8 ways to fix touch screen problems on Android

Is your Android phone acting up like it wants it to - opening random apps, typing gibberish, or making phantom calls? You might be experiencing an annoying problem called touch sensitivity.

Touch sensitivity occurs when your phone's screen responds to unwanted inputs or taps that you didn't make, or when certain parts of the screen don't respond to your touch. Since there's no definitive cause or solution for touch sensitivity, you'll need to use trial and error by trying each of the troubleshooting steps below.

1. Replace the phone charger

Surprisingly, touch screen glitches often occur when the phone is plugged into a power source. This is especially likely if you use a low-quality charger or cable. Using a poor quality charging accessory can affect the display digitizer – the layer responsible for reading touch signals – leading to erratic behavior.

To check if the problem is caused by the charger, use a different charger and cable and see if that helps. If the charger or cable is the problem, replace it with an original charger or cable from the phone manufacturer.

2. Clean the phone's touch screen

Your phone's touchscreen requires direct contact with your finger to function properly. When foreign particles such as dust and dirt accumulate on the screen, they can affect the performance of the screen and cause unresponsive touch. To prevent this, clean your touchscreen regularly to remove any dust and dirt. To clean your screen, turn off your phone and gently wipe the screen with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Then, wipe it dry with a dry cloth. It is important to note that unresponsive touch issues can also occur if your phone's screen is cracked.

3. Replace the screen protector

Screen protectors are great for protecting your phone from cracks and scratches, but they can also cause problems. For example, dust, moisture, or air bubbles between the screen protector and your phone's screen can cause unresponsive touch.

Such issues can also arise if the screen protector is of poor quality. Poor quality materials used in the screen protector can affect the touch sensitivity of the screen, potentially leading to issues such as unresponsive touch.

Try removing your screen protector to see if that fixes the problem. If it does, clean your screen thoroughly and then apply a higher quality screen protector. Make sure you apply it correctly to avoid similar problems in the future.

4. Make sure your phone doesn't overheat

An overheated phone can cause the screen to malfunction and register touches without your input. To prevent this, you should avoid using your phone for long periods of time, especially in extremely hot places or in direct sunlight.

Excessive temperatures can cause electromagnetic interference, disrupting device performance and potentially causing touch disturbances and other problems.

5. Update your device

Ghost touch is rarely caused by a software bug, but outdated or problematic Android builds can sometimes lead to unusual behavior that resembles a ghost touch issue. To resolve this issue, make sure your device is up to date, as updates often include bug fixes that can resolve such issues.

Note : The exact steps to check for software updates may vary depending on the manufacturer, Android version, and device UI.

To update your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Click Software update > Download and install .
3. Wait for your phone to check for pending updates and install them.

If the above steps don't work for your device, check out our guide on how to install Android updates for different models.

6. Restore phone to factory settings

Performing a factory reset is an effective way to fix various issues with your Android phone, including the ghost touch issue. However, remember to back up your data before proceeding, as a factory reset will erase all information on your device.

Tip : Before doing a factory reset, try restarting first. Restarting can often resolve software issues and is a less drastic measure than doing a factory reset and starting over.

To factory reset your Android phone , follow the steps in this guide.

If you are unable to perform the above steps due to touch screen malfunction, try to factory reset your Android device using recovery mode or Find My Device.

7. Bring the device to the warranty center

If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps and still cannot resolve the unresponsive touch issue, it may be time to consider replacing the screen. The problem could be due to a broken screen, water damage, or faulty components. In such cases, it is best to take the device to a service center for repair.

If your phone is still under warranty, your phone manufacturer may offer to replace the phone or choose to repair the screen to try to fix the problem. In any case, make sure you take the necessary steps to protect your Android phone before sending it in for repair.

Depending on your situation, fixing a smudged screen could be as quick as replacing a screen protector or as difficult as resetting your device or taking it to a service center for repair. Either way, one of the tips above should fix the underlying problem and get your phone back up and running again.