iPhone touch screen problems have been one of the common issues facing iPhone users regularly. At times, the iPhone touch screen can go unresponsive, causing many inconveniences for users. However, fixing an iPhone touch screen is quite simple if you know the errors.

In recent times, iPhones and iPads have experienced many software and security issues, which have led to the iPhone touchscreen not working correctly. But the latest iOS 15.3 has several easy fixes to resolve your iPhone’s touchscreen issues.

So, while there can be different reasons for an unresponsive touch screen, you can quickly fix the issues through various techniques, which we will discuss in this post.

Find out what causes the iPhone touch screen not working issue and how you can conveniently resolve the problem at home.

What Causes an Unresponsive iPhone Screen

There are several reasons why your iPhone touchscreen might be facing issues.

Generally, it can be your phone’s software-related issues, damaged system files, or there might be some hardware components that decide not to work under certain conditions.

But even with the touch screen not working, Apple’s solutions allow you to fix these problems conveniently. So first, it’s essential to understand why the iPhone’s touch screen becomes unresponsive.

In technical terms, the functionality of a touch screen depends on external interference. As this interference disrupts current flow in a specific area, the screen considers it a signal and acts accordingly.

There will be no interference detection with an unresponsive iPhone screen, and several reasons exist.

Firstly, it could be due to software bugs. Some specific apps might be causing the issue on your iPhone. At times, damaged files also cause touchscreen disruptions on iPhones and iPads.

Secondly, it could be because of your iPhone’s memory glitch. Overloaded storage and insufficient memory are other significant causes of touch issues on iPhone touchscreens.

Other than that, there are specific hardware problems and causes for an unresponsive iPhone screen. For instance, if you place a new screen protector on your iPhone, the touch screen may not detect the input.

Also, dirt, moisture, or debris on your screen can potentially cause touch screen problems on the iPhone.

To sum up, various software or hardware issues can lead to iPhone touch screen problems.

But now that you know the possible causes, addressing these concerns will be easier, and get to the most relevant solution.

How to Fix Unresponsive iPhone Touch Screen Issues

To fix iPhone touch screen problems, you must start with a troubleshooting exercise to understand the unresponsive screen problem. But this can be a challenging job and may take some time.

For instance, if it’s a software-related issue, it can be a hassle to understand the cause of the problem.

However, if there are hardware issues, especially with the protector setup, it’s pretty straightforward, and you can solve the issue in no time.

In any case, it’s critical to evaluate the possible causes first and then jump to the relevant solution. Otherwise, you may end up creating a bigger mess in the effort to restore your iPhone’s touchscreen.

Below are some troubleshooting tips and hacks that can fix your iPhone’s touch screen in no time. Let’s get started.

Check if the Screen Protector is Causing the Problem

The best option is to start with a physical examination of your phone. A good percentage of iPhone touch screen problems are due to physical reasons.

The idea is to remove physical agents like dirt, moisture, or debris from the iPhone’s screen surface.

Start by removing the screen protector and other cases or covers on your iPhone. Next, make your iPhone free from all its covers and check if the problem persists.

At times, the screen protector may be too thick or insulative, meaning it doesn’t pass on the touch to the actual screen.

In such cases, the iPhone tends to respond late, become unresponsive, or may respond only when the screen is touched in specific places.

Removing the cover will likely fix your iPhone’s screen if that’s the case.

You can conveniently remove the cover or protector by pulling it from one corner. However, it’s best to take professional help to avoid further damage to your iPhone’s touch screen.

Once the protector is removed, take a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the phone screen to remove any particles from its surface.

The protector problems can occur if you recently replaced your iPhone’s screen. But it’s pretty simple to resolve the issue.

Force Restart your iPhone

Force restarting is one of the practical troubleshooting tips to restore your resolve to the touch screen, not working problems. It’s quite a simple process.

Just press a combination of volume buttons and the side button to force restart your iPhone.

Press and Hold Till the Apple Logo Appears

Now different iPhone models may have different button combinations. But in every case, your iPhone should show the Apple Logo upon restarting.

Here is what you need to know about force restarting different iPhones.

You can simultaneously force restart on iPhone 6/6S or earlier models by pressing the Home & Sleep button. Next, press and hold the buttons until you see the Apple logo.

On iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold the Volume and Sleep button until the logo appears.

For iPhone 8 and later models, you can press the Volume Up and Down keys and quickly release the buttons. Now, press the Sleep button until you see the Apple logo.

Free Up Space

Most modern iPhones provide tons of space so you can store pictures, videos, and other stuff. But at times, an entire memory can cause specific files to affect your phone operations. As a result, the iPhone has become relatively slow and sluggish.

It responds slowly and adds to the frustration of the users. So, if you have a large amount of data on your iPhone, it’s time to start cleaning.

Start with the unused applications. You will be surprised to see how rarely you might be using certain apps. Also, there will be a few which you haven’t used at all.

To delete the apps, go to your iPhone’s settings and navigate to iPhone Storage. Next, select the apps you want to delete and tap ‘Delete App’.

First, go to Settings, General, and navigate to iPhone Storage. Now, tap any app you want to delete and “Delete App”.

Clear some space from your photos and videos section is also a good idea. Clear the clutter to see if it resolves the touch screen not working problem.

