Android Touchscreen Not Responding? 5 Fixes to Try

You tap and nothing happens. Or the screen reacts in the wrong place, or starts pressing things by itself. A misbehaving touchscreen makes a phone almost unusable.

Before assuming the screen is broken, work through these. A surprising number of touch problems are caused by software, a screen protector or even the charger.

Before you start: Android menus vary a little between phone makers. The steps below use Google Pixel / standard Android names, with Samsung Galaxy differences noted. If you can't find a setting, tap the search bar at the top of Settings and type its name.

Fix an unresponsive screen: the 5 steps at a glance

How to fix an unresponsive screen on Android

Step 1: Force a restart

Where: Hold Power + Volume Down for 10 seconds

If the screen won't respond at all, you can't tap ‘Restart’, so use the buttons. On most phones, including Samsung, hold Power and Volume Down together for 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes black and the logo appears. On Pixel phones, hold Power and Volume Up (or just Power on older models) for up to 30 seconds. This is safe and doesn't delete anything.

Step 2: Clean the screen and your hands

Where: Soft cloth › dry hands

Touchscreens detect the tiny electrical charge in your fingertip, and water, sweat, grease and hand cream get in the way. Wipe the screen with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry it, and dry your hands. Screens also struggle in rain and with very cold or dry fingers. If it only misbehaves in those conditions, the phone is fine.

Step 3: Check the screen protector and case

Where: Settings › Display › Screen protector mode
Samsung: Settings › Display › Touch sensitivity

A thick, cheap or badly fitted screen protector is a very common cause, especially if it has air bubbles or is lifting at the edges. Turn on Screen protector mode in Settings › Display (Samsung: Touch sensitivity), which makes the screen more responsive through glass. If that doesn't help, peel the protector off to test. A tight case pressing on the screen edges can cause phantom touches too.

Step 4: Unplug the charger

Where: Unplug › test again

If the screen goes haywire only while charging (tapping by itself, jumping about or ignoring you), the charger or cable is almost certainly the cause. Poor-quality chargers put electrical noise onto the screen. Unplug it and see if the problem stops. If it does, replace the charger and cable with good-quality ones. See our guide to charging problems.

Step 5: Test in Safe mode, then update

Where: Hold Power › long-press Power off › Safe mode

Restart in Safe mode: hold Power, then long-press Power off and tap OK. This switches off every app you've installed. If touch behaves normally there, an app is to blame. Uninstall recent ones, especially anything that draws over the screen. Then check Settings › System › Software updates. If it still fails in Safe mode, or the screen is cracked, it needs a repair.

Pro tip

💡 Samsung owners can test every part of the screen: open Samsung Members › Support › Phone diagnostics › Touch screen and drag your finger over each square.

FAQ

What are ghost touches?

The screen registering taps you didn't make. Common causes are a faulty charger, moisture, a damaged screen protector or, less often, a failing screen.

Can a cracked screen stop touch working?

Yes. Even a hairline crack can damage the touch layer. It often gets worse over time, so back up while you still can.

How do I back up if the screen doesn't work?

If backup was already on, your data is safe in your Google account. You can also plug in a USB mouse with a USB-C adapter to control the phone.

The bottom line

Force a restart, wipe the screen and unplug the charger. Those three sort most touch problems. If it still plays up in Safe mode, it's time for a repair shop, and a backup first.