Falls Technology ServicesWhen a touch screen stops responding, it's either the phone's software freezing or the touch layer of the screen itself. A few checks tell you which.
Try this first
- Clean the screen and dry your hands: water, grease and gloves all confuse a touch screen
- Take off the case and screen protector. A cracked or lifted protector often causes dead spots
- Force a restart (on an iPhone: press volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. On most Android phones: hold power and volume down for about 10 seconds)
- Unplug the charger and try again. A cheap or damaged charger can cause jumpy or ghost touches
- Install any waiting system update once it responds
Signs it's the screen
- Only one area of the screen doesn't respond, always in the same place
- It started after a drop, even with no visible crack
- The phone taps or types things by itself
- Lines, colored patches or a green tint on the display
Meanwhile
Back up the phone while it still works partly: plug it into a computer, or turn on the phone's cloud backup.
When to call us
If restarting and removing the protector don't help, the screen usually needs replacing. We find the right part for your model, tell you the price before ordering, and fit it. If a repair isn't worth it on an older phone, we say so.
General self-help steps in plain English, checked when we wrote them. Try only what you're comfortable with: if you're unsure, or something smells hot, sparks or swells, stop and call a technician. This isn't professional advice for your exact device. See our website terms.
Need a hand?
More about our phone and tablet repair help. Or tell us what's going on and we'll tell you what it takes before we start.
Send us a message or call (208) 745-2981, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.