Help for broken iPhone/ iPad buttons

If your phone is past its warranty window and you're still waiting for an upgrade, here are some tips. Read on for tips to work around faulty or totally broken buttons.

For broken lock/ power or volume buttons:

Enable Assistive Touch by following these selections...

>Settings
>General
>Accessiblity
>Assistive Touch
>Enable Assistive Touch


You now have a white circle always present on the screen. From there, tap 'device' and find virtual lock screen button and volume buttons.

(You can drag the white circle around on the screen. To turn phone off, hold down virtual lock screen button)


For a broken home button:

Enable Assistive touch by following instructions above. Use the virtual home button and tap twice for app-switching.

If your home button is completely dead you won't want to lock your phone with the lock button.

Plug the phone into a charger in order to get the screen on.

Use one of these free apps to "lock" your screen. These apps were all created to protect photos/ videos, however, you can use them as a lock by setting up the password and starting the app to lock your phone. Keep in mind that you need to disable auto-lock in settings and your battery will be drained faster than if the phone were normally locked.

I would suggest leaving your chosen app on your home screen. It's your preference to put media in them or not.

1) Photo Password Free
Developer: Revolutionary concepts

You can use one of these new, cool picture gesture passwords by drawing a design on a photo of your choice. It's harder for people to guess and the possibilities are endless. Upgrade for 99 cents if you don't want to be bothered with ads.

Click here to get the app

2) Dot Lock Secure Media Locker Lite
Developer: David Lane

You can have a dot lock like all of your awesome Android friends. There's quite a few different types passwords you can set up using this app. Also, you can enable the app to snap a photo of people who try to "break in" your phone. Upgrade to no ads for 99 cents.

Click here to get the app

3) Private Photo Vault
Developer: William Sidell

You can have something very close to the traditional apple lock by using this app. A nice 4 digit pin. Upgrade to pro for $2.99 but the ads aren't all that bothersome in the free version

Click here to get the app