How to Fix a Sticking Home Button on an iPod Touch

Cotton swabs help wipe away dust and oily residue from around a stuck button.

Your iPod Touch's Home button makes navigating the iPod interface easier. With a single press of the button, you can instantly return to the main iPod screen or wake up a sleeping iPod Touch. If your Home button is sticking and sometimes difficult to push, it could be due to built-up fingerprint residue or other grime. Over time, oily gunk can accumulate around the edges of the button, hindering its use. Fix this issue with some basic cleaning products.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton swab
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Paper towel
• Compressed air can

Instructions

1. Dip a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol.

2. Dab the cotton swab on a paper towel to remove excess isopropyl alcohol. The swab should be slightly moist, but not over-saturated. Too much moisture causes harmful drips of liquid onto the iPod Touch's casing.

3. Wipe the edges of the button in a circular motion. Follow the button's natural curve.

4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 if there is still any visible gunk around the edges of the button.

5. Spray a burst of compressed air directly at the button. Compressed air can help flush out small pieces of debris from between the button and the iPod Touch casing.

Tips & Warnings

• If the button is still sticking, take your iPod Touch into an Apple Store for maintenance.

• Hardware issues requiring more than basic cleaning should be performed by an Apple employee. If you try to tamper with the internal components yourself, you void the warranty and risk hardware damage.

References

• "iPod Touch Made Easy"; Gary Mazo, et al.; 2010
• "2,001 Amazing Cleaning Secrets"; Jeff Bredenberg; 2004
• Apple: iPod Service Frequently Asked Questions