What should I do if an iPhone screen will not take any touch input?
Answer
When an iPhone still shows the lock screen or notifications but ignores every tap, it is usually frozen. A force restart often restores touch without erasing data. If that fails, connect the phone to a computer with a data cable and use Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes to check whether the computer can see it.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- A full restore erases the iPhone. Confirm you understand what will be lost before choosing Erase or Restore.
Follow these steps
Try a force restart
Quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. Ignore any Slide to power off screen if it briefly appears.
You should see: The Apple logo appears and the phone finishes restarting.
Test touch after restart
When the lock screen returns, try unlocking with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, then open an app and move between screens.
You should see: Touches register normally again.
Connect to a computer if it is still frozen
Use a cable that supports data, not charge-only. On a Mac with recent macOS, open Finder or the Apple Devices app; on a PC, open Apple Devices or iTunes, then see whether the iPhone appears.
You should see: The computer detects the iPhone or shows a trust prompt.
Update or restore only through official software
If the computer can see the phone and touch is still dead, follow Apple's on-screen recovery or restore path in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes. Stop if anything asks you to delete data for a fee or install unknown software.
You should see: You either update iOS successfully or clearly understand that a restore will erase the phone.
Seek hardware help if nothing responds
If force restart fails and the computer never detects the phone, contact Apple Support or an authorized service provider and describe the unresponsive touch while charging.
You should see: You have a repair or diagnostic path without using unofficial unlock tools.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Whether the clock, battery percentage, or notifications still update, and whether the Side and Volume buttons still affect the screen at all.
Before you change anything: Note your iPhone model if you can see it on the case or packaging. If you have a recent iCloud or computer backup, confirm it exists before any restore. Use only Apple's force-restart method for your button layout. Never share your Apple ID password or verification codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.