Chosen Solution
So I currently work at a repair shop, and so far 1/3 customer iPhone 7/7 plus has been a success. Everything seems to be working fine except for the home button. I know for a fact that there can’t be any damage to the home button flex since I’ve removed it very carefully and installed it carefully as well. Same 4 screw and everything but no luck. I even used the customer old screen and marked it as a no fix but sadly it stopped working with the original screen as well. It bothers me so much not knowing what I did wrong??? As I’ve done over hundreds of iPhones and never broken a Touch ID Flex before. Is there a technique to removing one cause I mean from my experience a iPhone 6 Touch ID with the heat plate is harder to remove than the iPhone 7’s.
I’ve seen this question crop up a lot when it comes to the iPhone 7 and 7 plus, and I’m going to throw in a few ideas. One of the biggest reasons it doesn’t work, is down to screen quality, copy screens just don’t tend to work with the home buttons, this could be due to missing traces in the cable that don’t support it, or could be something else. I’ve used original refurbished with every repair and never had one issue so far. When removing the button from the original, I know people say they remove it carefully, but the home button removal procedure is a little more difficult compared to previous iPhones, especially since the extension cable isn’t stuck down, this requires you to get a spudger and hold the extension down whilst unplugging the button. You also mentioned that the home button also didn’t work on the original screen either, this may be because you damaged the home button flex, or you have damaged the extension cable on the original screen, I see a lot of people lay the screen flat after they have opened the iPhone, this causes stresss on the flex and may break traces inside that cable, or again, may have been broke during removal of the home button. Always try to use original or original refurbish, if this doesn’t work, it may be the extension cable that’s faulty, if it doesn’t work with another replacement, you may have damaged the home button itself. Also check that you haven’t placed the bracket under the shield, it needs to be on top of the shield.
Yes, rule out bad screen, and it sounds like you did that by putting it back on original screen. iPhone 7 home buttons are finicky, the screws on bracket don’t like to be overtightened. What we are seeing now is that the turtle ic (also called U10 in China) on the home button flex itself is easy to damage. This ic controls the transfer of capacitive home button pressure input into ones and zeros that the logic board can understand. If you have an iPhone 7 that has home button not working after screen swap, but touch ID DOES work, then that really points to turtle ic which can be changed by microsolderers. Torn flex is also a possibility but it sounds like you are being super careful not to do this–especially after you had a failure with the first one! I’ve seen one with a tiny pin !$$&* of flex damage from tweezers. You can look at the flex under a microscope to see if you are damaging the flex. Lastly software–in a scenario where you put a home button on a bad screen and then swap it back to the original for troubleshooting you may need to reboot the phone once to rule out the board just ignoring the home button sensor. good luck! Jessa of iPad Rehab
It honestly has to do with screen quality a cheaper screen has a $@$* cable on it these do not have the sufficent traces to allow touch id and home button functionality. The only screens I use are Mobiledefenders.com Premium i have never had a issue with the home button and touch ID also make sure you disconnect the battery first and always put it on last power to the board without the screen attached messes with the BioMetric Sensor on the Board. Hope this Helps Stephen T CPR Cellphone Repair Mobile Device Specialist.
I had the same problem - the problem was in the new display itself. (Reliable source, can happen) Ordered another screen, problem was solved. Guess the cable underneath the backlight/LCD that connects to your homebutton can be defective in some displays.
My repair shop works on iPhone 7 and 7 plus’ all the time, and out of the many hundreds that we’ve repaired, have had maybe 2 or 3 with bad home buttons or home buttons that stopped functioning. There is a very careful method to going about replacing the screens on these phones, whether with OEM/refurbished displays or aftermarket screens. As long as the H/B connector on the new LCD is good, than you should have no problems. First of all, before doing anything, turn the iPhone 7/Plus off. Then, when removing the home button from the original broken screen, be careful in removing the screws, try not to put too much pressure on the plate covering the button, and avoid the screwdriver and the plate touching or puncturing the button during removal. At this point, you want to disconnect the button from the original screens connector using thin tweezers and when doing so, make sure the tweezers don’t make too much contact with the connector, and carefully disconnect it without too much pressure or force. Now the most important part, removing the home button from the broken screen. There is an adhesive on the back of the button that sits on the frame of the screen. Don’t put anything underneath the button and between the frame like a thin metal pick. Also do not try to remove it until you have applied heat…now how would you go about applying heat without damaging the button? Utilize a heat gun, like an 862D+, if you don’t already have one, at about 100 degrees (the minimum for this heat gun). Point the gun directly at the circular area where the home button sits on the side of the screen behind the button. Wait about 15-20 seconds, and slowly and carefully peel the button off the screens frame with your finger from the connector, but if you notice that you have to be forceful or apply pressure, stop and keep applying more heat (as it’s easy to tear the flex cable on the button). If you’re worried about burning the broken screen (in case you want to refurbish or sell it to a refurbisher) than don’t apply too much heat. If the LCD is already damaged, don’t worry about this, it makes it much less stressful. Once you’ve done this, carefully slide the home button through the circular hole and remove it from the front of the broken screen. Make sure you don’t slide it across any broken glass in the process. Now take the button and slide it back into the new screen, and carefully connect it to the new screen. First thing you want to do is test the screen with the home button. I strongly advise against testing a screen without the home button connected as it could descramble the code and cause the button not to work no matter what screen you test it with. Once you’ve done this, and you’ve confirmed that it’s fully functional, turn the phone off, remove the screen, leave the button installed on the new screen, remove the mid frame/front facing camera from the broken screen, and carefully install it on the new screen. Make sure not to pull on the screens flex cables too much as that could cause the screen to stop functioning as well as damage the home button connector. Once you’ve done this enough, you will rarely if ever come across any issues with iPhone 7 and 7 plus replacements, OEM or aftermarket. Hope this helps, thanks!
