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• If one or more of your iPhone's buttons aren't working properly, you might find yourself without certain important features or even unable to use your iPhone altogether. Even though the iPhone is a touch screen smartphone, the "Home" button underneath the screen and the "Sleep/Wake" button at the top of the handset are key components of the phone. Therefore, you need to fix the problem as soon as possible, and should also take preventative measures to decrease the likelihood of future issues.
  
  

Sleep/Wake Button

• The "Sleep/Wake" button can put your iPhone into sleep mode with one click and wake it up again with another. To fix an inactive "Sleep/Wake" button, turn the phone off by holding down the "Sleep/Wake" button for a few seconds then sliding the red bar at the bottom of the screen to the right-hand side. Then turn the phone back on again by holding down the "Sleep/Wake" button for a few seconds until the Apple logo appears.
  
  

Home Button

• To fix a non-functioning "Home" button, try turning your handset off then on again using the "Sleep/Wake" button. If restarting the phone doesn't solve the issue, try restoring your iPhone from a back-up version in iTunes. Alternatively, you might need to restore your iPhone to factory settings using iTunes. This will erase any personalized data on the phone, such as contacts, messages and apps. If your "Home" button is still unresponsive after these steps, you need to take your cellphone to an Apple store for a service.
  
  

Prevention

• Keeping your iPhone buttons clean and dry can help prevent issues developing. Although most of your cellphone might be protected by a case, the buttons are usually exposed. Remove the case and turn your phone off before cleaning it. Dip a microfiber cloth into cool water and squeeze the excess liquid out so the cloth is damp, but not wet. Wipe gently with the cloth to remove any dirt on your iPhone, ensuring no excess moisture enters the phone's casing. Wipe the phone dry with another cloth and then replace the case.