Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone users have been reporting that after an update, their Home button no longer takes them to the Home screen when it is pressed as expected. Instead, it takes users to Google Search. It is quite an annoying issue.
Some users have worked around the issue by restarting their phone. However, the problem seems to return after a few hours. You can solve the issue with these steps.
Solution 1
- From the Home screen, select “Settings“.
- Choose “Applications“
- Select “Application manager“.
- Swipe left or right over to “All“.
- Choose “Google App” or “Google Search“.
- Select “Uninstall updates“.
- Note: Some folks have chosen to select “Turn off” instead of “Uninstall updates”. This will disable the Google Search app entirely.
- Note 2: If you elect to uninstall updates, you may want to disable automatic updates to ensure an update doesn’t install and cause the problem again.
Solution 2
- Power off the Galaxy S5 by pressing and holding “Power“, then choosing “Power off“.
- Once the device is completely powered down, hold the “Volume Up” and “Home” buttons, then power the device back on using the “Power” button.
- A boot menu should appear. Use the Volume buttons to toggle the highlighted entry to “Wipe cache partition“.
- Press the “Power” button to choose that selection.
- Once completed, reboot the device, and the Home button should work as expected again.
Jeremy Cosens says
Option #2 didn’t change anything – which is very odd. I’ve found not only does the wide button at bottom of screen fail to bring up a menu but has always on short press changed home screens to the second overspill home screen and long press brings up google search. No other combination of any key presses will bring up a menu on the home screen. S5 has had so many fiddlings about with that it’s becoming impossible to use it as a normal android phone. It has simply become too clever for its own boots. Shortcuts on home screen allow My Files or Settings or Apps but nothing to bring a menu with options. Very frustrating.
Haf says
OMG!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I didn’t have time to go to store for fix and dreaded another factory reset. My home button stopped out of nowhere and your #2 option saved me so much stress and frustration! Very much appreciate your awesomeness.
Cynthia says
Thank you so much I used solution #2 and it worked. I thought I was going to have to take it to the store and get it replace but I don’t so thank you
Tim says
If you do solution #2 do you lose any of your apps or photos or chats?
Padraig says
I’ve tried both of these methods (and more beside) but the my home button still isn’t working.
Paula says
Your solution #1 didn’t work for me, so I tried Solution #2. But when the Boot Menu came up, it was all written in Chinese characters! Now what do I do? Can you tell me which line is the one with the “wipe cache partition” That I am supposed to select?