Sony z3 compact xperia back and home button not working

[User105]

I am using z3 for almost a year and dint have any issues. Since last two updates i am facing two problems.

1. The drop down notification menu does not displays properly when slided over from top to bottom

2. Back and home button works once in a blue moon. Previously they were working great. Now i will have to try for more than 25 times to make that happen or restart the device.

Please let me know if this is a software issue caused by the latest software release or is there a way to bring back the old version of software. Eventually i need a working software and not this piece of ugly software quality.

Please respond when this issue will be resolved.

[HibaZ]

Hi..

I just faced this issue and my latest phone update to version 6.0.1 was done a while ago. It was functioning normally and I left it to update some apps like skype, maps, google, etc. All of a sudden I cannot use the back and home button, but everything else is functioning normally. I tried the diagnostic for touchscreen but it kept failing even if I did remove all the fog from the display.

I totally disagree and refuse to directly go to reset settings, 1) it's the easy way out, 2) it does not always resolve the issue and hue899 Rookie proved that, so there has to be something else we can do.

Is it a software or hardware issue?

1. If hardware, then why does the lock screen keys work and they are on the same tab location as the back and home.
2. If software, then there should be a patch to fix it.

Please advise a more valid solution.

Thank you.

Hiba

[Rj64]

Yes, I have the same problem. Was working fine 2 days ago and then can't use navigation buttons and have to keep resetting.  Same version of software as you. Have tried diagnostics,  clearing cache blah blah blah,  nothing works. I believe it's a software issue,  which I wish they would hurry up and fix.

[beliana]

I had this problem last year and got it fixed uner warranty.. now I have the problem again all of a sudden without any software update. but warranty is over, I'm not paying 300sgd for this :S please fix it sony!!! 

[moonklash]

Happened to me. I didn't bother with the warranty as my Z3C was too old and the back glass broken, so I figured Sony would charge me.

I got around it using a couple of apps:

Multi action home button

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.home.button.bottom&hl=en

This places hotspots above the original buttons so you can still navigate the phone. Unfortunately it uses an accessibility mode, and each time you run a new app that has permissions to set, you have to disable the app to set the permissions.

One advantage of this is that you can set a 'long press' on one of the navigation buttons to also automatically swipe the notification/status bar down.

My home button

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wq.myhomebutton&hl=en_GB

This placed buttons in the notification/status bar, so I could still navigate the phone when Multi Action was disabled (because I was setting app permissions). You have to be able to swipe from the top to get to the buttons, which I intermittently can still if I try several times, and if course I'm only using these buttons when the multi action home button is disabled.

I was able to keep using the phone for another few months after this, but it was such a nuisance having to continually disable the buttons to set app permissions, plus the memory card continuously falling out, that this weekend I ended up buying an Xperia X. Very frustrated as I really wanted another waterproof phone with camera button, video stabilisation and FM radio, but there aren't any with that combo. I'm looking at the X as a stopgap at the moment, then I guess I'll be considering selling it on when something that matches my requirements becomes available. I said I wouldn't get another Sony after all the issues with the Z3C but I couldn't find anything else with a radio and a camera button.

[HibaZ]

I installed an application called Simple Control to replace control buttons for xperia. It is better than having to reboot your phone to exit an application or file.

[Rj64]

Thanks for the info. I am getting by using glove mode at the moment,  not perfect and not sure how long this will last, so will keep your tip in mind. Thanks again 

[Sibell]

I have the same exact problem with the notification bar and the back button....if we all have the same issue must be software. It started all of a sudden without drops or damages. How could this be solved?

[MarlonUk1]

try to run xperia diagnostics, settings>about phone

boot to safe mode

perform software repair using Xperia Companion

before you install any back up or apps after repair, observe the device if the problem still persist, if it does have your phone checked at your local service center Local support

[hanzox7]

Sadly, my Xperia Z3 Compact is experiencing the issues that have been mentioned in this thread... also this thread. First, I had issues pulling the notifications bar. I had to swipe precisely in one spot to get the notifications to pull. I got pretty good at that, so it wasn't much of an issue. After a while (maybe two or three months) it was almost impossible to get the notifications to show. I got Notification Bar Opener, a separate app to bring in the notifications.

After a while, I actually forgot about the issue. It was only a bit of a pain once I had to reset my phone to factory defaults that I recalled I had that I couldn't open my notifications without that app.

Now, some 6 months after, I left the phone charging over night, wake up and used it a bit... get to work and the back, home and recent apps soft keys aren't working. It's very difficult to get them to work. No recent updates either, I've been using Android 6.0.1 / Build 23.5.A.0.575 since it got out in my area, so I don't think my case is a software issue.

My phone is likely out of warranty by now. I bought it in Panama and I'm now in Costa Rica, so I'm not going to even try. I will say that, in my case, the issues weren't caused by a software update. My phone did suffer from a swollen battery, which was replaced, but this didn't happen right after the battery was replaced. Probably hardware degrading over time, microscopic cracks, what have you. 

The software I'm using to take over all the lost functionality is Back Button. I've removed Notification Bar Opener as Back Button has the ability to pull down the notifications bar. In any case, I'm hoping to get a few more months of use out of this phone before replacing it. Sadly, devices in this day and age are designed to be disposable. They don't want to build devices that last long and even if they did, the ever bloating software running on them would make them slow down to a crawl after a few years in any case.

[Sibell]

The fact is that we are all experiencing the same issues. In addition in the lock screen the notification bar works fine in every spot but once passed the lock screen it doesn't work (and it is getting worse day by day...because since fews days ago i was able to pull it down in some spots and the back button was working fine! It's impossible we are experiencing the same issues in the same spots! It is not a coincindence...and why the screen is working fine in the lock screen but not when using the phone?this is crazy. I attach you the condition of my screen using a screentester, but it is not completely reliable because some green dots (that should work) sometimes work and sometimes not!