iPhone Touch Screen Not Working? Try These 6 Tips

When your iPhone or iPad touch screen is not working, it can just about drive you crazy. Without the touch screen, your whole iPhone becomes basically unusable. Luckily, we have six tricks for how to fix it when your iPad or iPhone screen is not responding to touch.

Related: Apple Watch Won’t Update? Here’s How to Fix It.

Jump To:

• Update to the Latest iOS
• Restart Your iPhone
• Force Restart Your iPhone
• Remove Your Screen Protector
• Factory Reset
• Schedule Repairs with Apple

Update to the Latest iOS

If your touch screen is responding at all, the first thing you should try when your iPhone touch screen is not working fully is to update to the latest iOS version. You can learn how to check for updates and update your iPhone in this article. To learn more about the latest iOS, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter.

If your iPhone touch screen won't work at all, you used to be able to update your iOS via iTunes, but now you need to unlock your phone and allow connection with your computer using the touch screen, so that method won't work for most.

Restart Your iPhone or iPad

When your iPhone or iPad touch screen is not working, you can also try to restart your device. Again, this method will only work if your touch screen is responding at least minimally.

Restart iPhone X & Later

To restart your iPhone X or later: hold down either volume button and the Side button until you see slide to power off. Swipe your finger over the slider to restart your iPhone.

Image from Apple.com

Restart iPhone 8, 7, 6, and SE (2nd generation)

On your iPhone 8, 7, 6, or second-generation SE, hold down the Side button until you see the restart slider.

Image from Apple.com

Restart iPhone SE (1st generation), 5 & Earlier

For first-generation SE and iPhone 5 and earlier, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the restart slider appears.

Image from Apple.com

Restart iPad without a Home Button

Press and hold either volume button until the power off slider appears.

Image from Apple.com

Restart iPad with a Home Button

Press and hold the Top button until the power off slider appears.

Image from Apple.com

Force Restart Your iPhone or iPad

If a standard restart doesn't fix your touch screen issues or if you are unable to engage "slide to power off," you can still try to force restart to fix an iPhone touch screen not working. This method does not require engaging the touch screen at all.

Force Restart iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8 & Later

1. Press and release the volume up button.
2. Press and release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the Side button.

Force Restart iPhone 7

1. Press and hold the volume down button and the Sleep/Wake button.
2. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Force Restart iPhone 6S & iPhone SE (1st Generation)

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button.
2. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Force Restart iPad without Home Button

1. Press and release the volume up button.
2. Press and release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the Top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the Top button.

Force Restart iPad with Home Button

1. Press and hold the Top button and the Home button.
2. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Your iPhone or iPad should now shut down and restart. Once your device restarts, see if your touch screen is now working. If not, we may have to move on to more drastic measures.

Remove Your Screen Protector

In some cases, an iPad or iPhone touch screen not working may be the result of a faulty screen protector. This is rare, but it has been known to happen: your screen protector may be preventing your device's touch screen from receiving signals from your fingers. If nothing else has helped so far, or especially if you only noticed your touch screen not working after installing a new screen protector, you might want to try removing your screen protector. After you've removed your screen protector, try your touch screen again.

Factory Reset

If nothing else has fixed your iPad or iPhone touch screen not working, it may be time to try a factory reset. This will restore your iPhone or iPad to its original, factory settings, and your data and settings will be erased. Before you factory reset your device, make sure to back it up to iCloud or your computer so you can get your data and settings back. You will need at least some touch screen functionality to complete a factory reset.

To factory reset your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   
    
2. Tap General.
   
   
    
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   
   
    
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings and follow the instructions on-screen.
   
   

Once you have reset your device to factory settings, you can restore your device from a backup.

Schedule Repairs with Apple

If nothing else works, and you're all out of ideas, the best place to turn when your iPad or iPhone touch screen is not working is Apple itself. Contact Apple Support to find out where and when you can get your device fixed.