Are you facing ghost touch or phantom touch on your phone? And looking for solutions to troubleshoot the problem? Then, you have come to the right place. We have given here several solutions to help you to fix the problem on both Android smartphone and iPhone. But before knowing how to get rid of this issue, let’s learn “what is ghost touch” and for which reasons the issue can arise.
What is Ghost Touch?
If a smartphone taps and touches on its own, it is called Ghost Touch. It is not the touch you have made to your smartphone. These touches are usually random ones freezing the entire screen or a part of it. You can face this problem if you use your smartphone while charging; for instance you can see a few parts of your device screen are not responding completely. As a result, you cannot touch it.
Now you know what Ghost Touch is. So, let’s learn which reasons can cause the issue on your phone.
Why Does the Ghost Touch Issue Occur?
Are you facing the ghost touch problem on your device? Then, you should know that the problem is not related to your software. Instead, the problem is with the hardware of your smartphone. The reasons due to which the issue occurs are as follows:
- Your Phone’s Charging Cable Or Charger Is Faulty:
The problem mainly occurs when the charging cable of the phone or the charger is faulty. Does your phone begin tapping only when you charge your phone? If this is the case, then the charger can be faulty. Or it may happen that the charger does not support your device or the quality of the charger is poor.
- Problem With Software Updates:
The phantom touch problem hardly occurs because of software issues. However, it may happen that the developer created the wrong code in the software. As a result, the device may get frozen. Then, you can see random touches on your smartphone.
- Overheating Or Cold Weather:
It is essential to keep your device in a temperate environment so that it can function properly. You can experience the problem when your phone is freezing or overheating.
- Inappropriate Screen Protector:
If you have not properly attached the screen protector to the screen, you can face the problem.
- Usage Of Wrong Sized Protection Case:
Do you use a protection case which is sized improperly? Then, the problem may arise. Therefore, ensure that the phone case is not so tight.
- Hardware Problem:
If your smartphone has fallen from a height, it could have destroyed the digitiser of your smartphone. As a result, you may encounter this problem. If there is any physical damage, you should take your smartphone to an authorized service center for repair.
Resolving Phantom Touches on iPhones:
- Third-party And Faulty Accessories:
Suppose you have used a non-certified adapter or cables to charge your device. In that case, you can see phantom touches on the screen. The same problem can be experienced when your phone remains connected to a third-party case or a battery charging pack.
- iOS Or App-related Bugs:
The screen can also misbehave due to software issues within an app or the system.
- Misconfigured Settings:
Have you made any changes to your iPhone’s accessibility and other settings? In that case, you can find the device working differently.
How to Get Rid Of Ghost Touch on Android?
We have elaborated the reasons due to which the problem can arise. Now, let’s check the solutions to get rid of the ghost touch issue.
Forcefully Restart your Phone:
If you encounter this problem on Android, you are recommended to restart your phone. Performing this process allows you to remove bugs or glitches which may run on your smartphone. It enables your device to work smoothly. If the problem still persists, you need to follow the next process.
Clear the Apps Running In The Background:
If you open several apps in the background, it can create different issues. Usually, applications which run in the background create software glitches. It can result in the ghost touch problem. That’s why you should clear the background apps and then check if the issue is fixed.
However, the process can vary depending on the Android phone you are using. In this case, you have to press the overview button to open the overview panel. Or you can swipe halfway up from the screen’s bottom when the gesture navigation feature is turned on. In order to clear every app, you need to swipe up from the screen’s bottom.
Use A High-Quality Charger:
Usually, you can experience this issue when you charge your Android phone. So, what you need to do is to change your charger. Ensure that it supports your device and that you are using the original one to charge your device. If it isn’t working accurately, you need to purchase a new one from the official store.
Take More Breaks Between Screen Usages:
Ensure that your device’s operating temperature is at a certain level so that it can work properly. If you want your screen to work seamlessly, you need to take breaks between usages to prevent your device from overheating.
You must not use your phone in direct sunlight or extreme heat. Remember that the performance of your device can be interrupted due to the electromagnetic interference caused by heat. As a result, you can experience the ghost touch problem.
Detach The Charging Cable:
We recommend you to unplug the charger if you experience the issue when you charge the device. Then, you need to check whether the charger has any fault or not. Moreover, you can use another cable to charge your Android smartphone to check if the problem is with your charging cable or not. If you find your charger faulty, you need to replace your charger. Then, you need to check if the problem is fixed or not.
Clean Your Android Smartphone Display:
In order to resolve the problem, you can try to clean your Smartphone’s display. Although this one looks obsolete to you, it is beneficial in addressing the problem. These are the steps you need to follow to clean your screen:
- First, you have to switch off your Android smartphone.
- Then, your job is to use a soft and slightly damp cloth to wipe your screen.