Adjust Highly Sensitive Touch Screen

If you have a susceptible touch screen in your iPhone, it disrupts regular operations and responds haphazardly to the user input.

As a result, the screen may recognize the lightest of touches, or it may not consider a proper finger touch in other cases.

Therefore, checking and adjusting screen sensitivity is essential to avoid further touch screen issues. But how do you adjust the sensitivity of your iPhone’s screen? The following hacks can help.

Restart your iPad or iPhone and ensure that there is no dirt or debris on your screen. Dry off any moisture or water on the screen.

Now, disconnect USB-C accessories or lightning devices. If your unresponsive touch screen issue is resolved, use another outlet or cable.

If you observe an intermittent response on your iPhone, there isn’t much you can do about your screen sensitivity. In this case, it’s best to contact Apple Support.

Modify the 3D Touch Settings

3D touch settings also contribute to an unresponsive iPhone touchscreen. Typically, iPhone users prefer using 3D features. However, if it’s causing an issue with touch screen operations, it’s best to modify the 3D settings.

Generally, it requires you to reconfigure the screen sensitivity in your iPhone. So follow these steps to modify the 3D touch settings.

Go to your Phone settings and navigate to the ‘Accessibility’ tab to configure the 3D settings.

Find the ‘3D Touch’ option; here, you will see a wide range of options to configure. Here, you need to adjust the sensitivity level to one of the three options, i.e.,

  • Firm
  • Medium
  • Light

Slide the 3D touch sensitivity slider left or right to pick your option. Alternatively, you can also turn off the 3D settings if you want.

Since the 3D settings accumulate extra battery power, turning it off can help you save some of your iPhone’s battery too.

The crucial aspect of 3D touch is that it directly impacts your iPhone screen. Therefore, if it’s not configured correctly, it can cause your iPhone’s display to be less responsive.

But if the underlying problem is related to the 3D touch settings, the manual configuration of this option can resolve the problem quickly.

Once you have adjusted the sensitivity, checking it by hard-pressing the image on the iPhone’s display is best.

Resolve the Touch Disease in iPhone 6 Series

The iPhone 6 Plus models had a unique ‘Touch Disease,” which meant that the phone would stop responding if you dropped them on the floor several times. It mainly happened because the dropping effect loosened the cable connections to the logic board.

In such a case, it’s best to take your iPhone to the nearest Apple store and get it resolved professionally.

Unresponsive Apps

Generally, iPhone apps work flawlessly. However, there are times when the apps become unresponsive, and you don’t understand why it’s not answering when you touch your screen.

Unresponsive apps are a common problem on iPhones, meaning there is nothing wrong with your iPhone screen.

It happens when your app is not updated or has too much data in your phone’s cache. So, you can also consider cleaning the iPhone’s cache before you decide to delete the app.

However, deleting is always better if the app isn’t that critical for you.

To deal with unresponsive apps, it’s best to uninstall and reinstall them. It’s pretty simple to do that on the iPhone.

Tap and hold the app icon, and the apps will start flickering on your screen. Next, tap the cross symbol on the app you wish to delete.

You can get the app from App Store and reinstall it on your iPhone. But remember, if the app continues to create trouble after reinstalling, it’s best to use a different application.

However, uninstalling and reinstalling rarely won’t resolve your app-related touchscreen issues.

Device Firmware Update

If the software fixes cannot resolve the problem, it’s time to shift to firmware solutions. These are slightly more technical, so it’s best to use professional support in this area.

To work with the firmware in your iPhone, your iPhone or iPad must be in the DFU or Device Firmware Update mode.

In this mode, you can’t send inputs to the device, and it doesn’t show anything on the screen. DFU mode quite closely resembles the Recovery Mode in iPhone.

However, you can see the iTunes screen and logo in the Recovery Mode Screen.

The DFU mode is ideal for restoring your iOS when the device fails to detect any input. In this mode, everything from your phone is deleted.

So, it’s much like a factory reset. It means you must arrange alternative storage for your iPhone data because all your data will be gone once restored.

Steps to Follow

To put your iPhone in DFU mode, follow these steps.

Step1: Connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer.

Step 2: Press and release the Volume Up key on your iPhone.

Step 3: Now, press the Volume down button and release it.

Step 4: Next, press and hold the Sleep button.

Step 5: When your iPhone screen turns black, press and hold the Volume down button with the Sleep button simultaneously.

Step 6: Release the Sleep button after five seconds while holding the Volume Down button for an extra second. You will notice the phone screen will be black, but iTunes will detect it.

Finally, if you see the Apple Logo at any point during this exercise, it means that the phone cannot enter the DFU mode, and you will need some professional help.

Moreover, there are slight variations in DFU mode entry for different iPhone models. So, it’s best to check which one works for you.

From this point, you can decide whether you want a custom or complete system restore.

Check for Hardware Issues

If you have tried everything and the issue persists, it could be a hardware issue. But, unfortunately, here, it is pretty much impossible for you to do anything to resolve the issue.

So, you can try contacting Apple Support to get further help.

This is especially true if you buy a new phone and face touch screen issues.

Conclusion

iPhone touch screen issues are pretty easy to resolve, but it requires you first to understand the cause of the problem.

If you are unaware of what’s causing the issue, it’s best to contact Apple Support to guide you about the solution. Otherwise, you could end up doing more damage to your phone.