How to Fix Ghost Touch on iPhone or iPad?
When your iPhone or iPad begins to perform touchscreen activities on its own, this is referred to as “ghost touch.”
The screen responds to invisible physical touches, and apps launch without your intervention. You may also notice automatic typing on the screen, which is known as ghost typing.
Surprisingly, such unusual behaviors can be annoying.
While a ghost touch on an iPhone may necessitate taking your device to an Apple service center, there are a few quick fixes you can try first.
Cleaning the iPhone or iPad’s touchscreen or performing a factory reset are all options.
Common Symptoms of Ghost Touch
iPad or iPhone ghost touch can be seen in a variety of ways, however the following are some commonly occurring symptoms:
- Random screen touches or swipes without your input.
- Unresponsive touchscreen regions, even when you tap or slide.
- Apps launching and shutting without your intervention.
- Flickering or glitchy screen behavior.
Now that you understand what ghost touch is and how it might harm your device, let’s get started on the reasons behind it and how to stop ghost touch on your iPhone or iPad.
What Are the Options for Dealing with the Ghost Touch?
The “ghost touch” issue is especially common in older iPhone and iPad models.
Apple confirmed in 2018 that certain issues with the iPhone X’s touchscreen had been discovered. It went on to say that affected customers would get free repairs.
In addition to the iPhone X ghost touch problem, some customers have also reported ghost touch issues with iPad mini devices. However, online reviews and complaints indicate that the ghost touch issue also affects other iPhone models.
Not only does it include the iPhone X, but also the iPhone XR, iPhone 8, 7, 6, and 5. In other words, “ghost touch” is a rare occurrence that can affect nearly any model.
The Possible Reasons for Ghost Touch or Ghost Typing
Knowing what causes ghost touch on your iPhone can help you not only solve the problem if it occurs but also take better care of your device and prevent it from happening again in the future.
Problems with Software
Device OS is in charge of converting touchscreen touches on the iPhone into operating system actions. A ghost touch may occur when there are sophisticated system errors in the software system.
In some cases, the ghost touch problem is minor and only requires a restart, but in others, it can be more serious, necessitating an upgrade to the operating system or restoring the iPhone to factory default settings.
Related: 12 Fixes You Can Do If Your iPhone Flashlight Is Not Working
Disruption from a Screen Protector
A ghost touch can occur when a particle of dirt becomes trapped between the screen protector and the phone.
As long as the dirt particle is present, this will continue to cause disturbance in touch input, and you may notice a ghost touch on the screen.
This can also be done by a screen protector that is not precisely positioned on an iOS device’s screen.
Touchscreens That Are Dirty or Wet
Touches are detected by your iPhone due to a shift in the electrical field that travels across the screen.
You may encounter the iPhone ghost touch problem if there are elements on your screen that could change this field.
This is most likely if you’re using your phone with liquid on it or if your hands are wet. Dry residue and dust on the touchscreen can also cause this.
Hardware Problems
When there is a problem with an iPhone’s screen, the most serious source of the ghost touch glitch is a broken screen.
Physical damage to your iPhone, such as a fall or water damage, may result in ghost touch issues. In these cases, it is recommended that you take your device to an Apple Store or a third-party repair provider.
Ambient Temperature
Heat causes electromagnetic interference, which is a major cause of ghost touch on an iPhone’s touchscreen.
If the device becomes too hot or is used in an area with a high ambient temperature, the ghost touch problem may occur.
Inadequately Sized Protection Case
A poorly designed phone cover may cause your iPhone to ghost-touch itself for a variety of reasons.
When hard protection cases are improperly fitted, they make firm contact with portions of the screen rather than sticking to the bezels.
Second, a tight case, especially one made of hard materials, can exert enough pressure on an iPhone to bend the screen or the entire phone slightly.
In this case, the minor distortion may cause the touch panel to bend, resulting in erroneous unwanted touches.
How to Fix Ghost Touch on iPhone?
We’ll go over some of the most effective methods for resolving ghost touch issues on iPhones and iPads.
We have focused this article specifically on iPhone users, even though these solutions can be applied to fix iPad ghost touch as well.
However, the troubleshooting procedure can be applied to other Apple devices such as iPods. The solutions may be used on other touch devices, such as Android smartphones, in addition to Apple devices.
To resolve the iPhone ghost touch issue, remove anything that may have harmed the screen, such as dirt and moisture, a screen protector, or a tight case. A simple restart or a complete factory reset can resolve software issues.
Troubleshooting methods range from the most basic to the most complex. Have to get this ready and try it out when you face the ghost touch problem in your iPhone or other devices.