- Now, what you need to do is to clear the screen using a dry cloth.
- If the device you are using has a cracked screen, you can face the problem. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that you are keeping your device protected from scratches or cracks.
This procedure can help to prevent dust from entering your Android smartphone.
Remove Screen Protector:
You can experience this issue because of screen protectors. The problem can be experienced mainly when dust, air bubbles or dirt exist between the tempered glass protector and the screen. In addition, the problem can occur when the screen protector is misaligned.
If your screen protector has cracks, you can face this issue. So, it is better to replace the screen protector if it gets cracked.
If you want to manually remove the screen protector, you need to use a credit card. Otherwise, you can use duct tape for lifting it. Before removing the protector, you can apply low heat to it to loosen the adhesive.
Clean The Phone Case:
At present, the popularity of edge screens is increasing. Therefore, the working or actionable area on the screen has extended to the device’s sides. It can result in unwanted touch detection issues that can be caused by your hands. Moreover, it can lead to your phone case not being properly installed and becoming dirty.
Like a screen protector, you have to remove the phone case. Then, your job is to clean this properly. After that, you have to reinstall the phone case after drying. Ensure that you are taking special care of your accessory before cleaning if your phone case comes with some exceptional features, such as a battery, built-in magnets, etc.
Calibrate Touch Screen:
The screen calibration feature exists on a few Samsung devices. Your first task is to navigate to Settings. Then, you need to look for the “Touch Sensitivity” or “Touch Screen Calibration” option. In order to recalibrate the screen, you need to follow the instructions given on the screen. Now, your smartphone can identify every touch and gesture accurately.
Keep Your Device Up To Date:
Software glitches can cause the problem. You can even experience issues due to outdated software or bugs. In this case, you have to make sure that you have updated your apps and device to troubleshoot the problem. The reason is that you can find most bugs getting patched with updates. We have given you the necessary steps to follow to check software updates. However, the process can vary depending on the Android device you are using. The process to update the Android phone is as follows:
- Your first job is to open the settings app of your Android device.
- Then, you need to click on System. Now, you have to click on System Update.
- Next, you can see the update status of your device.
- In order to install the available updates, you need to click on the Check for Update button.
Sometimes, these steps might not work. If this is the case, you have to open your device’s Settings app. Next, you have to use the search bar or the search button available at the top to find the System update or Software update option. Have you not found any matching results? Then, you need to look for any particular steps online for the Android smartphone model you are using.
Factory Reset Your Phone:
If your device has already been updated, you can resolve the problem by resetting all settings. If you are experiencing a problem due to an unruly app or buggy software, you need to eliminate underlying software issues to get rid of ghost touch.
Before performing the factory reset process on your smartphone, it is essential to back up your device. Performing a factory reset clears all data available in a device. There is no way to recover the deleted data.
Before you try factory resetting your device, it is recommended to restart it. You can troubleshoot certain software problems by only restarting your smartphone.
If you want to reset your smartphone, these are the steps you need to follow:
- Your first job is to navigate to Settings.
- Then, you need to move to System. Now, you have to go to the Reset phone.
- Your task now is to click on Erase all data.
- In order to confirm this, you have to enter the password or PIN.
- Your job now is to select Continue. Finally, you have to click on Erase all data so that you can start the reset.
This method might not work on all Android devices, as the factory resetting method can vary depending on the Android device you use.
Take Your Device To A Service Center:
If you are still unable to address the issue, you might now have to replace the screen. It may happen that water has entered into your device or the screen is deteriorating. Moreover, the problem can occur because of a faulty component in your screen. If you want to address the issue in all these situations, you have to look for a technician who is expert in replacing the screen.
Like other screen problems, you can get rid of the problem by taking your smartphone to a service center. Is your Android smartphone under warranty? If yes, then you can get a replacement of your phone screen with a new one from your phone’s manufacturer or they can repair the screen.
Disassemble The Screen Assembly (For Advanced Users Only):
If you are not a pro Android user, this step is obviously not for you. This process is mainly for those who have technical knowledge on how to address such issues. However, it is important for the experts to have all the necessary tools at their disposal. They have to open up the Android smartphone, disassemble it, and put it back to fix the issue.
However, according to several people, it is possible to fix the problem by disconnecting the screen from the data connectors and reseating all. If you can’t do it yourself, you can take your device to a repair shop for reseating the screen in the connectors. Then, you need to check whether the issue still persists or not.
How to Fix Ghost Touch on iPhone:
Now you know, what caused these touches on the iPhone. So, let’s learn how to fix the problem.
Check If Touch Works Correctly on the Home Screen:
Your very first task is to know if ghost touch is the actual problem on the device. And to do so, you have to ensure that your device is able to register your touch when on the home screen. You have to tap on the edges or swipe through them on the home screen of your iPhone to check whether you are getting the expected feedback from your device or not.
