The iPhone was one of the first devices to feature multi-touch. And while these touchscreens have completely changed the way we use our phones, they are not without flaws. Display problems often occur, whether the iPhone screen dims automatically or the touch screen starts to malfunction. Ghost touch on iPhone is another known issue of this kind.
What is ghost touch on iPhone?
As the name suggests, ghost touch is when your iPhone’s screen starts working on its own. The screen, as it were, reacts to non-existent touches, and the application starts working without your participation. Ghost touches are annoying and may require your iPhone to be repaired by Apple. However, before you try to fix things quickly, you should first understand what causes ghost touch on iPhone.
Causes of Ghost Touch on iPhone
- Replacing or Removing the Touch Screen During Repair
Usually, if the touch screens were replaced or removed during a repair, you may experience problems with screen sensitivity and phantom touch.
- Manufacturing defects
Ghost touch can sometimes be the result of a manufacturing error. Back office and supply chain implications, industrial automation, data analytics, and other areas of manufacturing/logistics departments may be responsible for such failures. Programming errors can even sabotage all programming processing. Therefore, an incorrect installation of the program may be to blame.
- Hardware problems
Ghost touch can also be caused by a hardware issue. To check for hardware issues on your iPhone, launch Settings → select Privacy & Security (iOS16) or Privacy (iOS 15 or earlier) → Analytics & Improvements → Analytics Data. There may be a list of error logs.
- Software issues
A glitch in software, such as an iOS 16 update, is a common cause of ghost touch. If there is a bug in the update, it can affect the sensitivity of the screen and you may end up with a very annoying ghost touch.
Which iPhones are affected by ghost touch?
In November 2018, Apple acknowledged that some iPhone X models had touchscreen issues. Even though this is an old issue, some iOS 16 users on iPhone X brought it up in 2022 as well. Apple has not publicly acknowledged the iPhone’s phantom touch issue, but investigations and online complaints have proven that other models have also been affected. Below is a list of models that are rumored to have this screen glitch:
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 8
- iphone xs
- iPhone xp
- iphone 11
- iphone 12
- iPhone 13
Note. iPhone Ghost Touch can sometimes occur on any iPhone.
How to Get Rid of an iPhone Touch Screen
Here are 10 workarounds to fix ghost touch on iPhone. Let’s start!
1. Check the accessibility settings on your iPhone.
Accessibility settings can affect how you touch your iPhone. You may have inadvertently activated touch accommodation, assistive touch, assistive touch, or even a feature that recognizes taps on the back of your phone. To set these options:
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch Screen.
- Now turn these four options on or off to your liking: assistive touch, touch fixture, reverse touch, or haptic touch.
2. Restart your iPhone
You can always try restarting your smartphone if you have iPhone screen glitch issues. Since restarting always refreshes your devices, it also fixes any ghost screen issues that may have been caused by apps. Follow the instructions given in our detailed guide to reset your iPhone.
3. Stop using third party accessories
Some third-party charging cables, headphone jack adapters, battery charging cases, and other accessories may cause strange screen movements. If you only experience ghost touch when a physical peripheral is connected, the accessory is most likely to blame. Therefore, it is recommended that you use Apple-certified accessories and check if the issue is resolved.
4. Clear the screen
You may think that this is just a stupid step, but you have no idea how effective it can be. To start screen cleaning on your iPhone, make sure all external peripherals are disabled. Now wipe the screen with a soft cloth. Lint-free wipes and screen cleaning sprays are preferred.
5. Update iOS to the latest version.
Your iPhone may experience compatibility issues if you are using an older version of iOS. Your existing iOS may have some bugs that can cause phantom touch issues on your iPhone. To fix iPhone screen crash, you can update iOS to the latest version by following the steps given in our detailed guide.
6. Update apps in the App Store
iPhone ghost touch issue can be caused by outdated apps. It would be better if you update outdated apps in the Apple Store to fix them. You may have multiple applications waiting for updates if automatic updates are not enabled. Read the following article for details on how to update an app on iPhone or iPad.
7. Remove or replace the protective film on your iPhone.
Screen protectors are very thin sheets of glass or plastic that are used to protect the iPhone screen from damage. While they are often beneficial, they can sometimes interfere with your touch screen. Be careful not to scratch your iPhone’s screen when removing the protective film from your phone.
8. Reset iPhone
If you feel like the ghost touch issue is related to the settings you’ve recently tweaked, you can always revert to your iPhone’s default settings. To restore the default settings, you need to follow these steps:
- Launch “Settings”→ “General”.
- Go to Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings.
9. Do a factory reset
This is the last resort if you are still experiencing phantom touch errors on your iPhone. You can try to factory reset your smartphone to fix iPhone screen glitch issue. I advise you to backup your iPhone before proceeding because this step will delete the device data. Please see our guide on how to factory reset iPhone and iPad for detailed instructions.
10. Contact Apple Support
Well, if none of the above measures work for you, there is always Apple support. You may be able to get a free screen replacement, depending on your iPhone model and warranty. For help, you can contact Apple Support directly or go to your nearest Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Note. If you have an iPhone X or iPhone 11 manufactured between November 2019 and May 2020, Apple will replace your iPhone’s screen for free.
Completion…
Please let us know in the comments section if you encounter any other issues with your device. I will try to answer as soon as possible. Be sure to read other articles as well. Below is a list of a few topics that you may be interested in.