How To Fix IPhone Touch Screen Not Working Issues / Responding [FIXED]

At times, the iPhone touch screen may respond slowly, or it may become completely unresponsive. If you are wondering how to fix the iPhone touch screen not working or responding issues, keep on reading as we are going to share some simple and effective ways to do just that.

See also: How To Fix iPhone Wi-Fi Issues

What Causes The iPhone Touch Screen Issues

One of the most annoying issues is when the touchscreen not responding.

In many cases, touchscreen issues are software-related. But, it can be also associated with display hardware assembly with the front camera. If it is caused by software, you can fix it by yourself with the steps we are going to share. If it comes to hardware, we suggest you contact Apple or visit one of their stores.

“Why My iPhone touch screen not working ?”

Solutions For iPhone Touch Screen Issues

Before you start:

• Backup your data
• After you try all software-related steps and the issue is still there, check your iPhone warranty card. If your iPhone is still covered by the warranty, contact Apple or visit Genius Bar to claim the warranty.

Note: Make sure your fingers are clean and dry when using your iPhone because the screen may not respond due to moisture or dirt.

Clean the iPhone screen

Here are some tips on how to clean the iPhone screen properly:

• Unplug your iPhone from the power source and switch it off before you clean the screen to avoid permanent damage.
• Use a microfiber cloth, the soft one, or a lint-free cloth. Don’t use a towel or something that can scratch the screen.
• Don’t spray the cleaners directly to the iPhone screen. You can spray it on the cloth instead and wipe it gently.
• Don’t press the screen too hard.

Remove screen protector or case

If you use a case or screen protector, remove it. If the quality of these accessories is not good, the touch of your fingers won’t be detected by the iPhone. After you remove them, try to touch your iPhone screen and see if the issue is solved.

Charge iPhone / iPad using the original charger

Try to charge your iPhone using its original charger and cable. Any Apple accessory that is not original or the ones that don’t have an MFI certificate are potentially destructive. MFI is abbreviation of Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod. MFI program is a licensing program from Apple that is addressed to developers of hardware and software peripherals. After charging your iPhone with the original cable and charger, test the touchscreen and see how it responds.

apple.com

Restart iPhone

• Press and hold the sleep/wake button for a few seconds until the slider appears.
• Then, slide the “Slide to power off”.
• After your iPhone off, wait for at least 30 seconds.
• Turn it back on by pressing and holding the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo.

If the screen is completely unresponsive, you won’t be able to restart it by pressing the sleep/wake button and dragging the slider. In that case, what to do? How to fix an iPhone screen that won’t work at all? Go for a force restart. Here is how to do that:

• Press and hold the sleep/wake button together with the Home button for at least 10 seconds until you can see the Apple logo
• Let the restarting process to complete.
• After it’s done, see if the touchscreen issue is solved.

apple.com

Update, reinstall or delete the app

This solution may work for iPhone touch screen issues that occur when you are using a specific app. To resolve it, try to update the app first:

• Go to App Store
• Tap the update tab and find the application you need to update
• Click Update

If the problems still appear, try to reinstall the app. Make sure you have understood the risk of deleting that app. You can check this information on their official website. To reinstall the app, all you have to do is remove it and re-download it from the App Store.

• On your iPhone  home screen, tap and hold the app icon until it jiggles
• Tap the “x” sign on the top-right corner of the app

• The popup message will appear, then tap “Delete”
• Return to the App Store, then, find and re-download that app.

If updating and reinstalling didn’t fix the issue, you should delete that app and find the similar app as the other option.

Reset all settings or erase all contents and settings

This can be done only if the screen responds slowly. In this case, the iPhone touchscreen is still working but its response is slower than it should.

Steps to reset all settings

• Open Settings >> General >> Reset >> Reset All Settings
• You will be asked to enter the passcode
• Tap Reset All Settings
• Your iPhone  will restart and reset all of its settings

Steps to erase all the contents and settings

• Make sure you have backed up the date before you start
• Open Settings >> General >> Reset >> Erase All Contents and Settings
• Enter your passcode
• Tap Erase iPhone or Erase iPhone and it will reboot
• Setup the iPhone  as a new device

Restore iPhone to factory settings using iTunes

You can perform this method if your iPhone screen responds slowly. If you are facing the iPhone touch screen not responding completely, you can try the next methods: restore iPhone in recovery mode or DFU mode. Otherwise, make sure the iPhone has been synced to the computer that you are going to use for restoring the iPhone. To restore your iOS device to factory settings, here are the steps:

• Use the lightning cable to connect your iPhone to your computer that has the iTunes installed
• Launch the iTunes
• On the summary tab, click Restore
• Let the restoring process done
• Setup the iPhone

Restore iOS device in recovery mode or DFU mode

Another thing you may try when the screen of your iPhone is not responding is to put it in recovery mode or DFU mode, then restore iPhone. You may not be too familiar with DFU mode. You usually hear it if you want to jailbreak your iPhone. DFU is the abbreviation of Device Firmware Update, a condition in which the iPhone cannot load iOS or bootloader but can be detected by iTunes. This mode is useful if you want to downgrade iOS, jailbreak, or unlock your iPhone because it allows you to change and choose the firmware that you want to install on your iPhone. Meanwhile, in recovery mode, we can only upgrade or restore iPhone with the latest iOS and firmware.