1. Remove the Screen Protector
Screen protectors are thin glass coatings that can be applied to the iPhone’s touchscreen to protect it.
While they are frequently beneficial, a low-quality screen protector can cause the touchscreen to malfunction on occasion.
The iPhone’s screen protector can cause unpredictable touchscreen behavior, and in some cases, removing it can resolve ghost touch issues. As a result, you should consider removing it, as doing so may prevent ghost touch occurrences.
Remove the screen protector from your iPhone slowly and gently. Begin by removing the screen protector from one corner of the iPhone.
Because it’s glass, moving too quickly may cause it to shatter and injure you. If the screen protector is broken or damaged in any way, you should probably take your phone to a reputable repair shop (or to Apple).
You should also try contacting the manufacturer of the protective screen. This manufacturer may be able to advise you on the best way to remove the protection.
After removing the screen protector, use a microfiber cloth to clean the exposed phone screen to see if the ghost touch has been resolved.
In this context, we would like to emphasize the importance of using high-quality screen protectors for your iPhone, such as the Ailun Glass Screen Protector (available on Amazon).
2. The Touchscreen Should Be Kept Dirt-Free
While cleaning your device’s touchscreen is simple, it can be an effective barrier against ghost touch. This will clear away any dirt or dust that may be obstructing the iPhone’s or iPad’s ability to detect your touch activities.
Because of the sensitivity of displays, it is critical to keep them as clean as possible for optimal performance. Before cleaning the touchscreen on your iPhone, turn it off and unplug all of its cords.
Use a soft, clean (i.e. lint-free) cloth, such as a lens cleaning cloth. A good one for this purpose is the MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, which is available on Amazon.
Warm water should be used to dampen this fabric lightly. Finally, clean the touchscreen by wiping it softly but firmly from one end to the other.
While wiping, take care not to get moisture into any holes. If any liquid remnants on the iPhone screen have dried and formed a residue, you will need to wipe them down more thoroughly.
Apple also warns against using window or home cleaners, as well as cleaners that contain abrasives or hydrogen peroxide. If you do, you must exercise extreme caution because they may damage the screen’s unique coating.
3. Test to Use the Device Without Any Case
As previously stated, a tight-fitting case, particularly when it squeezes at specific parts of the iPhone, can be a source of iPhone ghost touches.
One of the possible causes of the iPhone ghost touch is a slightly twisted screen. If your device has a temporarily twisted screen, removing the hard case that came with it may be able to fix the problem.
Because the hard case could be twisting the screen, you should try removing it and seeing what happens.
Of course, a properly fitted hard case will protect your phone from a high-altitude fall or other mechanical impacts. However, if it is not completely suitable, it may hurt the device.
Some iPhone owners have reported on internet forums that they discovered a significant bend in their phone after dropping it with a hardback cover.
As a result, if your iPhone has a hard case, it is worthwhile to try to remove it if it is not a proper one.
4. Reboot the iPad or iPhone
If you’re experiencing minor software malfunctions or glitches, it’s best to restart your iPhone. This will resolve any issues and restore your device to normal operation.
It’s always a good idea to restart your device when it’s having problems. This also applies to the ghost touch problem, as clearing your Apple device’s temporary memory may resolve any glitches that are causing the issue.
Follow these instructions to restart your iPhone or iPad:
Hold down the Top (or Side) button until the slide to turn off slider appears.
To turn off the power, swipe to the right of the power off slider.
After the device has been turned off, press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the Apple logo displays.
5. Force Restart of iPhone or iPad
If you can’t move the slider due to ghost touch issues, you can force a restart instead. You can force restart your iPhone or iPad, which is similar to rebooting but far more severe.
You should do this if your device’s ghost touch problem is so severe that you can’t use it properly. This is because a force restart works even if your iPhone’s touch screen isn’t responsive.
To force an iPhone or iPad to restart, follow these steps:
Hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time.
When the Apple logo displays, release both keys.
6. Update iOS or iPad OS
If ghost touch persists, your device’s operating system should be updated. It is always recommended that you keep your operating system up to date.
This is one method for dealing with the ghost touch problem on your iPhone. This is significant because a ghost touch could be the result of a software flaw.
To upgrade the operating system on your iPhone or iPad, do the following:
Open the Settings menu.
Select the General option.
Press the Software Update button.
Choose Download and Install (if you haven’t downloaded the update) or Install (if you’ve already downloaded the update).
7. Calibrating Touch Screen through Accessibility Settings
If you have an iPhone that supports 3D Touch, changing the sensitivity may assist with ghost touch issues.
