What is Ghost Touch iPhone – what causes Ghost Touch on iPhone?
How to fix Ghost Touch on iPhone?
In this article, I am going to guide you on how to fix Ghost Touch on iPhone yourself without taking your device to Apple. But before I show how to stop Ghost Touch on iPhone let’s first see what is Ghost Touch iPhone and what causes Ghost Touch on iPhone.
What is Ghost Touch iPhone?
When your iPhone screen starts performing actions on its own without you touching anything, it is called Ghost Touch on iPhone. As the name suggests, when the iPhone screen reacts or does something on its own even when you don’t touch the display, it is termed a ‘Ghost Touch’. For example, it can open or close your apps, send messages to your contacts, place calls on your iPhone, and many more without you having done anything.
Ghost touch iPhone is one of the display issues affecting both older and newer iPhone models. This unusual Ghost Touch iPhone issue mostly affects iPhone X users and Apple has determined that some users may experience such touch issues due to a component that might fail on the display module.
From online complaints and reports, it is observed that this iPhone Ghost Touch issue not only affects the iPhone XS and XR but also affects many people using older as well as other newer models.
What causes Ghost Touch on iPhone?
Many iPhone users wonder – is Ghost Touch a virus? Many factors can trigger this unusual activity on an iPhone. iPhones normally don’t get viruses. Ghost touch may be caused by a software bug. If there are bugs in the iOS update it may affect the screen sensitivity causing Ghost Touch on iPhone. In most cases, faulty display or damaged screen components cause this problem. Ghost Touch iPhone issue can also be attributed to hardware problems and software glitches. There are also some cases when Ghost Touch occurs after an iOS update or after a new software installation on your iPhone.
How to fix Ghost Touch on iPhone
While it may sometimes require you to take your iPhone to Apple for Ghost Touch repair, there are several quick fixes that you can also try yourself. So, before you visit an Apple Store for iPhone Ghost Touch fix, you can try the fixes below on how to fix Ghost Touch on iPhone.
1. Clean the Touch-screen of your iPhone
If you suddenly start experiencing a Ghost Touch problem on your device, one of the common reasons for this is some debris or dust particles on your phone screen.
To clean your iPhone’s touch-screen use a clean cloth, preferably a microfiber one, to wipe gently but firmly from one end to the other. You should not use any cleaners containing abrasives or hydrogen peroxide. Once the screen is cleaned, it should help you to get rid of the Ghost Touch problem on your device.
2. Remove the phone’s Screen Protector and the Phone case
Sometimes the screen protector of your iPhone may be the cause of the Ghost Touch problem. The screen protector is meant to protect the screen of your device from any scratches. A compatible screen protector fits perfectly on your iPhone without any part of it being in touch with the device screen. An incompatible one touches some part of the device inevitably and could be the cause of your Ghost Touch issue. Therefore, if the screen protector is the cause iPhone Ghost Touch fix can be done by simply removing your iPhone’s screen protector.
Another possible cause of Ghost Touch on an iPhone is a very tight-fitting iPhone case. It is not recommended to use such a case with your iPhone. So, if you have such a case simply remove it to check whether the Ghost Touch issue is resolved.
3. Restart your iPhone
If you still face the Ghost Touch issue on your iPhone even after removing the screen protector and the iPhone case there could be minor software glitches and bugs that are causing the issue. A simple restart of your iPhone should fix any minor glitch causing the iPhone Ghost Touch issue. Here are the steps to follow to restart an iPhone.
Restart the iPhone without a Home button:
i. Press and hold the Side button and any of the volume buttons, until the Power off slider appears;
ii. Drag the slider to the right to power off your device;
iii. After a few seconds, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears;
Restart the iPhone with a Home button:
i. Press and hold down the Top /Side button, for a few seconds until the Power off slider appears;
ii. Drag the slider to the right to power off your device;
iii. After a few seconds, press and hold the Top /Side button until the Apple logo appears;
4. Update the Operating System to the latest version
Though the chances are slim the Ghost Touch problem might be caused due to a software bug. Updating the iOS to the latest version can solve software bugs and other issues, if any, in previous versions. To update the iOS to the latest version,
Go to Settings> General> Software Update> Download and Install.
