Android touch screen not working or ghost touching? 8 fixes

A screen that ignores taps, or taps things by itself, is one of the most frustrating phone problems, because you cannot easily reach the settings to fix it, or even unlock the phone to call for help. Luckily, the most useful fix uses only the buttons. Start there, then work through the list. Steps are given for Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and Motorola, and other Android phones are similar.

What your symptom tells you

• Whole screen frozen: usually software. A force restart fixes most cases.
• Only in one app: the app has crashed or has a bug. Update or reinstall it.
• Taps by itself (ghost touch): moisture, a charger, a protector or damage.
• Slow or misses taps: a thick protector, dirt, cold, a power saving mode or an accessibility setting.
• Dead strip or corner: physical damage to the display, often after a drop.

How to force restart without touching the screen

• Samsung Galaxy: hold the side key and Volume Down together for about 10 seconds, until the Samsung logo appears.
• Google Pixel: hold the Power button for about 35 seconds, until the phone restarts.
• Motorola: hold the Power key for 10 to 20 seconds.
• OnePlus 6T and later: hold Volume Up and Power for 10 seconds.

How to fix Android touch screen not working

Ghost touch: the phone taps by itself

Random taps, apps opening on their own or typing by itself usually have a simple cause. Unplug the charger first; electrical noise from a cheap charger is the most common one. Then dry the screen, take off the case and protector, and restart. If ghost touches continue with nothing attached, boot into safe mode. If they happen there too, and especially if the phone was dropped, the touch layer is failing. Keep a backup current, since ghost touch can open apps or send messages you did not intend.

Choosing a screen protector that works

• Buy one made for your exact model. Curved-edge Samsung screens need a protector designed for the curve, or the edges will not respond.
• For phones with a fingerprint sensor under the screen, choose a protector that says it supports it.
• After fitting any protector, turn on Touch sensitivity (Samsung) or Screen protector mode (Pixel).
• Replace a protector that is cracked or lifting; it causes more touch problems than it prevents.

Settings that make touch seem broken

• Accidental touch protection (Samsung): in Settings › Display. It ignores touches when the top of the phone is covered, for example in a pocket. A case or protector that covers the proximity sensor can make the screen ignore you. Turn it off to test.
• Touch and hold delay, tap duration and ignore repeated touches: in Settings › Accessibility › Interaction and dexterity on Samsung, or Accessibility on Pixel. Someone may have changed these, making taps register slowly or not at all.
• Interaction control or pinned screen: these lock part of the screen on purpose. If a single app is pinned, hold Back and Overview (or swipe up and hold) to unpin it.
• Battery saver: an aggressive power saving mode can make the screen feel slow. Turn it off while testing.

Cold weather and gloves

Touch screens sense the small electrical charge in your skin, so ordinary gloves block them and very cold fingers respond poorly. Use gloves with touch-screen fingertips, and warm the phone in a pocket for a few minutes if it has been outside in freezing weather. Some Samsung phones also have a Glove mode, which is the same Touch sensitivity setting described above.

Touch stopped working after an update

If touch started failing right after a system update, restart the phone once, then check Settings › Software update for a follow-up patch; makers often fix touch bugs within weeks. Clear the cache of your launcher app, and if you use a third-party keyboard or launcher, switch back to the default one to test. If it is still broken, back up and consider a factory reset, which rules out software completely.

Wet screen or wet hands

Drops of water on the screen register as touches and cause ghost taps. Dry the screen fully. Some Samsung and Pixel phones handle wet fingers better than others, but none work well underwater. If the phone got soaked, turn it off and let it dry for at least a day before testing touch again.

Use the phone while the screen is broken

• Voice: say “Hey Google” to call someone, send a text or open an app, if the voice assistant is set up.
• Mouse: plug a USB-C mouse, or a USB mouse with a USB-C adapter, into the phone. A pointer appears and clicking works like tapping.
• Voice Access: Google’s Voice Access app lets you control the whole phone by voice. It needs to be set up while touch still works.
• Samsung DeX or a monitor: many Galaxy phones can show the screen on a monitor or TV and be controlled with a mouse and keyboard.

Save your data before a repair

Check photos.google.com and your Google account backup on a computer; if backup was on, most of your data is safe already, including photos, contacts and texts. With a mouse connected, you can also run a backup in Settings › Google › Backup, or Samsung Cloud in Settings › Accounts and backup. Tell the repair shop if your data is not backed up, since some repairs, especially on Samsung, replace the screen together with the frame and battery, and a few need the phone reset.

Screen repair options

Samsung Authorized Service Centers, including many uBreakiFix by Asurion stores in the US, and Google’s repair partners use genuine parts. Samsung Care+ and carrier insurance plans cover screen damage for a deductible. Independent shops can be cheaper, but a non-genuine screen may have worse color, a slower touch response, and on some Samsung models the fingerprint sensor under the screen may stop working. Ask which part they use before you agree.