How to Fix Unresponsive Touch Screen on Android

To have an Android phone and not be able to use it due to the touch screen not working is a disaster. Yes! No matter how advanced and expensive your phone is, it’s going to be useless. Well, there is still hope.

If your phone stops responding to any taps or slides, we’ve prepared a few solutions for you. So, tune in to learn how to fix unresponsive touch screen on Android yourself.

FYI: What Causes Unresponsive Touch Screen on Android

There are many possible causes why the touch screen is not working on Android phones. And before you go fixing the issue. You need to examine them first so you’d know the next steps to follow. These are the most common causes:

Software Glitch

Android systems and software vary from one brand to another all the time. Manufacturers have the freedom to customize and give their own system updates. Sometimes, these can cause glitches and bugs like the “touch screen not working” issue and many more. But more often than not, if software is the culprit, it’s easy to fix.

SIM/MicroSD Card

On rare occasions, inserting a SIM or a microSD card while your phone’s screen is awake can cause it to stop working. It just freezes right off the bat. Sometimes, the screen may even become unresponsive if the MicroSD card is corrupted.

Damaged Hardware

If your phone fell into the water, there’s a high chance it could damage the cable inside the display. Water damage could cause smartphone hardware to malfunction, especially if the device doesn’t have a water resistance rating.

Another factor would be if the phone dropped onto a solid concrete floor. It could damage a part of the screen, which may eventually paralyze the entire display

Method 1: Restart the Phone to Fix Touch Screen Not Working

In case the issue is caused by a minor glitch, like your phone’s screen just suddenly goes unresponsive, a restart should fix it. Doing a restart will refresh the system and get rid of bugs and errors. But how can you restart the phone if the screen doesn’t work? That’s simple:

Step 1

While the screen is awake, hold the Volume Down and the Power key for 10-15 seconds. Then, release them when you see the phone’s logo and model on the screen.

Step 2

Wait for the phone to completely boot up. When it does, touch the screen and see if it responds

Method 2: Update Android to Fix Unresponsive Touch Screen

If the issue is deeply rooted in your phone’s Android version or the last update on your device, the only option is to update it. It’s the manufacturer’s fault, not yours. Typically, they would send out bug fixes and patches to resolve the issue.

You can bring your phone to their service center to let them do the update if the phone is still within the warranty period. Or you may do it yourself using an OTG adapter and a wired/wireless mouse.

Step 1

Connect the OTG adapter to your Android phone’s USB port. Then, link your mouse to the adapter. The phone should detect the mouse shortly after and you will see a cursor/arrow on the screen.

Step 2

Next, use the mouse to connect the phone to a mobile network or WIFI. When connected, navigate your way to Settings and then to Software Update.

There, tap Update. The phone will check whether there’s an available one. Download and install it if there’s one.

Method 3: Factory Reset Android to Fix Touch Screen Not Working

If an update is not available, your last resort to fix the software glitch that’s causing the screen to stop working is a factory reset. This process involves erasing all your phone’s data and restoring the device to factory settings before the issue occurred.

Since the touch screen doesn’t work, you will do this via Recovery Mode. This may not work for all Android phones, but it’s worth a shot.

Step 1

Hold the Power button until your phone reboots. Then, hold the Volume Down button until you see a logo on the screen. The Recovery Mode menu should appear momentarily.

Step 2

In there, use the Volume buttons to navigate the list and the Power key to select. Choose Wipe Data/Factory Reset. Then, confirm Factory Data Reset. The process will commence right after.

Step 2

When you see that the process is complete, select Reboot System Now to restart the device. Then, check if the reset fixed the issue.

Method 4: Remove SIM/MicroSD Card to Fix Touch Screen Not Working

If you’ve inserted a SIM or a MicroSD Card while your phone is powered on and the touch screen stops working, immediately remove it. The screen should stop freezing after the removal. S

Now, if you really need to use the SIM and MicroSD, you should turn off your phone first before inserting either of them. But if the MicroSD card is corrupted and doesn’t really read on your phone or any other device, it’s best not to use it anymore.

Method 5: Go to Trusted Service Center to Fix Unresponsive Touch Screen

Well, if it’s caused by hardware damage, there’s really nothing you can do on your own unless you are a smartphone technician. So, go to an independent repair shop near you or to an official service center of your phone’s brand.

They can professionally troubleshoot the problem and diagnose the exact cause of why your phone’s touch screen is not working. They can replace the screen with a brand new one or repair flexed cables inside your phone.

And if the issue is software in origin, the technician has the expertise to reprogram your phone and make sure that it doesn’t occur again. They have more formidable and high-end tools that could surely help your case.

So, don’t be afraid to reach out. Just make sure that you have a few bucks to spare if your phone is not under insurance or warranty. Typically, the cost ranges from 100 to 300 USD.

Conclusion

There’s nothing more frustrating to any phone user than a touch screen not working. If this is happening to you, we are glad to inform you it’s certainly not the end of the world for your device. So, try out the methods above and see if they can fix your Android phone. It wouldn’t hurt to check them, would it?