5. Reset All Settings
Another possible way to troubleshoot Ghost Touch on your iPhone is by resetting all settings on your device. This reset process erases all your current customized settings including any possible bugs in the iOS update that might be triggering the Ghost Touch problem on your iPhone. To reset settings go to,
Settings> General> Reset > Reset All Settings > Enter your passcode when asked for;
You don’t need to back up files beforehand because this process doesn’t affect saved data on your device. However, for security reasons, you can make a backup of your data before the reset.
6. Factory reset your iPhone
If resetting all settings does not work for you, your next option is to factory reset your device. A factory reset will wipe out all the data, settings, and basically, everything you have on your iPhone. So by performing a factory reset any underlying software issues that might be causing the Ghost Touch problem on your device should be removed.
You should back up your iPhone before performing a factory reset because this will wipe out all your saved data.
To reset your iPhone, follow the steps below:
i. Open Settings;
ii. Tap on General;
iii. On the following screen, scroll down and tap on ‘Transfer or Reset’;
iv. Next press ‘Erase All Content and Settings’;
v. Tap Continue and enter your iPhone passcode;
After the reset process, you can restore your iPhone from a previously saved backup.
7. Restore your iPhone with iTunes
Restoring your iPhone with iTunes can fix all the issues on your device including those that triggered the Ghost Touch bug. However, it is highly recommended to create backups of your device through iTunes before you use the restore feature.
Follow the steps below to restore your iPhone with iTunes:
i. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open the iTunes;
ii. Locate your iPhone in iTunes and click on it;
iii. From the left sidebar select the ‘Summary’ option and click the ‘Restore iPhone’ button in the right-hand side pane;
iv. Now iTunes will restore your iPhone and your device should be ‘Ghost Touch’ free;
Frequently asked questions
Now that I have explained what is Ghost Touch iPhone and the available options for how to fix Ghost Touch on iPhone, let me also address some of the related queries often made by iPhone users.
What causes iPhone Ghost Touch?
Many factors are there that can trigger this issue. The most common reasons are improperly installed screen displays, damaged screen components, and incompatible screen protectors or phone cases.
Why Ghost Touch occurs on my iPhone XR?
A Ghost Touch is an issue with the iPhone screen where it acts on its own without you touching anything. It could be triggered by faulty touch screen sensors, faulty display assembly, damage of pin, or imperfect seating of the display.
Why is my iPhone screen ghosting?
The cause of your iPhone screen ghosting may be due to dust, dirt, and debris on your screen. If your iPhone detects phantom touch, it might be reacting to something on your screen. To fix it, clean your screen using a soft, lint-free cloth.
Is Ghost Touch a virus on iPhone?
No, Ghost Touch is not a virus. iPhones normally don’t get viruses. Ghost Touch is caused by a software bug that Apple has fixed in a recent update. To remove this problem, you should update your iPhone. If it is a hardware issue, then it may be due to faulty touchscreen sensors.
Does replacing the iPhone screen solve the Ghost Touch problem?
iPhone Ghost Touch fix is hopefully possible if you replace the entire screen.
You may also like to read: iPhone touch screen not working
Conclusion
Even after trying all the fixes suggested in the post on how to stop ghost touch on iPhone if you still face the Ghost Touch iPhone issue, your final option would be to contact the Apple support team. This is because it is very likely a hardware issue that is causing Ghost Touch on your iPhone and Apple support is in a better position to suggest an iPhone Ghost Touch fix in case of a hardware problem. However, before visiting the Apple Retail Store make sure to back up your iPhone to iTunes or iCloud.
If you have any other suggestions for how to fix Ghost Touch on iPhone it would be appreciated if you share the same in the comment section below for our readers.
