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Even though Apple has one of the most advanced cutting-edge smartphones, there is still room for software glitches and errors. One of the most common and top nuisance is an unresponsive touchscreen. iPhone touchscreen problems are common and can be caused by several reasons, such as regular wear and tear, debris or water, calibration issues, accessories, and cases or screen protectors. It can be quite frustrating when the phone becomes unresponsive, freezing, or failing to register taps.
A non-functional touchscreen can make the phone useless, disrupting daily routine and connectivity. In many cases, these errors and unresponsive touchscreen can be resolved without professional help or expensive repairs. So, do not lose hope, or assume the phone is useless. The first thing to do if your screen is unresponsive is restart the iPhone and ensure the screen is clean and free of water or debris. This article will discuss what causes an unresponsive touchscreen, how to fix it easily, and much more. So, keep reading.
How To Fix An Unresponsive iPhone Touchscreen?
Here are the quick things you can do if you find an unresponsive iPhone touchscreen:
- Restart your iPhone.
- Ensure the screen is free of water or debris.
- Remove the phone case or screen protectors. The touchscreen may work properly after removing the case or screen protectors.
- Disconnect any Lighting or USB-C accessories. If the screen works after removing the accessories, use a different cable, charger, or outlet.
- Try resetting the iPhone to factory settings and if the issue persists.
- Update the iPhone. Ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version as not updating can sometimes cause an unresponsive touchscreen.
It can be quite annoying to find the screen unresponsive. This can make the phone useless and worth throwing out. However, don’t fling it to the wall yet, because the issue can often be minor and easily fixed. The cause of unresponsive touchscreen can vary from simple cleaning problems to complex software glitches. To fix the problem, it is necessary to figure out why the touchscreen is not responding. Some of the most common causes and ways to fix it include:
Also Read: How To Factory Reset An iPhone?
Dirty screen
Often, unresponsive touch screens are caused when the iPhone’s screen is dirty. Since touchscreens work by having an electrostatic charge on the screen, touching the display disturbs this charge which determines where you are touching and the phone responds. So, when there is dirt, debris, or oil, it makes the screen greasy and dirty. This leads to misunderstanding gestures or not detecting the touch at all. To fix this, clean the iPhone’s screen and it is recommended to do so with a soft, slightly damp microfiber cloth. Ensure you don’t use compressed or any cleaning solutions and be careful not to get any moisture into the phone’s openings. Once you clean the screen, turn on the iPhone and check. If the problem persists, there can be other causes of the unresponsive touchscreen.
Low-quality screen protector
Thick, low-quality screen protectors can cause unresponsive touch screens. It can mess with the screen’s ability to detect touch input, so remove the screen protector. See if the screen starts working again, and if it does, the protector is to blame. To fix this problem, ensure you use a high-quality and apt screen protector suitable for your iPhone model.
Unfit phone case
The unresponsive touchscreen can be a result of the phone’s case exerting pressure on the screen. This condition happens when the case is tight or poorly designed. Also, some users have reported this issue with a well-fitted case, too. To fix this issue, try removing the case and if that is the problem, buy a better phone case or stop using one. It is recommended to use corner protectors and sleeves to protect the iPhone without a case.
Accessories connected to the Lightning port
Even though it is not common to have an unresponsive touchscreen due to accessories connected to the Lightning port, it can still be a cause. Sometimes, connecting accessories, such as chargers, power banks, headphones, or USB-C cables can mess with the touchscreen. To fix this, remove all those accessories and see whether the screen responds and if it does, try using a different charger, cable, or outlet the next time. On the other hand, if the screen is still unresponsive even after removing the accessories, it can be caused by some major issues.
Water damage
Water damage is one of the common causes of unresponsive touchscreen. Exposure to water or any other liquid can cause the screen to not respond. This can result in water damage because the iPhone may be water resistant but not waterproof. Also, the water resistance ability can decrease over time, making the iPhone prone to water damage. Using the iPhone in an extremely humid environment can also lead to water damage. To check whether the iPhone is water-damaged, you can check the LCI (Liquid Contact Indicators). Most iPhones have LCIs and you can check it by removing the SIM card tray and shining a lighted magnifying glass inside. If you notice white or silver, the phone is not water damaged, and if you see that the indicator is red, you’re in trouble.
