iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working? Here are 5 Ways to Fix it - DevsJournal (2024)

It has become customary at Apple to come out with a brand new product periodically each year. As promised, Apple finally unveiled the brand new iPhone 13 earlier this year. Just as advertised, the all-new iPhone 13 comes loaded with dozens of new features. As a result, iPhone enthusiasts wasted no time in getting their orders in post the release.

However, with just months into its release, early adopters have already started reporting issues with their iPhone 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max devices. Over the months, multiple users have pointed out a few issues occurring regularly. One of the most commonly reported problems is the iPhone 13 unresponsive screen. The majority of the users have reported their iPhone 13 randomly stops responding despite multiple touches on the screen.

As per the initial reports, users reported that their iPhone 13 fails to respond despite numerous touches. While this comes and goes, it can be a real bummer at times especially during an emergency. In this article, we will walk you through 5 possible fixes to cure those iPhone 13 display issues.

Table of Contents Show

iPhone 13 Touch Screen Issues

Here are some of the persistent areas wherein users have reported an iPhone 13 unresponsive screen.

1. iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working in the Upper Corners

If you look carefully, there are several small apps located in the top corners of an iPhone device. However, the iPhone 13 display issues seem to have made the applications in the top corners unresponsive to the taps.

2. iPhone 13 Swipe up not Working

Bugs seen on iPhone 13 Pro Max/iOS 15 so far:
• Non-functional camera (app opens, camera feed does not)
• iPhone doesn’t wake on touch
• iPhone unlocks but swipe up to open fails (screen unresponsive)
• Mail app freezes
• Watch not recognized

Other than that, it’s great!

— Mikey (@mikeycampbell81) September 29, 2021

Every iPhone user knows that swiping up is an alternate way to unlock their phone instead one doesn’t have a Face ID. However, this too has been an area of concern for many iPhone 13 users.

3. iPhone 13 Tap to Wake not Working

@AppleSupport My brand new iphone 13 pro has problem with “tap to wake”.
Everytime i take the phone from my pocket the function doesn’t work. The screen is unresponsable.
To get back normal i must restart the phone.

— Simone (@Simonefury7) September 28, 2021

Every smartphone has a double-tap feature to wake up the device. Unfortunately, this is one of the areas where users reported the iPhone 13 display issues.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working Issue

Thanks to the Reddit community, we now know that there are dozens of reasons that can be causing the iPhone 13 display issues. While that may be true, there are also several fixes we can implement to solve the iPhone 13 touch screen not working issue. Here are some of the top 5 fixes to solve the iPhone 13 touch screen not working issue

1. Force Restart iPhone 13

One of the easiest and probably the quickest fix to solve the iPhone 13 display issues is to force restart the iPhone. This method also works if your AirDrop is not working on your iPhone 13. To force restart your iPhone 13, use the steps given.

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
  2. Repeat the same drill with the Volume Down button
  3. Now, press and hold the Side button
  4. Hold it until an Apple logo appears on your screen
  5. Now release the Side button

Note that this process can take about 20-30 seconds. DO NOT release Side Button when prompted to Slide Power OFF

iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working? Here are 5 Ways to Fix it - DevsJournal (1)

2. Remove Screen Protector

Irrespective of whether you are an iOS or an Android user, we all tend to have a screen protector on our phones at all times. However, what we fail to understand is that these screen protectors are subject to immense wear and tear due to constant usage.

Over time, this can be the reason why your iPhone 13 screen stopped working. If you are using a screen protector, we recommend you take it off and then try using your iPhone to check if the touches are being recognized and registered.

3. Update your iPhone 13 using iTunes

Running on an outdated version of any smartphone is never a good idea. It doesn’t matter whether you are an Android or an iOS person, you need to be on the constant lookout for updates. In such a case, updating your iPhone 13 to the latest iOS can help do the job.

Since your iPhone 13 is not responding to touch, there is an alternate way of updating your iPhone 13 using iTunes. Here are the steps for the same.

  1. Connect your iPhone 13 to your computer using a USB cable. Ensure that your Mac has a version of MacOS 10.15 or more
  2. Launch iTunes
  3. Now, put your iPhone 13 into recovery mode using the below steps
  4. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
  5. Repeat the same drill with the Volume Down button
  6. Now, press and hold the Side button
  7. Hold it until an Apple logo appears on your screen.
  8. Now release the Side button
  9. Your iPhone is now into Recovery mode
  10. Now, look at the iTunes Window on your PC/laptop/MAC
  11. You will see an option to Update or Restore
iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working? Here are 5 Ways to Fix it - DevsJournal (2)
  1. Choose Update to download the latest iOS version
  2. The computer will automatically download the latest update and will update your iPhone accordingly.