Restore your iPhone in recovery mode or DFU mode may resolve iPhone touch screen problems. This issue is one of the commons ones. We got many questions from the iPhone owners, such as how to fix iPhone 6 Plus screen not responding or how to fix iPhone screen that won’t work. These two methods solved the problem for quite a few iPhone users.

 

How to restore iPhone in the recovery mode

• Plug iPhone to Mac or PC
• Launch iTunes
• Press and hold Power and Home buttons together until the iPhone restarts. Once the Apple logo appears, release the power button but keep pressing the Home button until you see the iTunes and lightning cable signs on your iPhone screen.

How to restore iPhone in DFU mode

• Connect the iPhone to Mac or PC using a lightning cable
• Open iTunes
• Hold down the power and home buttons until iPhone restarts
• Let go of the power button but keep holding the home button for about 5 seconds. If the screen remains black, but the iTunes detects your iPhone, you have successfully put your iPhone into DFU mode
• Choose the Restore button.
• Now, iTunes will download a firmware and restore your iPhone to factory settings.

 

If the touchscreen won’t work on iPhone  after water damage

No matter which iPhone you have, if it got in touch with water you will probably experience the same issue. Here are a few things to try:

• Turn off your iPhone immediately, once you find the touch screen won’t work on iPhone after water damage to prevent additional issues.
• Clean every corner and every hole of your iPhone using the best water absorbent material you can find. Let all the water absorb into the material. You may need to repeat this several times to get all the water out.
• We suggest you put your iPhone with the left side facing upward to prevent the water enter the logic board on the right side of iPhone.
• After 48 hours, try to turn on your iPhone and see what happens, especially to its touch screen.

 

What to do if my iPhone /iPad Screen is unresponsive?

 

Check the discussions on the community,  you will find solutions relating to LCD digitizer and other unresponsive claims.

All of the solutions above are found effective to fix iPhone touch screen issues on iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad Air , iPad mini and iPad Pro.

If you are still facing iPhone touch screen issues, we recommend you to contact Genius Bar or the nearest Apple Authorized Service, Provider.

Discussion on Touchscreen Problems in iPhone

Oliver :

 first I am hearing this iPhone 6 touch screen issue. But i am sure these methods will work. If not kindly say so.

Solution 1: Restart your iPhone

Sometimes, your iPhone’s screen becomes unresponsive due to some enclosed applications. Perhaps, you may have opened too many applications and was not able to close it. This causes your screen to freeze and hang no matter how you try to tap it. To solve this problem, restarting your iPhone may help. Most applications close when the phone is switched off. Turn on your phone after 3-5 minutes to completely refresh it. Test if the screen is already working.

Solution 2: Maximize your iPhone’s RAM

Low RAM availability can also cause screens to fail from working. Delete unused applications on your iPhone to maximize RAM then restart your phone to refresh it.

Solution 3: Make a hard reset on your iPhone 6

If fixing calibration doesn’t help, do a hard reset on your iPhone 6. Hard reset helps in turning your phone back to its good condition. Turn off your iPhone 5 > Press Power together with the Home button until it restarts and opens iTunes > wait until your phone is on Restore Mode. An alternative way to do this is to restore your iPhone on factory settings. You have to install the new version of iTunes on your computer and open it. Connect your iPhone 6 on your computer using a USB connector. As soon as iTunes detects your phone, it will be added on the list of devices. Select your phone from the list of devices and open Summary tab. Click restore button. Follow instructions until done. By doing this, a new operating system has been installed which help fix touchscreen problems in iPhone 5.

Solution 4: Realign or replace your phone screen display

If hard reset doesn’t help, physical screen display defects are also the cause of touchscreen problems in iPhone 6. To fix the problem, realigning or replacing the physical screen display could be the solution. This applies effectively especially if you have dropped your phone. Some cables may have loose contacts and you need to attach it well. If the screen is broken, then you have to replace it. For instance you don’t know how to realign or replace your screen, go to an Apple service center and let an expert do the realignment or replacement of the screen.

Kristen :

 Touchscreen shat itself after update 10.1 October 2016 ( had worked perfectly up until this time and hadn’t been dropped)

Screen would work for 5-10 seconds then freeze until it timed out

Then would repeat…

Checked all connectors inside of screen

Restored my phone

Factory reset it

put it in the freezer!!

Swore at it, and threatened to upgrade it!!!

My final ditch effort worked (after 3 days of trying everything)

I drained the battery, again

I restarted connected to itunes, again

I deleted all apps using itunes (I’d tried all this 2 days before but no success…)

I waited for it to sync, then shut it down

I started it up still connected to itunes (not sure if this is important

)

Fingers and toes and ears and eyes crossed and Woohoo!!!!

SHE WORKS!!!!

Sabin :

This is definitely a problem with the Digitizer. Small White squares along the bottom of the screen can also indicate that the flex cable is not seated correctly. This Cable is the first cable that connects the screen to the motherboard. It’s located at the top of the phone with a horizontal orientation.
1 Remove all the three connectors and reseat them properly

2 Reseat the ribbon cables to the LCD Screen of your IPhone and your small white squares will be gone

3 Reseat the Sensor or camera Flex cable. This requires you to separate the glass from the LCD