Broken Android Buttons Not Working: How to Fix

Today’s phones are very delicate: it takes very little to end up with the volume key stuck or not working or worse with the power button that does not respond to pressure. Unfortunately, the accident is always around the corner and we risk finding ourselves, out of the blue, with the Android buttons broken or not working during a call, while listening to a song or watching a video on the web.

In the following guide we will show you all the tips and tricks for fix broken keys on android phonesso you can change the volume, turn the screen on or off, or turn off the entire device without using the physical button.

Obviously these suggestions are only valid as emergency methods to be used before repairing: it is always advisable to bring the broken phone to repair, especially if the Power button or the phone’s ignition key is broken.

READ ALSO -> Android phone with broken screen, how to use it or recover data

1) Force restart the phone

If the problem is of a software nature, we can try to restore the correct functioning of the keys performing a forced restart of the phone (if it still has the screen on and unlocked). To proceed we will have to use the right procedure based on the type of phone we have:

• Google Pixel -> scroll down twice on the home screen to open the quick settings menu, press the power button at the bottom and press up Restart.
• Xiaomi -> let’s get on the path Settings -> Battery -> Battery tab -> Schedule on/offset a shutdown time close to the current time and program the restart after 5 minutes, so as to perform a forced restart.
• Samsung -> let’s go to the menu Settings -> Battery and device maintenancewe press on the dots in the upper right corner of the screen, we select Automation and use the auto restart at set times option to force restart the phone.

All the procedures described are valid only if the screen is on; if the problem is generated by the power button we can turn on the phone only if we have enabled the options to turn on the screen with double tap on the screen or if we have activated the function that turns on the screen automatically when raised (Lift to activate).

If our phone doesn’t have the function Raise to activate we can integrate it with the app Gravity Screenso that you can always activate the screen even without the Power button.

2) Accessibility key

Another good way to replace broken or non-working Android buttons is activation of the accessibility keya special on-screen key that provides quick access to the power key and volume keys (physical buttons subject to wear or damage).

To proceed, let’s go to the path Settings -> Accessibility (on Xiaomi the path is Settings -> Additional settings -> Accessibility), press on Accessibility button, enable the items that interest us, return to the previous menu, press on Accessibility menu and finally activate the voice Accessibility Menu Shortcut.

After activation we will see a key appear at the bottom right of the screen: press on it and use the key Shutdown (to replace the damaged power button) or press on the button Volume (useful to replace the broken volume key).

If we don’t see any accessibility menu on the phone we download the app Android accessibility to integrate it on our phone.

3) Auxiliary volume button

If the problem is with the volume key we can easily replace it by downloading the app Assistive Volume Button.

By downloading this app we will add gods volume control keys directly on the screen, so you can change the intensity of the volume even without using the physical button. The buttons and the corresponding volume bar can be customized according to tastes and needs, replacing (even if only temporarily) the volume bar offered by the system.

4) Enable on-screen gestures

If the Android keys don’t work we can easily replicate them with the on-screen gesturesgetting convenient gesture shortcuts to activate and able to replace both the volume keys and the power key. Many phones today have built-in gestures, but they can rarely be changed (we can only use manufacturer-approved gestures).

To customize gestures and enable switching off or changing volume from gestures, the best apps for the purpose are T Swipe Gestures e Gesture Controlalthough some third-party launchers (like for example Nova Launcher) offer the possibility to customize some gestures.

5) Dry wet phone

If the key malfunction is caused by a unexpected phone bathroom (fallen in water or exposed to splashes or rain for too long) we can try to recover the full functionality of the keys enabling screen unlock without keys (as seen in the previous chapters of the guide) and trying to dry the phone using the rice technique or with a not too intense heat source.

With any luck we will be able to dry the wet contacts and restore the correct functioning of the phoneespecially if we wait a long time before trying the keys (we let everything dry for at least an hour).

To learn more we can read our guides on how to save a wet or dropped cell phone and how use an app that dries the phone speakers and expels the water.

Conclusions

If we have in our hands an Android phone with a missing button, a jammed button, a button that has completely stopped working or a button that works intermittently, we can try one of the suggestions set out in this guide to try to restore the correct functioning of the button defective or of temporarily replace itso as not to lose its function.

The most serious damage certainly concerns the power button, which effectively makes it impossible to restart or start the phone in the event of a total malfunction: even if we can replace the screen unlock it’s practically impossible to turn on a phone without pressing the Power button.

Since these are the only physical keys still present on today’s phones, it is advisable to take care of them and avoid excessive or unnecessary pressure, so as to make them last longer. If the problem with the keys is due to dust or dirt, we invite you to read our guide on how disinfect and clean your phone: what you can use and what not.