iPhone touch screen not working? 8 fixes to try

An iPhone that ignores your taps feels broken, but a frozen screen is often just frozen software, and the most important fix needs no touch at all. Start with the force restart below. If the screen responds afterward, work through the rest of the list to stop it happening again. If it never responds, the later sections cover how to save your data and what a repair involves.

What your symptom tells you

• Whole screen frozen, picture still showing: usually software. A force restart fixes most cases.
• Only one app ignores touch: the app has crashed or has a bug. Close it and update it.
• Touch is slow, jumpy or misses taps: moisture, a screen protector, a cheap charger, cold weather or an accessibility setting.
• Taps things by itself: ghost touch, from moisture, a faulty charger or damage.
• A strip, corner or area never responds: almost always physical damage to the display, especially after a drop.

How to fix iPhone touch screen not working

Find dead spots with a quick test

Open the Notes app, start a new note, tap the pen icon to draw, and slowly drag one finger in lines across the whole screen, top to bottom and side to side. Anywhere the line breaks or jumps is a dead or faulty area. Try the same with the screen protector off. If the gaps stay in the same place every time, the touch layer is damaged and needs repair.

Ghost touch: the iPhone taps by itself

• Unplug the charger. Uncertified chargers and damaged cables are a common cause.
• Dry the screen and the edges. Moisture trapped under a protector causes phantom taps.
• Take off the case and protector, since pressure at the edges can register as touches.
• If it happens with nothing plugged in and no protector, and especially after a drop, the display is faulty.

After a drop or water

If touch stopped working right after a drop, even with no visible crack, the display cable or the touch layer may be damaged inside. After water, turn the iPhone off, dry the outside and let it air dry for at least a day before trying again; touch problems that start after liquid often get worse as corrosion spreads, so book a check soon.

iPhone 18 Pro screen freezing?

In September 2026, Macworld reported that some iPhone 18 Pro owners saw the screen briefly stop responding to touch while scrolling in apps, separate from a Face ID bug on the same models. Apple has confirmed a software fix is coming for the Face ID issue. If your new iPhone 18 Pro freezes, install every update as it arrives before booking a repair. See what we know about iPhone 18 Pro launch bugs.

Use the iPhone while the screen is broken

If part of the screen still works, or you can speak to your iPhone, you may be able to get important things done before a repair. Hold the side button and ask Siri to call someone, send a message or read your notifications. If Voice Control is already on, you can control the whole phone by saying things like “tap Settings” or “swipe up”. You can also ask Siri to turn on Voice Control. If the top of the screen works but the bottom does not, AssistiveTouch, in Settings › Accessibility › Touch, adds a floating button you can place wherever the screen still responds.

Choosing a screen protector that does not cause problems

• Buy one made for your exact model. iPhone sizes and camera cutouts change every year, and a protector for another model will not fit properly.
• Tempered glass with a proper cutout for the Dynamic Island keeps touch and Face ID working.
• Avoid very thick or privacy protectors if touch or Face ID start to fail after fitting one.
• Fit it in a steamy bathroom or use the alignment frame in the box, so no dust or bubbles get trapped.

Save your data before a repair

• Check the last iCloud backup date on another device at Settings › your name › iCloud › Manage Storage › Backups. If it is recent, your data is safe.
• If you have trusted your computer before, connect the iPhone and back up in Finder or the Apple Devices app without touching the screen.
• Photos in iCloud Photos are already safe; sign in at icloud.com to see them.
• Tell the repair shop if your data is not backed up, since some repairs replace the whole phone with a new one.

Screen repair options

Apple and Apple Authorized Service Providers use genuine screens and keep features like True Tone and Face ID working properly. With AppleCare+, screen damage is repaired for a service fee far below the normal price. Independent shops are often cheaper, but a non-genuine screen can have worse color and touch, and the iPhone will list it as an unknown part in Settings › General › About › Parts and Service History. Ask for a genuine part if you plan to sell the phone later.

A screen repair usually takes an hour or two at an Apple Store with an appointment, and a few days if the phone is sent away. Book through the Apple Support app, which also shows your warranty and AppleCare+ status before you go.