Phone touch not working means the display lights up and shows pictures, but your taps and swipes do nothing, or they land in the wrong place. Sometimes only a part of the screen is dead, and sometimes the screen taps by itself, which is called ghost touch.
The cause can be as simple as a wet finger or as serious as a cracked display. Try the free, safe steps first, in the order below. If the screen still ignores you after a restart and a clean wipe, the section on repair explains what the shop will check and what changes the cost.
Common causes
1Dirty, oily or wet screen or fingers
How to tellTouch works poorly after rain, sweat, cream or cooking, and returns when dry
What fixes itWipe the screen and your fingers with a clean dry cloth
2Software freeze or app glitch
How to tellButtons work but the screen does not, or only one app ignores touch
What fixes itForce restart the phone and update the app or system
3Screen protector or case in the way
How to tellStarted after fitting a thick or bubbled tempered glass
What fixes itPeel the protector off and test the screen without it
4Charger or power issue causing ghost touch
How to tellScreen acts strangely only while charging with a cheap charger
What fixes itUse the original charger and cable
5Water or moisture inside
How to tellPhone was wet, and touch is patchy with random taps
What fixes itSwitch off, dry the phone in air, and take it to a shop if it persists
6Cracked or damaged display
How to tellVisible cracks, lines, spots or a dead patch after a fall
What fixes itDisplay replacement at a repair shop
7Loose display connector or damaged touch controller
How to tellTouch fails in zones or comes and goes after knocks or heat
What fixes itTechnician checks the connector and touch parts
8Low storage or overheated phone
How to tellPhone is hot, laggy, and touch is slow to respond
What fixes itLet it cool, free space and close heavy apps
How to fix it, step by step
Wipe the screen and dry your hands
Clean the screen with a soft dry cloth, and make sure your fingers are clean and dry. Moisture, oil and dust can confuse the touch layer. Do not spray liquid on the phone.
Remove the case, protector and accessories
Take off the case, any screen guard that is cracked or bubbled, and unplug the charger. A damaged protector is a very common reason for dead touch zones. If touch returns, fit a good quality, thin protector.
Restart, or force restart if it is frozen
Hold the power button and tap Restart if the screen lets you. If not, hold the power button for about ten to fifteen seconds. On many Android phones this works, while on an iPhone the force restart uses a button sequence that depends on the model. Check your model's official steps.
Use the buttons to reach safe settings
If the screen does not respond at all, you can still use volume and power buttons to open the restart menu. On an iPhone, connect it to a computer you trust, or use voice control if it was already set up, to get past the lock screen.
Boot into Safe Mode on Android
Hold the power button, then press and hold Power off on screen if it responds, and choose Safe Mode. Many phones also offer a button combination at startup. If touch works in Safe Mode, a downloaded app is the cause. Uninstall recently added apps one by one.
Update the phone software
Open Settings, then System or General, and look for the software update. Touch bugs are sometimes fixed in updates. Keep at least some free storage, and make sure the battery is above half before updating.
Turn on touch sensitivity if your phone offers it
Some Android phones have a screen protector mode or touch sensitivity switch in Display settings. Turn it on if you use a thick guard. The name differs by brand, so search the settings for touch.
Back up and reset only as a last software step
If touch fails only inside a heavy app and also the phone is slow, a factory reset may help, but it erases data. Back up first. If the screen is cracked, wet or hurt by a fall, skip the reset because it will not fix hardware.
Is it software or hardware
A simple test sorts the two. If the phone works fine in Safe Mode, or the touch works at the start and then stops after a few minutes, it is mostly software or heat. If the touch is dead in one fixed area, if you see cracks or colour lines, or if the problem began after a fall or water, it is hardware.
After a drop your screen looks perfect, yet the bottom third ignores taps, and the keyboard cannot be typed on. The display layer was hurt even though the glass is unbroken, so a replacement is the usual answer.
Phone touch not working on iPhone, Android and iPad
The steps are alike on all of them. On iPhone and iPad, a dirty screen or a bad case is common, and updates through a computer can help when you cannot touch the screen. On Android there is more variety in brands, so use the settings search for touch and screen protector options. A tablet or iPad that responds to a stylus but not to fingers hints at the finger layer, which a shop must test. Laptops with touch screens use a different driver fix, covered in laptop screen not working.
Ghost touch and slow touch
If the phone opens apps or types by itself, first remove the charger and the case. Then clean the screen and restart. A bent frame or a damaged display can also create phantom taps. If it happens even on battery with the case off, it is a display fault. For slow or lagging touch, also see phone not working for general speed checks.
When to go to a repair shop and what the cost depends on
Go to a shop if there is physical damage, liquid exposure, dead zones, or if every software step fails. The cost depends on the phone model, whether the glass alone or the whole display unit must be changed, and whether the repair uses original or compatible parts. A phone with a working screen but a wet board will cost more.
Use authorised service while the phone is under warranty, since opening it elsewhere can void the cover. Back up your data first if you can, and never give your lock code or accounts to a stranger. Related: blank display while the phone still runs.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my phone touch not working but the phone is on?
The display can be powered and still lose its touch layer because of dirt, a protector, a software freeze or a damaged panel. Restart and clean first, then check for damage.
How do I fix iPhone touch not working?
Clean the screen, remove the case and protector, and force restart the phone using the steps for your model. Update the software, and visit a service centre if there is damage or water exposure.
Why is my Android touch screen not working in one area?
A dead patch after a fall or pressure is usually a display fault. A thick protector can also cause it, so remove the protector and test.
Can water damage touch and will it recover?
Sometimes touch comes back after the phone dries fully, but liquid can corrode parts later. Switch it off at once and have a technician check it.
How can I unlock my phone if the touch is dead?
Use the buttons to restart, then try a computer connection or voice control that you already set up. Do not use tools that claim to bypass locks. Visit the maker's service centre with proof of ownership.