Iphone SE 3 home button problem on ios 26

NO it isn't a bug because it works on my three SE3s.

Settings, Accessibility, home button, Rest finger to open works as designed, iOS26.2

It looks like a hardware weakness in your phone unfortunately.

Could it be a bug in IOS 26?

If it were a bug, then this support site would be very busy with other posts that describe the same problem. On a quick search of this site, I can't find another single post with a report of the same issue.

It is more likely that the Home button is starting to act up.....which would be a hardware issue.

Make an appointment at the Apple Store / Genius Bar or take the phone to an authorized Apple service shop to let them see what they can find.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Two expert users have suggested that you get the hardware checked. It is up to you to decide whether you want to do this.

If you are convinced that this is a software bug.....I'm not....then your only real options at this point are to wait for another user with all the answers to respond....or.....back up your phone, erase the device, reinstall the iOS and then restore from your backup....or....wait to see if a future update will fix a bug that is not being reported on this site that I can find using several different search phrases.

MRIrakli wrote:

If this were the home button's fault, how would it have placed the fingerprint? add new fingerprint without problem... Or pay with a bank card on Bank terminal? That would be impossible, wouldn't it?

It is harder to explain why it works perfectly every time on my three phones. Sensing the presence of a finger is not the same process as reading a print. All you are doing is replacing the hard press with a simple detection. The print reading is a different process.

It has to detect AND read.