This issue was first raised with the introduction to iPhone 4 when numerous Apple users reported that the screen suddenly not working to the touch. Apple did take care a lot with the latest version and the issue was significantly decreased over time but not completely fixed.
There are many reasons why the iPhone screen becomes unresponsive and one of the top reasons is that the iPhone may have an iOS related issue or there could be many programs running at the same time or the touch screen may be physically damaged and so on. Try to follow the steps that we will mention in this tutorial and hopefully you will be able to fix the unresponsive touch screen on iPhone.
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.
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.
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 a 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: hard reset 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 the 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 the 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 the 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.
iPhone touch screen not responding due to a firmware issue
Another possibility you need to rule out is the chance that the problem is with the iOS itself or the firmware. Of course, if the touch screen is no longer responding and your device just stays like that until the battery is all drained, you’re left with a very few troubleshooting options. However, most of the time if this problem started without apparent reason or cause, it could be that the firmware has crashed or some of its services. The best thing you can do about it is to force reboot your iPhone.
iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up key.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down key.
- Press and hold the Side key until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus
- Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down keys for at least 10 seconds.
- When you see the Apple logo, release the keys.
iPhone 6s and earlier
- Press and hold both the Home and the Top or Side keys for at least 10 seconds.
- When you see the Apple logo, release the keys.
What this procedure does is refresh your iPhone’s memory and reload all its services and applications. If the iPhone touch screen is not working due to a firmware crash, glitch, or any minor system errors, then this procedure will make the touchscreen work perfectly again once the device has become active.
However, if the touch screen is not responding even after doing this procedure, then you have no other choice but to restore your iPhone via recovery mode or through iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using the Apple-supplied syncing cable/Lightning cable.
- While it’s connected, press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Then quick press and release the Volume Down button.
- Next, press and hold the Side/Power button and continue to hold as it restarts. Don’t release the Side/Power button when the Apple logo appears as you need to put the device in a recovery state.
- Release the Side/Power button when you see the Connect to iTunes logo on the screen.
- Go to iTunes then you should see a message saying that your connected iOS device is in recovery mode and prompts options to update or restore.
- Choose the Restore option to wipe everything from the phone system and then restore iOS through iTunes.
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 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 the 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.