To prevent or avoid such water damage, immediately wipe off the water with a soft, lint-free cloth if you spill water on your iPhone. As for liquids other than water, Apple recommends rinsing the affected area with normal water before wiping it. Also, try drying the phone immediately or leave the phone in a dry area with some airflow. Another way is to place the phone in front of a fan blowing cool air into the Lightning port.
Physical damage
Physical damage like dropping your phone can sometimes cause an unresponsive touchscreen. Always check for air bubbles or misalignment of the screen protector and change the screen protector to fix the problem. Also, look for scratches, cracks, or dents on the screen. Depending on the severity of the damage, the screen may be unresponsive and unusable. Dropping the iPhone can also cause mainboard damage.
The mainboard or motherboard, is the core part of the phone’s hardware and what controls all the functions. Mainboard damage is mostly caused by dropping the phone, water damage, or a poor-quality charger. Another reason that can cause the issue is unauthorized repairs which may result in unresponsive touchscreens.
iPhone Is Too Hot Or Cold
The average operating temperature range is 32-95 degrees. So, at a higher temperature, the display may dim or go black because of the device’s built-in protection to regulate the temperature. In some cases, this results in the iPhone’s touchscreen becoming unresponsive. Similarly, the iPhone can turn off or become unresponsive when the temperature is colder than 32 degrees.
To fix this problem caused by hot or cold temperature changes, wait for the iPhone to return to its normal temperature. If you cannot wait, try moving the iPhone to a warmer or cooler place, depending on what caused the problem. Remember not to leave your iPhone in a car on a hot day under direct sunlight. As for cold climates, keep the phone in the bag or pocket or wrapped in a warm cloth.
Temporary software glitches
Even though Apple is very advanced, iOS software can sometimes cause glitches during regular use. This can result in the touchscreen not responding. To fix this issue, try restarting the iPhone. If you feel the issue is with the firmware itself, Apple can fix minor software bugs with iOS updates. So, ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest version. If the screen is frozen, you will need to force restart the phone and if the problem persists, try entering the Recovery mode and restoring the iPhone. However, before restoring the iPhone, ensure you have a recent backup or else all your data will be lost.
If you can interact with the iPhone well enough to go to the Settings app, then click General > Software update. This is the easiest way to update the phone if your phone is cooperating. If the screen is not responding at all, then you will have to connect to a MAC or a Windows PC running iTunes to update the iPhone. Firstly, connect the phone to your computer, if you are running macOS Catalina 10.15 or higher, launch Finder. On the other hand, if you are running macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier or Windows, launch iTunes. The next step is to unlock the iPhone to get to the home screen, it can be possible using Touch ID or Face ID even if the touchscreen is not responding.
If the iPhone was connected to the computer before, it will appear in the sidebar in Finder or iTunes. Then, select your iPhone from the list and select Update in Finder or iTunes. Doing so shall download and install the latest iOS update. If you have not used your iPhone with the computer, a prompt will appear on the iPhone “Trust” this computer which you will need to tap on to confirm. If the touchscreen is responsive enough, you’ll be able to tap on the confirm button which shall continue and complete the update.
Storage issues
If the iPhone is packed with photos, videos, apps, or other media or your phone starts to near its storage capacity, there is a chance that some basic performance or functions will become slower or stop working altogether. If you have been using your iPhone for a long time, you should know that the internal storage, those precious bytes are finite. So, storage issues may cause problems with iPhone functions.
Normally, the touchscreen is not affected by this but it can be. iPhones will send automatic notifications when internal storage starts running low. Try deleting apps you no longer use or photos, and videos that are not needed so the phone will be able to perform better once gained. You can also backup files and media to iCloud to never lose them.
App updation
The iPhone touchscreen can be unresponsive when using certain apps, and it is because of not updating the apps. This issue can be fixed with a simple update all you have to do is ensure the apps are up-to-date to the latest versions to avoid trouble. Also, try deleting and re-installing the app if you are running the latest firmware. If the notice that the issue persists, it is better to reach out to the app developer via the App Store and let them know.
Other than these measures, the first thing to do to fix a bugged-out touchscreen is to restart the iPhone. Some might have encountered this issue which is often solved by a simple reboot. Wait for at least 30 seconds for the device to fully power down and restart again after a while. If the touchscreen is not acting up and you are unable to move the power off slider, force restart your iPhone. This means to reboot your iPhone without powering it down first. This is how you do it:
- Quickly press the volume up button.
- Then, press the volume down button.
- Hold the side button until you notice the Apple logo.
