iPad Touchscreen Problems? Solutions to Fix It!

There may be times when your iPad touchscreen stops responding and you don’t know what to do. This can be very frustrating when you are busy working or trying to entertain your child. This could be due to software, hardware, or other issues. That said, you don’t need to worry as you can fix this problem on your end. We have mentioned 10 tested methods to fix iPad touchscreen not working issues. No matter which iPad model you are using, the methods below will surely come in handy. There you have it!

Method 1: Clean the screen

One of the first things to do when your iPad touchscreen is not working is to make sure it is clean and dry. Dirt, dust, and other debris not only make the screen look ugly, but can also prevent your iPad screen from responding to touches. So, if there is dirt, grime, oil, or water on the screen, your iPad may not detect touches. To fix this, you should wipe the screen with a clean microfiber cloth.

Also, make sure your hands are clean and dry when using your iPad. If you wear gloves, be sure to remove them.

Method 2: Force restart your iPad

One of the best ways to fix an unresponsive touchscreen on your iPad is to perform a force restart. When the touchscreen is not working, you can’t slide the power slider to restart your iPad normally. This is where a force restart comes into play. It can force your iPad to turn off when the touchscreen is not working. Honestly, force restart is a savior in situations where your iPad screen is frozen or unresponsive.

Here’s how to force restart an iPad without a Home button:

• Press and release the volume button closest to the power button.
• Immediately after that, press and release the volume button furthest from the power button.
• Finally, hold down the power button until the Apple logo appears.

For an iPad with a Home button, follow the steps below:

• Hold it Power button and home button at the same time.
• Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Method 3: Remove the screen protector

Many users have the habit of installing a screen protector on their iPad, which is a good thing as it protects the screen from scratches and drops. However, if the screen protector is damaged, cracked, or peeling off the edges, it can cause touchscreen issues on your iPad. Try removing the screen protector and check if it solves your problem.

Method 4: Avoid extreme temperatures

An iPad or any other device may not perform as expected in extreme temperatures. In fact, your iPad may display a warning if the temperature exceeds the optimal range (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). Extreme temperatures can also force your iPad to display a completely black screen, and you may feel like your iPad won’t turn on. When this happens, you won’t be able to use your iPad until it cools down. You should unplug the charger (if connected), move your iPad to a cool place, and give it time to return to normal temperature.

Here are some tips to prevent your iPad from overheating:

• Don’t leave your iPad in a car on a sunny afternoon.
• If you use your iPad intermittently, put it to rest between uses.
• When playing heavy games or watching online videos, prefer using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data.
• Keep your iPad out of direct sunlight.
• Do not use your iPad while charging.

Method 5: Check the iPad charger

If your iPad touchscreen is not responding while charging, you should unplug the charger and inspect it carefully. In some cases, a faulty or incompatible charger can be responsible for iPad touchscreen issues. This is quite common if you have recently purchased a new charger from a third party or are using a very old charger. Unplug the charger or any other wired accessory from your iPad, and if the touchscreen starts working, it is obvious that your charger or accessory is the culprit. You should replace them with official or MFi certified chargers.

Method 6: Try the Touch Adaptation Feature

You can also turn on Touch Accommodations to fix a choppy touchscreen on your iPad. This is a feature built into iPadOS that lets you adjust a few settings to change how the display responds to taps, swipes, and other gestures. It’s specifically designed for situations where you’re having trouble using the touchscreen, so make sure you don’t skip this step.

Here’s how to enable touch adaptations on iPad:

• Open the Settings application on your iPad and choose Accessibility.
• Now press Touch under the Physics and engine section.
• Here, press Touch Hosting and turn it on Touch Hosting to fall over.

• Below are some settings you can adjust to help your iPad respond better to touches. You can change these to suit your preferences.

Method 7: Uninstall Malicious Apps

If your iPad screen doesn’t respond to touch when you’re using a specific app, the issue may be with that app and not your iPad. In this case, we recommend trying the following:

• First of all, you need to try updating the app. To do this, go to the App Store and search for the app. If you see the Update option, tap on it. Now open the app and see if it works properly.
• If an update is not available or the app does not work after updating it, you must uninstall that app and reinstall it.
• If the app is still causing the same problem, the best thing to do is to get rid of that app immediately.

Method 8: Free up storage space

If you’re frequently experiencing problems with your iPad’s touchscreen, you should free up some storage space. An iPad, iPhone, or any other device requires enough storage space to function properly. When there’s not enough storage space, your iPad may experience issues like slow or sluggish performance. Additionally, it may take longer to respond to your taps, swipes, or other gestures. To check, go to Settings -> General -> iPad Storage.

If your iPad is running low on storage, you need to free up space on your iPadOS device. To do this, you can offload or delete unwanted apps, delete unnecessary photos or videos, or clear the browser cache.

You can also connect your iPad to your Mac, open Finder, click on your iPad, then click Manage storage.

Method 9: Check for software updates

Running an older or outdated software version can be another reason why your iPad screen is not working properly. The old version can interfere with the iPadOS system functions and also impact the overall functionality. Apple regularly releases software updates that fix common bugs and issues and improve the overall performance of your iPad. So, it is a great idea to install the latest software version on your Apple devices.

Here’s how to update your iPad using a Mac or PC:

• Connect your iPad to a Mac or PC.
• On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Researcher And select your iPad under the Locations section. On older Macs or PCs, open iTunes And Click on the iPad icon.
• Now click on the Check for updates option.

• If an update is available, you should see the option to click Download and update.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to update your iPad.

Method 10: Factory Reset Your iPad

If you’ve tried everything and still can’t fix the unresponsive touchscreen on your iPad, the last resort is to perform a factory reset. It will permanently delete all content, settings and all stored data. This will fix complex software bugs and issues and give the system a fresh start. Since this method will delete all your stored data, we recommend that you back up your iPad beforehand.

Here’s how to backup and factory reset your iPad using a Mac:

• Using a compatible cable, connect your iPad to your Mac.
• Open Finder and click on your iPad under Locations in the left sidebar.
• In the Backups section, click Save Now.

• Once the backup is complete, click the button Restore iPad option.

• Click again Restore to confirm your decision and let the factory reset begin.
• Once the process is complete, you will see a welcome screen asking you to set up your iPad.

For more details, you can check our dedicated guide on how to factory reset an iPad.

If nothing works for you, there may be a failure of an internal component that cannot and should not be repaired on your side. In such a case, you should go to the Apple Store and have your iPad diagnosed by a team of experts.

We hope this guide helped you fix an unresponsive touchscreen on your iPad and everything is working fine for you now. Which trick worked for you? Don’t forget to share your experiences in the comments below.

How do I force my iPad to shut down when the touchscreen isn’t working?

You can perform a force restart to turn off and turn on your iPad when the touchscreen isn’t responding. On iPads without a Home button, press and release the volume button closest to the power button. Then, press and release the volume button furthest from the power button. Finally, press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo.