Is Your iPhone Touch Screen Not Working?

Let’s face it - the contemporary touchscreen smartphones we boast today are a far cry from the button-heavy devices of the past. These devices have evolved over the last few decades, providing us with endless versatility and enjoyment. 

However, it is not always smooth sailing with these sleek devices. If your touchscreen isn’t working, it doesn’t mean you need to head to your nearest phone supplier. There are common ways to troubleshoot this issue and we're here to spell them out for you.

Ways to Troubleshoot an Unresponsive iPhone Touch Screen

The good news is that an unresponsive touch screen doesn't always signal a hardware failure. In many cases, it's a result of a software glitch, and there are simple fixes you can try to resolve the issue on your own, sometimes in just a few minutes.

Restart Your iPhone

If your iPhone's screen goes haywire, the first and most straightforward step is to restart your iPhone's display. This initial line of defense is useful with something as simple as turning your phone off completely, and then turning it back on can give your phone new life: eliminating temporary glitches in memory, potentially restoring your unresponsive screen.

Follow these steps for restrarting your iPhone: 

Force Restart Your iPhone

So you’ve tried to restart your phone with an unresponsive touch screen and you aren’t able to access your settings for the power slide. Rest assured, if you can’t access your settings with your glitchy phone, no problem. You can certainly use the Apple iPhone combo of power and volume buttons to resolve certain issues.

For iPhone 8, iPhone SE, or iPhones with Face ID:

For iPhone 7:

For iPhone SE (2016) or iPhone 6s and earlier:

Check Your Screen Protector and Clean and Dry Your Screen

Our phones come with us everywhere, and it is no secret that dirt, debris, and even oil can dirty your screen over time. Everything from our environment to the state of our fingertips can contribute to issues with our touchscreen.

The iPhone’s interactive touchscreen relies heavily on the electrical conductance to sense fingertips, which in turn gives us the ability to control by touch. Ensure your screen is dry and cleaned thoroughly. To clean, be sure to use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth like a microfiber one. Turn off your phone and wipe the front in a gentle circular pattern - and be sure to not get any moisture in any of the openings. Do not use compressed air.

Remember that the touchscreen will not respond if your fingers are covered, so if you are needing to use gloves you can look for specialized pairs that have capacitive fingertips which are useful in the cold.

What to Do if Your iPhone Screen Has Water Damage

It’s happened to the best of us; one minute we are holding our phone and the next it has slipped into a puddle or another form of liquid. It is possible if one of these scenarios has happened to you that your touch screen may be unresponsive due to water damage. 

iPhone models are water-resistant, but this simply does not mean that it is water-proof. Additionally, over time your phone will lose its ability to protect itself from water damage. Not only full immersion in water, but things like a hot sauna or humid environment can also contribute to water damage.

Lucky for you, there is an easy way to check if water damage is the culprit for your screen issues. Most iPhone models, aside from the older ones, have built-in Liquid Contact Indicators (LCIs) which rest underneath the SIM card. Remove the SIM card and try to shine a lighted magnifying glass inside: if you see white or silver? You’re safe! If the indicator is red, water damage has occurred. 

Remove Your Case and Screen Protector

Many iPhone users opt to add an additional layer of protection via the use of cases or screen protectors. The range of screen protectors on the market can provide variable issues with use on their own right. A too-thick screen protector can hamper how well your phone can function - so it is crucial to find the “right fit.” First thing is first, take the screen off and see if the issue resolves on its own. Consider using a thinner screen protector or a different outside case to correct the issue.

While thicker screen protectors are on the market, the overall majority of screen protectors are thin and designed for being used with modern smartphones, they can often affect touchscreen responsiveness. Therefore, it is imperative that your screen protector must be applied correctly. Try to remove and reapply it. An additional cleaning, especially if using a screen protector, can also help with responsiveness.

Disconnect Wired Accessories

While this issue is not necessarily common, your connected accessories that are plugged into the Lightning port may interfere with the iPhone touchscreen. Be sure nothing is plugged in to your iPhone, disconnect wired headphones and/or any chargers and restart your iPhone with the steps above to troubleshoot potential issues.

Still having issues, even after removing accessories, your issue may require additional troubleshooting steps.

Update Your iPhone From Recovery Mode Screen

Even if your touchscreen is unresponsive, ensuring that your iPhone software is up to date is crucial. Connect your device to your computer and try to use Recovery Mode for the latest update. This process may involve a sequence of button presses depending on your iPhone model. Either way, if your touchscreen is unresponsive, updating to the latest iOS version might resolve the problem.

Factory Reset Your iPhone

If you’ve gotten to this part of our list and your frozen screen is still remaining unresponsive, there may be a hardware problem at play. When all else fails, and software-related issues persist, restoring your iPhone to factory settings might be necessary. It is crucial that you have a recent backup before proceeding, as this step will erase all software updates, apps, and personal data from your phone. If touchscreen issues are preventing initiating this reset on your iPhone, use a computer to start this process.

Contact Apple Support

If a factory reset is seeming too extreme, or you lack a backup, contacting Apple Support or visiting an Apple Store is a realistic alternative to utilize professional help for a fix to get your iPhone working properly. They can first and foremost help you uncover if you are able to be eligible for a repair or replacement: and Apple may even be able to address hardware-related issues without erasing your data.

However, do keep in mind that there is no guaranteed solution. In case of a serious hardware issue, Apple may need to replace your device, and you’ll need to restore all of your data on your new iPhone.

Sell Your Unresponsive Phone with ecoATM 

If your phone is completely unresponsive, you have an option that may be beneficial to both your wallet and the planet. ecoATM accepts no-power and broken devices, sometimes with instant cash payment! When you bring your broken device to our kiosk, you'll be both properly disposing of it and helping to create a greener future for generations to come. 

You can price your device online now and visit a kiosk today to get the most cash for your broken device and contribute to a cleaner planet by recycling your old tech.