Touchscreen not responding: the steps in order

A touchscreen that does not respond immediately feels like a total loss. In many cases it is not. Work through the following steps in this order, they lead from the harmless to the serious.

1. The simple things first

• Hands and display: wet or very dry fingers, gloves, grease or water on the glass interfere with capacitive detection. Wipe the display dry, wash your hands and dry them.
• Screen protector: a protector that is too thick, badly fitted or cracked can block input. If it comes loose at a corner, dead zones appear in exactly that spot. Peel it off as a test.
• Temperature: in extreme cold or heat displays work unreliably. Bring the device to room temperature and try again.

2. Forced restart

If nothing moves at all, a forced restart helps. On an iPhone you press volume up briefly, then volume down briefly, and then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. On most Android devices you hold power and volume down together for around ten seconds. This is not a reset, your data stays.

3. Software or hardware? The decisive test

Watch whether the problem occurs everywhere or only in one app. If the screen responds normally on the lock screen and only misbehaves in one particular application, it is software. Then check whether updates are pending, and restart the app if in doubt.

Conversely, these signs point to a hardware fault:

• A horizontal or vertical strip no longer responds at all, no matter which app.
• The device carries out inputs you did not make, so-called ghost touches.
• The problem appeared after a drop or contact with water.
• There are visible cracks, stains or discolouration in the image.

4. When water was involved

Moisture under the display typically produces ghost touches first, then dead zones. The rule here: do not charge it, do not put it in rice, but have it checked promptly. What actually helps is set out in our article phone with water damage and under water damage treatment.

5. When it is the display

A faulty touch layer cannot be repaired by software, the display has to be replaced. The good news: this is one of the most common repairs there is and is usually done the same day. Details under display replacement. Whether the repair is still worth it on an older device is covered by our article broken display: repair or replace.

Conclusion

Clean it first, then take off the screen protector, then do a forced restart. If a dead zone remains or ghost touches appear, it is the display's turn. In both cases you do not have to give up your data, a display replacement leaves it untouched.