Can software cause the home button to stop working on iOS?
Solution 1:
Apple has a Support document describing ways to reset/restart an iPhone:
Restarting your device
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red "slide to power off" slider appears, and then slide the slider.
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
Resetting your device
Note: Reset your device only if you are unable to restart it.
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button together for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.