If the whole screen is frozen
If nothing responds anywhere, the phone has probably frozen rather than the screen failing. A force restart needs only the buttons, not the screen, and brings most phones straight back.
If it freezes again with the same app open, update or delete that app.
Clean it and take everything off
Water, grease and dirt on the glass confuse the touch sensor, and so do wet or gloved fingers. Dry and clean the screen with a soft cloth.
Remove the screen protector and the case. A protector that has lifted, cracked or trapped a bubble can stop touches in one area completely, and a case that presses on the edges can produce taps you did not make.
Test exactly where it fails
Our touch screen test lets you draw across the whole screen and shows any area that does not register. A dead strip or patch in the same place every time points to the digitiser; touches that work everywhere point back to software or interference.
If parts of the image are wrong too — lines, dead pixels, discoloured patches — the screen test and dead pixel test show it clearly.
Taps by itself — ghost touch
A screen that taps, scrolls or types on its own while charging is often the charger, not the phone: poor-quality adapters can put electrical noise into the touch sensor. Unplug it; if the ghost touches stop, change the adapter.
If it happens without a charger, check the protector and case again, then update iOS. Ghost touches that continue after all that usually mean a failing screen.
Check touch settings
Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Touch Accommodations changes how long you need to hold a touch before it counts. If it was switched on by accident, the screen seems to ignore quick taps. Turn it off there.
Updating iOS is worth doing too — our update guide covers it — and if the screen works well enough to back up, a restore rules software out completely.
When it is hardware
A dead area that stays dead after a restart, with the protector off and a restore done, is a digitiser fault. So is a screen that stopped responding after a drop, even with no visible crack. Screens replaced by an unofficial shop also fail more often in this way. The fix is a new display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my iPhone screen not responding to touch?
If it is completely frozen, force restart it. If only parts fail, remove the screen protector and case, clean the glass, and test it with a touch screen test.
How do I restart my iPhone if the screen doesn't work?
Press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. No touches needed.
Why is my iPhone screen tapping by itself?
Often a low-quality charger or a lifted screen protector. Unplug it and remove the protector; if it continues, the screen may be failing.
How can I test my iPhone touch screen?
Open our free touch screen test in Safari and draw across the whole screen. Any area that does not register shows up immediately.