iPhone touch screen not working? 8 Troubleshooting tips

Are you facing challenges to navigate through your iPhone due to unresponsive touches? Many users have reported on Apple forum that the iPhone touchscreen stopped working after updating to iOS 17.

Usually, the problem occurs when the iPhone has been dropped, facing software bugs, or faulty apps. Additionally, a screen protector could hinder your touch on display. To help you, we found several workarounds to fix the problem.

1. Force restart your iPhone

You may wonder how you will turn off your iPhone when the touch screen isn’t working. Well, there’s a way to reboot your iPhone even without using the touch screen. 

To do so,

1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
2. Then, quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
3. Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo pops up.
   
   

This method fixes the unresponsive touchscreen issue and also other issues like blurred iPhone corners.

2. Clean your iPhone

Even though the iPhone is water-resistant, it has a limit. Any liquid on the iPhone’s display or your finger can hinder your touch inputs with the screen, making it unresponsive. Clean off any liquid or debris on your iPhone display with a dry cloth.

If your iPhone was submerged in a pool or fell in a liquid, turn off your iPhone first. Let it dry completely, and then turn it on. If you feel the liquid has entered your iPhone’s speakers and microphone, eject liquid from your iPhone.

Also, remove any screen protectors or cases attached to your iPhone screen.

3. Uninstall problematic apps

If you’ve noticed that your iPhone’s screen becomes unresponsive while using a particular app, that app might be the cause of the issue. Buggy apps can also be the reason for your iPhone screen not responding to touch.

You may try uninstalling the app, then restarting your iPhone, and reinstalling the app.

1. Press and hold the app icon on the home screen.
2. Tap Remove App → Next, tap Delete App.
3. Tap Delete.
   
   
4. Now, open the App Store.
5. Search for the app’s name. Download the app back onto your iPhone and see if it causes any further problems.

If your iPhone’s touch screen responds well without the app, you’ve probably found your culprit. You can try contacting the app’s developers and report your troubles so they can work out a fix. 

If the problem persists, move on to the next solution.

4. Update your iPhone using a computer

Sometimes, software updates can help fix the bugs or glitches of the existing software version. Try updating your iPhone by connecting it to a Mac or PC that you normally use.

Moreover, if that doesn’t work, you can try making a backup and restoring your iPhone through your Mac or PC. In some cases, this helps unresponsive iPhone touch screens.

5. Reset your iPhone

If your iPhone’s screen is completely unusable, head on to the next solution. However, if it’s a little responsive, try to reset your iPhone.

1. Go to Settings → General → Reset.
2. Select Erase All Content & Settings.
   
   

6. Perform DFU

DFU stands for “Device Firmware Upgrade”. If your iPhone’s touch screen still isn’t working after trying DFU mode, you can have some degree of confidence that it’s a hardware-related issue.

DFU removes everything from your device and reinstalls all software again. All of your data will be lost if not backed up to iCloud, pCloud, any other cloud service of your choosing, or an external hard drive. 

Again, make sure you do this only if you have a recent backup or have no essential data on the iPhone that you cannot download from the cloud.

Check out the following guide to know how to put your iPhone in DFU mode.

7. Hardware defect

If none of the above steps work, it’s surely the hardware problem. Remove any attached screen protectors and phone case, and try using your iPhone.

Consider contacting Apple Support to get the screen replaced. However, the replacement can be a bit costly.

8. Fix it yourself with Self Service Repair

If you’ve narrowed it down to a hardware issue, it may be time to visit Apple Support, as we mentioned.

But if you’re keen on getting under the hood yourself, Apple wants to give you the chance.

Apple’s Self Service Repair is here, and you have the option to fix your touch screen issues in your own home. Make sure you do your research and proceed with caution here. 

Who knows, you might find you enjoy fixing things.

Video: How to fix iPhone touch screen not working issue?

These were some of the ways to fix an unresponsive iPhone touch screen. I hope one of the methods listed above was helpful.

If you know of any other solutions to this problem, please share them with us in the comments below. And if you have any other questions about Apple products, ask away!

Read more:

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