Ghost touch is when your iPhone screen starts to move or do things by itself. Apps open without touching anything and the screen appears to respond to nonexistent touches. These strange actions are not surprising and can be quite annoying.
While ghost touch may sometimes require you to bring your iPhone to Apple to be repaired, there are many quick fixes that you can do for free. These include cleaning the iPhone’s touchscreen or performing a factory reset.
What iPhones are affected by Ghost Touch?
The iPhone X is most often affected by ghost touch issues. Apple acknowledged in November 2018 that it had discovered issues with the iPhone X’s touchscreen. Apple also stated that it would offer free repairs for affected customers.
Online complaints and reports have indicated that the iPhone ghost touch problem also affects other models. These include the iPhone XS, XR, and older models such as the iPhone 8, 7, 6 and 5, as well as the iPhone 11, 12, and 13. Also, “ghost touch” can affect an iPhone on rare occasions.
No matter what model your iPhone is, here are the steps to fix ghost touch.
1. Clean the Touchscreen
Although it may seem simple, cleaning the iPhone’s touchscreen can help you protect yourself from ghost touch. This will allow you to remove any dust or debris that could be interfering with the iPhone’s ability to detect your touch.
First, turn off your iPhone and unplug all cables. You should then find a soft, clean (i.e. You should also find a soft and clean (i.e., lint-free), cloth such as one for cleaning glasses. This cloth should be slightly dampened with warm water. Next, wipe the touchscreen clean by gently wiping it from one end to another.
Be sure to not get moisture in any openings while you are wiping.
Apple also recommends you avoid using window cleaners or household cleaners. If you do this, it could cause damage to the oil-resistant coating Apple has put on your device.
2. Remove your screen protector
Screen protectors are thin layers made of plastic or glass that can be attached to your iPhone’s touchscreen to prevent it from cracking or scratching. They can be useful but they can cause disruptions in the touchscreen’s operation. Screen protectors can be removed to fix ghost touch issues.
Remove the screen protector from your iPhone’s screen very slowly and carefully. Begin at the corner and slowly peel off the screen protector. To avoid injury, if the protector is cracked or damaged in any way, you might want to take the phone to an Apple-authorized repair shop.
It is worth contacting the manufacturer to remove the screen protector. The manufacturer may be able to recommend the best way to remove the protector. They might also be able to refund you if your iPhone has ghost touch issues.
3. Take out your iPhone’s case
A slightly bent screen is another possible reason for ghost touch on your iPhone. You might be able to solve the problem by taking off any hard cases that your iPhone may have. Sometimes, this can happen to the screen. In these cases, you might be able to fix it by removing any hard case.
Some iPhone users complained that their hard cases became twisted after dropping their iPhones. It is worthwhile to try to remove your iPhone’s hard case if it has one.
4. Restart your iPhone
Rebooting your iPhone is a smart idea whenever there’s a problem. Ghost touch issues are also covered. It is possible to clear your iPhone’s temporary storage by restarting it.
You can restart your iPhone without using the Home button.
- Hold the Side buttons or Volume buttons until the slide for power off slider appears.
- Scroll to the right and slide the power off slider.
- After you have closed the browser, press the Side Button until you see the Apple logo.
These steps will allow you to restart your iPhone using the Home button.
- To power off the slider, hold the Side (or Top) button.
- Scroll to the right and slide the power off slider.
- After you have closed the browser, press the Top or Side button until you see the Apple logo.
5. Force restart your iPhone
You can force restart your iPhone, which is similar to restarting it but more severe. If your iPhone’s ghost touch issue is so severe that it’s impossible to use the device properly, you can force restart it. Force restarts work even if your iPhone isn’t.
Do the following to force restart an iPhone 8 or older:
- Release the Volume Down button quickly.
- Release the Volume Down button quickly.
- Hold the Side Button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the Side button.
These steps will force restart your iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 7 Plus.
- Hold the Volume Down button, and the Wake/Sleep button.
- Both buttons will be released when the Apple logo appears.
You can force restart your iPhone 6 Plus, 6 Plus, or older by following these steps:
- Hold the Wake/Sleep button, and the Home key.
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
6. iOS Update
You should update your iPhone if the ghost touch persists. It is worth it, as a ghost touch could be caused by a bug in Apple’s software.
To update your iPhone, you will need to follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install or Installation if you have already downloaded the update.
7. Do a factory reset
If software updates and restarts don’t solve your iPhone’s ghost-touch problem, it is time to do a factory reset. This is a great way to fix any software problems that could cause ghost touch. You should backup your iPhone before you perform a factory reset. This will erase all of your saved data.
Resetting your iPhone is as easy as following these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to tap Transfer and Reset.
- Click To Delete All Content and Settings.
- Tap Continue to enter your iPhone passcode.
After performing the factory reset, you will need to repeat the setup process. You can also choose to restore the iPhone from a backup.
8. Recover your iPhone
If you are unable to force restart your iPhone, you may try placing it in Recovery Mode and reinstalling iOS. This should only be attempted if your iPhone is unable to update normally due to ghost touch or if it cannot reset all settings. It’s much easier to update or reset your settings if you can do it normally.
To force restart an iPhone, place it in Recovery Mode and connect it to a Mac running iTunes or macOS.
Your computer will display a message saying, “There’s a problem with your iPhone. It needs to be updated or repaired.” Click Update if it is available or Repairs.
Please note: All data will be lost if you restore your iPhone from Recovery Mode. If possible, back up your iPhone before you restore it from Recovery Mode.
If the Recovery Mode fails to fix your iPhone, you can try with DFU mode instead. This mode reinstalls the entire firmware and software on your iPhone.
9. Bring your iPhone to Apple
You should make an appointment to have your iPhone repaired at the nearest Apple Store if a ghost touch persists. This is because you have exhausted all software options, so there must be an issue with the hardware that is causing ghost-touch on your iPhone. Some owners mention that the problem can be caused by improper touchscreen seating or display assembly.
If you don’t have a lot of experience with fixing iPhone problems, you shouldn’t attempt to take it apart. It’s safer to call Apple Support to schedule an appointment.
Bad iPhone Repairs can Cause Ghost Touch
Make sure to only use Apple authorized service providers if your iPhone has a problem with ghost touch. Dodgy or low-quality repairs can lead to various issues with your iPhone’s screen, including ghost touch and FaceID issues.
Ghost touch issues can actually be caused by an unauthorized repair of your iPhone.