Go to Settings, then Accessibility, and finally Touch.
You may then modify the sensitivity of 3D Touch by moving the bar to your desired level.
You may adjust the touch screen sensitivity on iPads and iPhones without 3D Touch.
Go to Settings, then Accessibility, and finally Touch Accommodations.
You may then activate Touch Accommodations and fine-tune the sensitivity to find what works best for you.
You should be able to exorcise the ghost touch from your iPhone or iPad by following these procedures.
8. Reset the Device to Factory Defaults
If restarting and updating software haven’t resolved your device’s ghost touch problem, you should try a factory reset. If you perform a factory reset, all of your iPhone’s settings and data will be erased, so make a backup.
This is an excellent method for removing any underlying software issues that may be causing ghost touch. We’d like to remind you that before performing a factory reset, you should make a backup of your device because this will erase all of your saved data.
To restore your iPhone’s factory settings, take these steps:
Open the Settings menu.
Select the General option.
Reset may be found by scrolling down and tapping the Reset button.
Select Erase All Content and Settings from the menu.
Erase is tapped.
After you’ve done the factory reset, you’ll have to go through the setup process again. From this screen, you can choose to restore your iPhone or iPad from a previously saved backup.
9. Recover iPad or iPhone
Recovery mode is an excellent method for resolving any issues with an iPhone that make it difficult or impossible to use. While in recovery mode, you can update and restore iOS, which is useful.
If a simple force restart doesn’t work, try entering Recovery Mode and reinstalling the operating system on your iPhone or iPad.
Again, only do this if a ghost touch prevents you from properly upgrading your iPhone software or if you are unable to reset all of your iPhone’s settings normally. If possible, you should update or reset your settings normally because it is easier.
Fixing your device in recovery mode can be difficult if you’re unfamiliar with it, so we’ve outlined all of the steps you’ll need to take.
To enter Recovery Mode, do the following. Here you can reset your iPhone without using the touch screen.
Open iTunes after connecting the iPhone to a computer.
Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Hold the Side button until you get the Recovery Mode screen.
“There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored,” iTunes will say while you’re in Recovery Mode. If the option is available, select Update or Restore.
Note: All of your data will be erased if you restore your iPhone from Recovery Mode. As a result, before beginning the recovery process, you should make a backup of your iPhone.
10. Contact Apple Support
Make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store if you’re still experiencing ghost touch on your iPhone. That’s because you’ve exhausted all software solutions, and the iPhone ghost touch is usually caused by a hardware problem.
Some owners have speculated that the issue could be due to faulty display construction or touchscreen seating.
You should not disassemble your iPhone and attempt to solve such problems unless you have extensive knowledge. As a result, it’s far safer to contact Apple Support and set up an appointment.
Related: 9 Actionable Tips on AirPods Microphone Not Working Issue
Summary
You can remove the ghost touch from your iPhone or ghost touch on your iPad by following the above solutions. While some solutions are simple and can be completed in a matter of seconds, others may necessitate software modifications, which can take time.
In the worst-case scenario, you could be dealing with a hardware problem. These can also be fixed, but you’ll have to delegate responsibility to someone else, such as Apple’s authorized support team.
A clean display or rebooting your device may be all that is needed to resolve the ghost touch issue on your iPhone, among other things. On occasion, you may need to perform a factory reset or replace the display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ghost touch can be fixed?
In most cases, ghost touch can be resolved by performing simple tasks such as cleaning the screen or rebooting the device. If the problem is caused by a serious hardware issue, you must contact the service center.
What causes ghost touching on iPhone?
A faulty display or damaged screen components are the main possible causes of a ghost touch iPhone. Minor software bugs can also cause the iPad or iPhone to ghost touch.
Will updating my iOS fix the iPhone ghost-touching problem?
In certain circumstances, updating to the most recent version of iOS might address ghost touch problems. Bug fixes and improvements for touch screens are frequently included in software upgrades. It is advised that you check for and install iOS updates frequently to guarantee maximum performance.
Can I fix the ghost touch on my iPhone or iPad by myself?
Yes, you may address many ghost touch issues on your own by following the troubleshooting procedures outlined in this article. However, if the problem persists or you are unsure how to proceed, it is best to get expert assistance from an authorized repair facility or Apple Store.
How can I prevent future ghost touch problems?
To minimize future ghost touch complications, treat your smartphone gently, avoid exposing it to intense heat or moisture, and apply a high-quality screen protector. Cleaning your touch screen regularly and keeping your smartphone updated with the newest iOS version might also assist in preventing ghost touch difficulties.
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