As the only physical button on the face of your iPhone, the Home button may seem rather insignificant, sitting as it does in the midst of capacitive touchscreen goodness. One may also think the only reason to press it is to close an app and return to the menu screen, however, this versatile little button can do a little more than that!
- Return to Your Main Home Screen. If you’ve filled up the maximum 11 home screens with apps, then a quick return to your main page can be handy. Just a single press of the Home button from any of those screens takes you instantly back to the first without any frantic swiping.
- Enter Spotlight. It may be a swipe away, but an alternative method to enter the iPhone search is a single press of the Home button from your main Home screen.
- Wake Up Your iPhone. Aside from the sleep/wake button on the top of your device, the Home button performs the same function.
- Give it a Custom Function. By heading to Settings/General/Home, you can select a feature to open every time you double press the Home button. Choose between the camera, search, favourites or the iPod player.
- iPod Controls. If you have music playing and are not in the iPod app, then a double press will display some simple controls and the option to return to your player. This also works if your phone is locked, bringing up the same controls without the need to unlock your iPhone.
- Voice Control (3GS only). Holding down the Home button for six seconds displays the Voice Control panel.
Here are a few functions accessible when you combine the Home button with the sleep/wake key:
- Take a Screenshot. A snappy press of both the sleep/wake key and the Home button will see the screen flash white and you’ll hear the camera shutter sound. A screenshot is now saved in your camera roll.
- Force Quit an App. Press and hold the sleep/wake key if an app has frozen, but instead of swiping the power off slider, hold down the Home button for 10 seconds to force quit the app and return to your home screen.
- Force Reboot. iPhone not responding at all? By holding down the sleep/wake key and the Home button together, your phone will reboot.
Apple may have only given the front of your iPhone a single button, but they gave it plenty to do! If you have any other hidden productivity tips for the Home button, let us know in the comments.

Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | by Andy Boxall
Resources, Tricks