However, this warranty does not cover water-related damages even though the iPhone 7 claims to be waterproof. Because of this exception, the only other coverage option available is through AppleCare +. This option costs $129 for coverage that includes water damage, and then $99 for the actual repair—a total of $228.

If your iPhone 7 home button breaks or needs to be replaced, it will only work if it is recalibrated at an official Apple store. If you don’t have AppleCare+ or aren’t under warranty, the repair will cost $319 for an iPhone 7 and $349 for an iPhone 7 Plus.

If you’re experiencing any other issues with your iPhone 7, bring it to your local CPR! We specialize in iPhone 7 repairs that are always speedy and done at a reasonable price. Find a location and give us a call or stop in.