I’ve never had an issue with the quality of the screen being the issue of a home button not working. I have however seen the issue to be a ripped or damaged home button flex or the back plate not being the original which has caused the home button not to work properly. I’ve also read that any damage done to the home button will cause the button to never work again as well as even a replacement because it’s not the original. You probably would need a new backplate and a new button for the button to be recognizable. Hope this helps :)
I also have the dreaded dead home button but touch id works fine, it’s original button of course or ID wouldn’t work but can’t get the darn home button to work to save my life :( any suggestions? Phone was brand-new 3rd day was dropped lcd cracked not glass.
I have a theory. If there’s no damage present and it doesn’t work after powering up… Give it 15 minutes. I’m finding recently that after a battery disconnect it is taking the home button a while to initialise. This could be misinterpreted as a damaged button. After a while it’ll work.
Hello Folks, Recently I got my iPhone 7 plus screen replaced and got in an exact same situation where my touch id was not working though the return to home was working fine. After doing a little research I finally gave a try to complete software restore. Went to www.IPSW.me and downloaded the latest IOS 11.2.5 ipsw file and did a complete restore using iTunes And voila the touch id started working fine again!!! Please try it and see if it works for you. Thanks
The bracket on the back of the lcd is pinching the cable… Solution… bottom left screw ( only non y screw) screw it in without the bracket and let the bracket lay on top of the screw
i’m going to have to agree with the quality of screen as the culprit in this situation. after the second instance in our shop with an iPhone 7 screen replacement causing, what seemed to be, a shorted circuit between the home button flex and the new assembly, we bit the bullet and began using original refurbished replacement screens.
Try software… I had iphone this week and I replaced the screen, before I replace I connected the lcd with out home button, and then put together everything and replaced the screen… after replacing I was testing the phone, and realize touch id is not working, after this I did again and starts working…
There is also this to consider: Posted about the same time as the original poster… Sorry Folks, iPhone 7 Home Buttons Aren’t User Replaceable WRITTEN BY JULIA BLUFF Bad news for the DIY-inclined: looks like the home button in an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus can’t be replaced with a different one. If you break the button or rip the cable, you’ll have to go to the folks at the Genius Bar for a repair—or be stuck with a completely non-functioning home button. …. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus appears to take this feature a step further. Home button replacement—or damage to the original home button cable—renders the button completely non-functional: no Touch ID and (here’s the new part) no return-to-menu ability. You can still navigate your phone by turning on Assistive Touch. But for all practical purposes, you’ve got a dead home button. One that you can’t fix on your own or at an independent repair shop.
Read the rest here:
https://ifixit.org/blog/9020/no-fix-ipho...
You removed battery cable ? First remove the cable from battery cannotar then whatever you will do any phone not only iphone 7 !
Dear all,
Problem with the home button for me too.
I bought a screen on ifixit for replacement on my iPhone 7.
No problem during the swap, but when I switch on the phone, it takes a long time and restarts two or times (apple logo then black screen then apple logo again).
Once it started, touche ID and home button don't work.
If I swap to the original broken screen, everything is fine, quick start, touch ID and HB work fin.
Do you have an idea ?
does home button heat up?
Hi all as of my experience I just want to test this issue cause because of replacement or apple software . want I did is I have my well working iPhone 7 I just open it and never replace any thing I just on the i phone in open condition suddenly the home button is not working even I close and fix the screws back. the touch id is disable totally not working. Personally my thought is because of software the lock it once you open the phone.
If you don't believe it plz try the same as what I did.
I am not posting an answer. I have researched this problem until I 'm almost tired of life. Firstly, why are there so many people who just do not seem to read and understand what others are writing , or trying to write about regarding this problem, then keep going on possibly this action will work or that item will solve it, the thread just goes on and on. For f***s sake.
YES the i phone 7 home button is digitally linked to the motherboard. You won't find how even if you have access to the many pay to use or download diagnostic and repair schematics. and softwares that are out there.
To all those that have successfully transferred an original i phone 7 into another replacement digitiser screen assembly, whether from Apple or a quality aftermarket supplier, you got lucky dude. 99% of the time the home button link to the system is disabled if it is ever disturbed.
A low current supply is permanently supplied to the circuit in the home button chip even when the phone is switched off. You will not ever find out how this supply works where it originates in the motherboard and where it routes through the rest of the system. You need Apples kit to reset everything at a cost that only you the customer can determine whether it is cost effective or not.
YES, it is a pain in the orifice. Its kick in the teeth as far as generating any continuing customer loyalty to Apple goes on the grounds of allowing cheaper repairs and replacements, especially as now the latast i phones X are costing as much as a second hand car. Its time to think about changing repair services to everything but Apple. After the last i phone 6 passes through my hands I'm done with them.
Im experiencing many of the issues on all the iPhone 7 and 7 plus, just today i had to replace the camera for a customer, and after installing the new one, the home button stop working. I called apple, them could not troubleshoot the problem, unfortunately and sadly all iPhone made after iPhone 6S are problematic, and yes i do agree with some one on this conversation, apple is preventing repair places to take the task on repair their products.
I have over 10 iPhone 7 with code (4013) send couple at apple for repair, there send it back, saying the items are beyond repair.
Apple is going to disappoint a lot of customers and especially hurting a lot of small business for doing the repair less than what apple offer.
