iPhone Touchscreen Not Working? 10 Ways to Fix It

**Quick Fix:** Force restart your iPhone by pressing and quickly releasing Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

My iPhone screen stopped responding in the middle of an important call once. I couldn’t hang up, couldn’t do anything. After panicking for a minute, I figured out how to fix it. Here’s what actually works.

Why This Happens

iPhone touchscreen issues usually come from software glitches, a frozen app, or iOS bugs. Physical causes include water damage, cracked screen, or a faulty display connector. Sometimes a screen protector or dirty screen interferes with touch sensitivity.

Temperature extremes and low storage space can also cause the screen to become unresponsive.

How to Fix iPhone Touchscreen Not Working – 10 Solutions

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

This fixes most touchscreen freezes instantly.

iPhone 8 and newer (including SE 2nd/3rd gen):

1. Press and quickly release Volume Up
2. Press and quickly release Volume Down
3. Press and hold the Side button
4. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo
5. Release and wait for restart

iPhone 7/7 Plus:

1. Press and hold Volume Down + Side button together
2. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo

iPhone 6s and earlier:

1. Press and hold Home + Side button together
2. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo

Why this works: A force restart clears the RAM and stops any frozen processes causing the screen to be unresponsive.

2. Clean Your Screen

Dirt and oils can block touch signals.

1. Power off your iPhone
2. Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth
3. Slightly dampen it with water (not soaking wet)
4. Gently wipe the entire screen
5. Dry with a clean part of the cloth
6. Power back on

Why this works: The touchscreen uses capacitive sensing. Grease and debris can interfere with accurate touch detection.

3. Remove Your Screen Protector

Bad screen protectors cause touch issues.

1. Carefully peel off your screen protector
2. Clean the screen underneath
3. Test the touchscreen
4. If it works, get a higher-quality replacement protector

Why this works: Cheap or thick screen protectors, or ones with bubbles, can block touch signals from reaching the display.

4. Free Up Storage Space

Low storage can cause system slowdowns.

1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
2. Check available space (need at least 1GB free)
3. Delete unused apps, old photos, or downloads
4. Offload unused apps automatically

Why this works: iOS needs free space to function properly. When storage is critically low, the system becomes sluggish and unresponsive.

5. Update iOS

Software bugs can cause touch issues.

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update
2. If an update is available, tap Download and Install
3. Wait for the update to complete
4. Test your touchscreen

If touch isn’t working enough to navigate, connect to a computer and update through Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).

Why this works: Apple regularly fixes touchscreen bugs in iOS updates. An outdated version might have known issues.

6. Reset All Settings

This fixes software configuration problems.

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
2. Tap Reset
3. Select Reset All Settings
4. Enter your passcode
5. Confirm the reset

This keeps your data but resets WiFi passwords, wallpaper, and other settings.

Why this works: Corrupted settings can cause touch issues. Resetting returns everything to default without erasing your data.

7. Check for Physical Damage

Inspect your iPhone for problems.

1. Look for cracks, even tiny ones, on the screen
2. Check if the screen is lifting away from the frame
3. Look for water damage (check the SIM tray for a red indicator)
4. Feel if the screen is bulging (battery swelling)

If you find damage, stop using the phone and get it repaired.

Why this works: Physical damage to the display or connector causes intermittent or complete touch failure.

8. Let It Cool Down (or Warm Up)

Extreme temperatures affect touch sensitivity.

If too hot:

1. Move to a cooler area
2. Remove the case
3. Turn off the iPhone
4. Wait 15-20 minutes
5. Try again

If too cold:

1. Move to a warmer area
2. Put it in your pocket close to your body
3. Wait 10-15 minutes
4. Don’t charge until it warms up

Why this works: iPhone touchscreens are designed to work between 32-95°F (0-35°C). Outside this range, they may not respond properly.

9. Restore iPhone via Recovery Mode

For serious software problems.

1. Connect iPhone to computer with cable
2. Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)
3. Force restart while connected (see Step 1)
4. Keep holding until you see the recovery screen
5. Choose “Update” first (preserves data)
6. If that fails, choose “Restore” (erases everything)

Why this works: Recovery mode reinstalls iOS completely, fixing deep software corruption.

10. Adjust Touch Sensitivity Settings

Your settings might be wrong.

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility
2. Tap Touch
3. Check 3D Touch or Haptic Touch settings
4. Try adjusting the sensitivity
5. Also check Touch Accommodations (turn off if enabled accidentally)

Why this works: Accessibility settings can change how touch is recognized. Wrong settings can make the screen seem unresponsive.

If Nothing Works

When software fixes don’t help:

• Book an appointment at the Apple Store
• Use Apple’s mail-in repair service
• For out-of-warranty phones, consider third-party repair
• A damaged display or internal connector needs professional repair

FAQ

Why is my iPhone screen glitching and not responding to touch?

Screen glitching with touch issues usually indicates a hardware problem – either the display connector came loose or the screen itself is failing. Try a force restart first, but you likely need repair.

Can I use my iPhone without the touchscreen?

Yes. Enable Voice Control in Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. You can also connect a Bluetooth mouse through Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch.

How much does it cost to fix iPhone touchscreen?

Apple charges $199-329 for screen replacement depending on model. Third-party shops charge $80-200. AppleCare+ reduces the cost to $29. Check Apple’s website for exact pricing for your model.

Wrapping Up

Force restart fixes most iPhone touchscreen problems immediately. If that doesn’t work, clean your screen and remove any screen protector to test. Software issues get solved with updates or a settings reset. If touch still doesn’t work after trying everything, physical damage is likely and you’ll need professional repair.