A non-responsive touchscreen on your iPhone can be a major annoyance, but before you throw your device out the window, take a deep breath and follow these troubleshooting steps. We’ll guide you through various solutions, starting with simple fixes and progressively moving towards more drastic measures.
Restart Your iPhone
The first and most obvious step is to restart your iPhone. It’s like rebooting your computer, often resolving minor software glitches. Here’s how:
1.
Press and hold the right-side button and either volume button
until the “Slide to power off” control appears. For older iPhones, the button is on the top.2.
Drag the slider from left to right.
3.
Wait at least 30 seconds
for your device to fully power down.4.
Press and hold the right-side button
until you see the Apple logo appear.5.
Your iPhone will boot up
and return to the lock screen.6.
Unlock your device
by swiping up or pressing the home button and entering your passcode.
Force Restart Your iPhone
If your touchscreen is unresponsive, you may not be able to slide the power-off slider. In this case, a force restart is necessary. It’s like rebooting your iPhone without powering it down completely. Here’s how:
For iPhones released after 2017:
1.
Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2.
Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3.
Press and hold the right-side button
until the Apple logo appears.4.
Release the side button.
5.
Your iPhone will boot up
and return to the lock screen.6.
Unlock your device
by swiping up or pressing the home button and entering your passcode.
For iPhones released before 2018:
1.
Press and hold the volume down button and the right-side button
simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.2.
Release both buttons.
3.
Your iPhone will boot up
and return to the lock screen.4.
Press the home button
and enter your passcode to unlock your device.
For iPhones with a Home button:
1.
Press and hold the home button and the right-side or top-corner button
simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.2.
Release both buttons.
3.
Your iPhone will boot up
and return to the lock screen.4.
Press the home button
and enter your passcode to unlock your device.
Check Your Screen Protector and Clean Your Screen
Screen protectors, while designed for protection, can sometimes interfere with touchscreen responsiveness. If you’re using one, try removing it and reapplying it. You can also try using a new screen protector. Dirt, dust, or moisture can also affect touchscreen functionality. Clean your screen with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any particles. If the touchscreen starts working after removing the screen protector or cleaning, it might be the culprit.
Disconnect Wired Accessories
Occasionally, wired accessories like headphones or chargers can cause touchscreen problems. Try disconnecting them and restarting your iPhone. This is more common with older Lightning accessories but can also occur with USB-C accessories. If the touchscreen works after disconnecting the accessory, you may need to replace it.
Update Your iPhone
Outdated software can cause various issues, including touchscreen problems. Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. If you can access the Settings app, go to General > Software Update. Otherwise, connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes or Finder and follow these steps:
1.
Connect your iPhone to your computer.
2.
Launch Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (macOS Mojave or earlier/Windows).
3.
Select your iPhone
in the sidebar.4.
Click Update
to download and install the latest iOS update.
Put Your iPhone into Recovery Mode
If your touchscreen is completely unresponsive, you’ll need to put your iPhone in Recovery mode to update it. Here’s how:
1.
Connect your iPhone to your computer.
2.
Launch iTunes (Windows or macOS 10.14 or earlier).
3.
Force restart your iPhone
using the steps mentioned above.4.
Instead of seeing the Apple logo, a recovery mode screen will appear on your iPhone.
5.
A window will pop up on your computer
indicating that an iPhone in recovery mode has been detected.6.
Select Update
to download and install the latest iOS version.
Free Up Some Storage Space
A full storage drive can affect device performance, including the touchscreen. If your iPhone is running low on storage, try deleting unused apps, photos, and videos. These files can be backed up to iCloud or other cloud services.
Let Your iPhone Cool Down
Running demanding apps or multiple apps and tabs can overheat your iPhone. Heat can impact touchscreen functionality. If your iPhone is hot to the touch, shut it down for 15-30 minutes. If a shutdown is not possible, try enabling Airplane Mode or Low Power Mode.
Force Shutdown (Workaround)
If your iPhone’s display is completely unresponsive, you can force a shutdown using this workaround:
1.
Initiate a Force Restart
using the steps mentioned above.2.
Release the power button
once the Apple logo appears.3.
Press and hold the power button again
to shut down your iPhone instead of restarting it.
Make Sure Your Apps Are Updated
If your touchscreen issue occurs only when using a specific app, ensure you’re running the latest version. If the problem persists, try deleting the app and reinstalling it. If the issue remains unresolved, contact the app developer.
Factory Reset Your iPhone
A factory reset will erase all data from your iPhone, returning it to its original state. It’s a last resort to identify if the issue is hardware-related. Back up your data before proceeding. To perform a factory reset, follow the steps for updating your iPhone, but click Restore instead of Update.
Contact Apple
If all else fails, contact Apple Support. They might be able to diagnose the issue and provide a solution, including potentially replacing your iPhone.
By following these steps, you should be able to fix a non-responsive touchscreen on your iPhone and regain control of your device. Remember, backup your data before performing any drastic measures like factory resets.
