Tap to Wake not working on iPhone? 7 Ways to fix it!

The Tap to Wake or Raise to Wake is a handy feature to check notifications and widgets from Lock Screen. But sometimes tapping the screen doesn’t respond. Are you also having trouble with the Tap to Wake feature on your iPhone? Don’t worry! Here, I’ll walk you through some troubleshooting steps to help you fix the Tap to Wake not working issue on your iPhone running iOS 16.

Reasons why Tap to Wake is not working on iPhone

Before you start troubleshooting, find the actual root cause behind it. There are various reasons for your iPhone’s Tap to Wake not functioning.

First, confirm that the feature is switched on as it gets disabled if you are in Low Power Mode.
Next, if you use any screen protector or bulky phone case, remove it and check the display’s touch sensitivity.
Additionally, a bug in iOS, system/settings flaws, or faulty hardware can cause your Tap to Wake feature to stop working.
Sometimes, the adaptive brightness or Lock Screen widgets create glitches. Therefore, check your iPhone’s hardware and software and find what’s causing the problem.

How to fix Tap to Wake not working issue in iOS 16

Fixing your iPhone’s Tap to Wake not working issue is a cakewalk. So, whatever the reason is, we’ve got you covered!

1. Ensure Tap to Wake is enabled

Though the ‘Tap to Wake’ is enabled by default, I suggest re-enabling it.

Open the Settings app → choose Accessibility.
Tap Touch.
Toggle off Tap to Wake.
Restart your iPhone.
Again go to Settings → enable Tap to Wake.

2. Remove all Lock Screen widgets

Sometimes too many Lock Screen widgets overlap and cause Tap to Wake not to work on iPhone. Therefore, declutter your Lock Screen to fix the issue.

Unlock your iPhone → go to your Lock Screen.
Tap and hold your screen → select Customize.
Choose Lock Screen and tap the widgets under area time.
Tap the minus icon (-) to delete the unnecessary widget.
Confirm by tapping Done.

3. Restart your iPhone

Force restarting reboots your iPhone and resolves many typical iOS bugs. So, if your iPhone has performance lags, that will be solved. Just restart your iPhone and check if your display is working smoothly.

4. Reset all settings

Restoring the settings of your iPhone ensures all the functionalities are working correctly. It will remove your network and location data, custom dictionary, Home Screen layout, etc. Also, it will resolve the issue if the Tap to Wake feature suddenly stops working because of erroneous customization.

Open Settings → tap General.
Then scroll and choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
After that, select Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and tap Reset All Settings.

5. Perform Factory Reset

If resetting your iPhone settings doesn’t fix iOS 16 Tap to Wake issue, opt for a Factory Reset. It will delete all your data, turn everything as default and make your iPhone like new. So, doing this will eliminate any customization glitches on your iPhone.

6. Update iOS

Apple is continually updating its software to fix bugs. Therefore, it’s essential to download and install the latest iOS update on your iPhone. Also, turn on Automatic Updates, so you never miss out on the most recent iOS versions.

7. Contact Apple

Unfortunately, if every trick fails, you must contact Apple Support. They will assist you in troubleshooting the problem. Also, if the technician thinks it’s a hardware issue, you may make a Genius Bar appointment at Apple Store. Then take your iPhone there and have it tested by Apple-certified specialists.

FAQ

Why is Tap to Wake not working after replacing my iPhone’s screen?

If you recently changed the display panel of your iPhone, maybe it’s defective or not correctly installed. Don’t go to any third-party repairer as they might put fake parts. So, contact Apple Support as soon as possible.

So, that’s all for today, folks!

Apple offers many handy features to boost your efficiency. The Tap to Wake feature eliminates the need for pressing power buttons repetitively to check time and notifications. So, it’s really frustrating if the function suddenly stops working. I hope the tips and tricks helped you to fix the issue.

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