4. Restore iPhone 13 using DFU Mode

In case updating your iPhone 13 using iTunes fails, you can opt to restore your iPhone 13 using the DFU mode.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using the Apple-supplied USB cable
  2. Launch iTunes
  3. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
  4. Repeat the same drill with the Volume Down button
  5. Now, press and hold theSIDEbutton for 10 seconds.
  6. While holding the SIDE button, press and hold the Volume down button for 5 seconds. Release the SIDE button after 5 seconds while holding only the Volume Down button.
  7. Release the Volume down button after 10 seconds. The screen should stay black.
  8. You’re now in DFU mode & there’ll be a popup on the iTunes.
iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working? Here are 5 Ways to Fix it - DevsJournal (3)
  1. Tap OK
  2. Now, follow the instructions to restore your iPhone 13

5. Visit Apple Store

If none of the fixes has worked out for you so far, it means that there is a deep underlying problem in your iPhone 13. In such cases, we advise you to visit your nearest Apple store at once and have your iPhone 13 checked by an expert at once.

Conclusion

Irrespective of whether you are an Android or an iOS person, there are always going to be a few issues every now and then. Before you get to the solutions, you need to know the underlying cause behind the problem. This way, you will be well equipped to deal with the problem in the near future. However, if none of the fixes you have tried out has worked, we strongly recommend you visit your nearest Apple store at once to fix the iPhone 13 unresponsive screen issue.

iPhone 13 Touch Screen not Working? Here are 5 Ways to Fix it - DevsJournal (2024)

FAQs

How do I fix an unresponsive touch screen iPhone 13? ›

Restart your iPhone or iPad. Make sure that your screen is clean and free of any debris or water. Disconnect any Lightning or USB-C accessories. If your screen works after removing an accessory, try using a different outlet, cable, or charger.

How can I fix an unresponsive touch screen? ›

How to Fix a Touch Screen That Isn't Working
  1. Restart the device. ...
  2. Clean the touch screen and screen protector. ...
  3. Dry off your smartphone. ...
  4. Gently tap each corner of the phone. ...
  5. Remove the SIM card, memory cards, and peripherals. ...
  6. Turn on Safe Mode for Android or Windows safe mode. ...
  7. Adjust iPhone 3D Touch sensitivity.
Jun 14, 2023

How do I control unresponsive iPhone screen? ›

Here are the 11 ways to fix the phone screen not responding to touch.
  1. Restart Your Phone. ...
  2. Remove the Screen Protector or Case. ...
  3. Dry out Your Cell Phone. ...
  4. Upgrade Your Operating System. ...
  5. Remove the SIM Card. ...
  6. Optimize Device Performance. ...
  7. Adjust Touch Sensitivity. ...
  8. Turn Off Special Feature or Developer Mode.

How do I fix unresponsive iPhone screen after hard reset? ›

Screen won't respond, even after reset
  1. If you have a case or screen protector on your device, try removing it.
  2. Clean the screen with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.
  3. Unplug your device.
  4. Restart your device. If you can't restart, reset your device.
Jan 29, 2015

What does it mean when a touch screen is unresponsive? ›

An unresponsive touchscreen can happen due to software errors or accidental misalignment. Most Android devices have a calibration option in the settings to recalibrate the touch screen. Although recent smartphones rarely need calibration.

What is the likely cause of a touchscreen not responding to touch? ›

A smartphone touchscreen can become unresponsive for several reasons. For example, a brief hiccup in your phone's system could render it unresponsive; a screen may also become unresponsive after incurring water damage. Other factors may include debris, app glitches and viruses.

How do I use my phone when the screen isnt working? ›

When you can't have any operation on your broken phone screen, you may try to connect your phone to an external monitor using an HDMI adapter. You can mirror your phone to a TV or PC in this way. This will mirror your phone's screen onto the monitor, allowing you to navigate through your phone.

Why is my iPhone not responding to touch or won't turn off? ›

The most likely reasons why your iPhone won't turn off are: It's frozen due to software problems. The Sleep/Wake button is broken. The screen is broken and isn't responding to taps.

Why does my iPhone screen freeze and won't respond to touch? ›

There are five main reasons why your iPhone may be freezing or unresponsive: Your iPhone needs to be restarted. Your battery is low. Your iPhone is running out of storage space.

Why does my phone suddenly stop working? ›

There are several possible reasons why your phone won't turn on, from battery failure to software issues. But most times you can narrow it down to a few common problems, including: A drained battery. Your phone may be unresponsive because the battery is dead.

How do I force restart my iPhone 13? ›

If for "hard reset" you mean a "forced restart" of an iPhone 13, use these gestures: Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side (power) button.

Why is my phone pressing itself? ›

Touchscreen Issues: The most common reason for unintentional clicks or taps is a malfunctioning touchscreen. It could be due to physical damage, a manufacturing defect, or issues with the touch-sensitive layer.

Can a broken touch screen be fixed? ›

If you've cracked your screen, there are a handful of options for fixing it: Use a manufacturer or extended warranty to get the device screen replaced. Ask your mobile carrier to repair it. Bring it to the nearest phone repair shop.

How do I reset my touch screen on Windows? ›

To get started, open the Control Panel and select Tablet PC Settings. If you do not see the option, ensure View by is selected to Large or Small Icons. 2. Or, hit the Windows key and type: calibrate and select the “Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input” result at the top.

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