How to Fix an Unresponsive Phone or Tablet Touch Screen

Touch screens have completely redefined mobile technology. Tasks that used to be impossible can now be done with the swipe of a finger.

Unfortunately, like any electronic component, touch screens can malfunction from time to time, for a variety of reasons.

Wondering what to do if your touch screen stops working? Don’t panic! Here are 5 ways to fix a broken touch screen.

1. Restart your device

The number one trick for fixing an unresponsive touch screen on an iPhone, Samsung or any other Android device is to force it to restart. Like most small bugs that occur on mobile devices, most touch screen problems can be resolved by restarting.

To restart your phone or tablet, hold down the power button until a menu appears. Then, follow the instructions to restart the device.

2. Clean the screen

If restarting doesn’t fix the problem, it may be because the touch screen is dirty and needs cleaning. Touch screens work best when they are very clean. Accumulated dust and fingerprints on a screen can make it unresponsive.

Take the time to thoroughly clean your device’s screen and case. The ideal tool for the task is a microfibre cloth, which is soft and won’t scratch the screen. If you have a screen protector, make sure it’s clean as well.

To prevent this problem from happening in the future, try to remember to wash your hands before using your devices.

3. Make sure your phone or tablet is completely dry

In addition to dirt, dust and grease, water and moisture can also cause your screen to stop working. If you think the problem might be caused by exposure to moisture, try the following:

First, place your phone or tablet in a dry place. Remove the case and screen protector so that as much of the device as possible is exposed to the air. Then, gently shake the device to try to get any water out of the headphone and charging ports. Finally, wipe the device down with a dry cloth.

Caution: do not put your phone or tablet in rice if it falls in water. Although this trick was popular for several years, it has been proven that it only draws a very small amount of water out of the device while introducing unwanted dirt and debris.  

4. Remove the SIM card and all connected accessories

In some cases, overusing your phone or tablet can cause the system to overheat, affecting the screen’s performance. To fix a touch screen that’s not working, turn off your device, then remove the SIM card and SD card. Unplug it from all chargers, USB cables and other mobile phone accessories.

Then, turn the device back on to see whether the problem was in fact caused by the SIM card. If so, try giving your phone a break for a bit before plugging the cards and accessories back in.

5. Activate safe mode

Our last solution for fixing a touch screen that’s not working is to activate safe mode. Available on most mobile devices, safe mode is a function that restarts the device without running any third-party applications.

By restarting the phone or tablet with only the essential applications running, you can determine whether one of the third-party applications is responsible for the screen problem.

Here’s how to active safe mode on different brands of phones:

• When an iPhone touch screen is not responding:
  • Turn off the iPhone.
  • Press the power button and volume up button simultaneously.
  • When the phone turns on, let go of the power button but keep holding down the volume up button for around 20 seconds.
  • Then, let go of the volume up button and wait for the home screen to appear. The iPhone will be in safe mode.
• When the touch screen on an Android device is not responding:
  • Hold down the power button until the menu appears.
  • Press and hold the power off icon. A safe mode icon will appear.
  • Press the icon to restart the Android device in safe mode.

Phone or tablet still not working? Find your next device at Recycell

If the touch screen on your device stops working, one of these 5 tips may well help you fix it without having to take it to a technician. Unfortunately, devices can sometimes be so badly damaged that they cannot be repaired.

If that’s the case and you find yourself in need of a new device, Recycell has a wide selection of used cell phones. You’re bound to find one that suits your needs perfectly.

Check out our online cell phone store to find one that’s right for you!