- This shall force the iPhone to restart.
Apart from restarting the device, you can try to put it into Recovery mode. Here are the step-by-step ways to do that:
- Firstly, ensure the iPhone is connected to the computer.
- If you are running Windows or macOS 10.14, be sure to run iTunes.
- Then, restart or force restart the iPhone if the screen is not responding at all.
- You will notice a window pop up on the computer screen which shall state that an iPhone in recovery mode has been detected.
- The next and final step is to select Update from that window to begin downloading and installing the latest iOS version.
If updating or Recovery mode is not working, the final option to try is restoring the iPhone back to factory settings. Once you do that, it will erase everything on the iPhone, returning to its original out-of-the-box state. Doing this can confirm that the problem with the iPhone is actually hardware and not software. But it has consequences, you will all data, files, and media. If you already have a backup, it will be easy to do so. Those using iCloud backup will already have an automatic update in the last 24 hours, as long as the device was connected to the Wi-Fi and plugged in at some point during that time. If you don’t have iCloud backup, you will have to try making a new backup to your Mac or PC.
If you have tried these options, then it is time to contact Apple. Also, some people might find it difficult to factory reset the iPhone because of data loss. This is where contacting Apple Support can help, especially when you don’t have a backup. It is a safer way to fix the issue without having to erase the iPhone. Apple Support can only help if there is a serious hardware problem by swapping it without a replacement unit, and it will be up to you to restore the data to the new iPhone. Apple cannot and will not back up your iPhone due to privacy and security issues.
Tips To Prevent Unresponsive iPhone Touchscreen
Some tips to prevent an unresponsive iPhone touchscreen include regularly updating the device’s software and handling the iPhone with care. Keeping the iPhone updated to the latest version can benefit in performance improvement and bug fixes. Try using Apple’s official accessories only to minimize the risk of touchscreen issues. Also, avoid installing third-party apps and modifications that may cause software conflicts or bugs, resulting in the responsiveness of the iPhone’s touch screen.
Ensure you clean the screen regularly to remove debris or moisture for a smooth and clear touchscreen experience. Try choosing a good quality, thick screen protection that is not only apt but can protect against scratches and damages. The same goes with phone cases, do not put ill-fitting cases and instead buy a quality and fitting case for the phone. Last but not least, it is always better to back up the iPhone to prevent data loss.
Read More: How To Change iPhone App Icons: A Complete Customization Tutorial
Conclusion
It is common to have glitches and issues for iPhones even though Apple always launches some of the best and most advanced devices. Among those issues, iPhone touchscreen problems or unresponsiveness are the most common ones. Several reasons can cause an unresponsive touchscreen, such as regular wear and tear, debris or water, accessories, ill-fitting cases or screen protectors, water damage, physical damage, temperature changes like too hot or too cold, storage issues, and more. A non-functional touchscreen can make the phone useless as it won’t help carry out the needed functions. Often, these touchscreen problems are minor and can be solved without professional help or expensive repairs.
It can be quite frustrating to find the screen unresponsive. So, the first thing you can do is clean the screen and see whether there is any debris or moisture content. The next thing you can consider doing is restart the iPhone because some issues can be solved by a simple reboot. The cause of unresponsive touchscreen can vary from simple cleaning problems to complex software glitches which is why it is necessary to find the reason behind it. Low-quality screen protectors and unfit phone cases can cause an unresponsive touchscreen. So, it is important to purchase a good quality, apt screen protector and case for your iPhone.
Try removing the accessories if any are connected because it can sometimes make the iPhone unresponsive. Water damage and physical damage are other common problems that can freeze the phone’s screen. Water damage can be expected because the iPhone may be water resistant but not waterproof. To prevent such damage, immediately wipe off the water with a soft cloth and leave the iPhone in a dry area with some airflow. Look for scratches, cracks, or dents on the screen if you have accidentally dropped your phone. Dropping the iPhone can also cause mainboard damage, which may lead to an unresponsive screen.
Temporary software glitches, storage issues, not updating to the latest version, and leaving the iPhone in too cold or too hot a temperature are other causes that can result in an unresponsive touchscreen. To fix this issue, try restarting the phone, cleaning the screen, removing the phone case or protectors, disconnecting accessories, and updating the iPhone. If nothing of these works, you can try resetting the iPhone to factory settings if the issue persists. Do seek the help of Apple Support if don’t have a backup or fear that you will lose all the data.
