Z3 compact back and home button not working after recent update

[Haystax]

My back and home button not working now after. 5. 1.1 update.

[dpiet]

The same problem , 3 years exactly after the purchase .... strange . 

[Ratzen]

Same problem here. It's just started. 

[HotGossip]

Mine has done exactly the same! The Sony Xperia Z3 compact seems to be full of problems withing a month first two I had the screen exploded. BBC TV watchdog had get fun with this my 3rd phone and so far it's been a great phone however the other day it did a update and not the 3 buttons at the bottom of the screen "Home - Return - Background Apps" do not work. The screen works perfect for pics, and other apps as does the test screen. Clearly Sony needs to get there fingers out of there ears and listen! - Me I have had enough so gone for a new Google Pixel Phone and it will be a very long time before I buy another Sony product!   

[Lsfr]

Hello all,

Same problem here: all 3 buttons at the bottom of the screen stopped working. Same observation than others: when the screen is locked or with other applications these areas of the screen do work fine. Must be a driver and/or OS problem. Shame on Sony for having ignored or denied the problem for 3 years. Will now go for another brand and contact a French consumer organization to look into "obsolescence programmée"

[Jesseab]

Same problem here 3 years after purchase

[Nashidar]

Question: Would installing a different launcher be a way to work around the problem?

I only ask because this is what I did for my issue with the notifications bar refusing to pull down in potrait mode.

You do not need to root your phone to do it. Just go the Play Store and install Apex Launcher. Then go to Settings -> Home and select the Apex Launcher and see if starts to work.

If so - the issue is clearly software and with Xperia Home (the default launcher on the phone).

[Erwi]

Download the app " Multi-Action Home Button " as a workaround. This gives you a new home buttion and extra functions like "go back"

[stormrat]

my back and home button on my z3 stopped working today, ive tryed everything even down to factory reset which im not happy with. still not working right, reading this thread its an ongoing issue that Sony dont want to take responsibility for, its a system wide fault which should be recalled, but the only thing i see people being told from Sony is go to your Sony dealer and get a new screen. thats ok if its under warrenty but what if it isnt? like most Z3 thes days, then you have a few options, down load an app to bypass while things get worse, 2, get a new screen at some stupid amount, 3, go get a new phone which you shouldnt have to do at stupid amounts all because this company is refusing to recall for faulty screens. come on Sony, we are the loyal costomers here, help us out, and help fix our phones!!!

[Dinand]

Dear Sony, 

With me as well, the problem has started with difficulties with sliding the notification bar down, no big deal honoustly. As off today my back button does not work (only in clockwise position). I cannot fine a proper solution anywhere ,which makes me rethink my next Phone choice. I am on version 6.0.1 as well. Thanks in advance,

Dinand 

[Neo73]

My 3 and a half years Sony Xperia Z3 compact, bought in Dec. 2014, has gone "cookoo" ,too. First, a couple of weeks ago the notification bar wouldn't respond to any kind of touch. Only the SLIDE FROM TOP LEFT CORNER can still pull it down. Then , as of yesterday, the menu bar with the 3 buttons from the bottom of the screen (back,home,  recent apps), stopped working, too. Last software update to Android 6.0.1 was done back in January 2016, so it's not any software update problem. I entered in "Service Menu " and tested the display with the drawing test. Approximately 0,7 cm from the top of the screen down is dead, except  the top left corner where a very small area is still working. This test was done 2 weeks ago. Yesterday when the buttons from the bottom of the screen stopped working, I redone the display test. Nothing changed, but this time I couldn't leave the test mode because the any of the 3 buttons didn't work anymore, so I had to restart the phone . So, I think it's not a software related problem, it's a hardware problem..   This is my second Sony phone that has failed . I had also a Sony U8 who also had screen problems (bad digitizer). ..Before that, I sent it to the Sony service company to replace the ear speaker under warranty (crack sounds problem) , and they sent it back to me saying that nothing is wrong. After I received the phone I saw that the GPS doesn't work anymore! When I told them about that new problem they told me that this is not uncommon!!! WTx!?!?! The warranty was expired so I had to live with it. After that, the screen started to go wild...I took it to a local service and they changed the digitizer. 

Well, in spite of all this, I still bought another Sony phone, Z3 Compact, thinking that it was just bad luck with the first Sony phone. BAD MISTAKE! 

I'LL NEVER BUY A SONY!  NOT A PHONE, NOT ANY OTHER CRAPPY ELECTRONICS FROM THIS low end company THAT DOESN'T STAND BY ITS PRODUCTS.!!!

SHAME ON YOU Sony!!!

A workaround for the Xperia Z3 c notification bar and bottom bar with 3 buttons problems: install Notification Bar from Google play.