In order to get rid of this touch issue which can be limited to some particular apps, you have to check for touch input on your iPhone’s home screen. If you use an iPhone which supports Face ID, you have to swipe upwards from the screen’s bottom to head toward the home screen. You need to hit the Home button on iPhones that support the Touch ID feature. You can even summon Siri and ask to “go to the home screen”. After that, you have to check the touchscreen’s working process.
Check Your Accessibility Settings:
Several Accessibility settings have the potential to change the way the iPhone’s screen responds to touch.
It may happen that you have changed the touch duration mistakenly. Moreover, there are a few things you may do mistakenly, like enabling AssistiveTouch, enabling Touch Accommodations, etc. Or it may happen that you have mistakenly turned on a feature which registers taps on the phone’s back.
Steps to Follow:
- You need to open your iPhone’s Settings.
- Then, you have to click on Accessibility.
- After that, your job is to click on Touch.
- If you have accidentally enabled the “AssistiveTouch” option, you can see your device behaving differently while touching the screen or performing custom gestures. If you are willing to disable the feature, you need to click on AssistiveTouch. Then, you have to toggle off the switch.
- If you find the “Touch Accommodations” feature enabled, your iPhone may want to avoid repeated taps. Or your device might want you to hold its screen much longer so that it can record the tap. You can disable this by tapping on Touch Accommodations. Then, your job is to toggle off the switch.
- When you see that the “Back Tap” feature is enabled, your phone will start registering double or triple taps on its back so that it can perform some actions. If you are willing to turn off the feature, your job is to click on Back Tap. Then, you have to select None for Double and Triple Tap.
- You need to click on Haptic Touch to view whether the touch duration is too slow or fast. Touch duration refers to the time for how long you have to hold your finger to your iPhone for registering a long tap.
Unplug iPhone from Faulty Chargers or Cables:
You can experience the ghost touch problem when you are plugging the device into a wall charger and the inconsistent current is passing through the faulty cables. You can experience such problems, mainly when you use non-Apple-certified third-party adapters and cables to charge your device.
But it doesn’t mean that you won’t face the problem if you use Apple’s cable or adapter. Suppose the cable or adapter you use for your iPhone has been damaged beyond usage. In such cases, the problem may arise. So, it is essential to disconnect your device from the charger or the cable to check if the issue persists. Ensure that you are not using third-party cables or adapters to charge your device. You need to buy Apple-certified accessories for charging your iPhone.
Clean your iPhone Screen:
Ensure that your hands are not wet. Besides, if any debris or dirt exists on your screen, you will see your iPhone screen behaving differently. In this case, you need to use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the screen. You need to continue cleaning the screen until it is squeaky clean.
Is there any oily substance on the screen? Then, your job is to dampen the cloth a little bit. In order to dampen the cloth, you can use water or a screen-cleaning liquid. After that, you have to run on the screen gently. Keep in mind that you need to unplug your device from the charger or other accessories to which it was connected before you start the cleaning procedure. In order to prevent accidental touches, you have to turn off the display.
Quit The App Where You Noticed Ghost Touch And Reopen:
Because of using some specific apps, you can see the issue occurring. To confirm the problem is limited to any particular app, you have to close the concerned app. Then, you have to reopen this. Thus, you can get to know whether the problem is temporary or not.
- Suppose you are using that app while using which you are facing the issue. In that case, you have to swipe the App Switcher upwards from the bottom. Then, you need to pause it at the screen’s center.
- You need to find the misbehaving app in the App Switcher. Then, your job is to close the app by swiping up on the app’s preview.
- You should check if the problem remains by reopening the app from the App Library. If the issue persists, you should not use the app. You have to wait until the update comes to address the problem.
Update Apps in the App Store:
Does the issue still exist even after you close the app and reopen it?? Then, you might be using an outdated app on your device. You need to check the App Store for updates to troubleshoot the issue.
If your phone has some outdated apps, you could find your device behaving strangely. Have you found your apps not getting updated automatically? Then, it may happen that a few updates are still yet to be installed. In that case, your job is to navigate to the App Store to check for app updates. In order to do so, you have to click on the profile icon at the top corner.
Then, your job is to scroll down to the section named “Available Updates”. If you see any updates, you need to click on Update All (this option is located at the top-left corner) to install the apps.
Check for New iOS Updates:
Your current iOS version may come with bugs which could cause ghost touches. When the issue gets spreaded broadly, Apple will release an update to assist people in fixing the issue. Has your iPhone begun to behave strangely after the latest update? Then, updating the OS to its most recent version is a good solution. You should now check if the problem is fixed.
- Your first task is to open your device’s Settings app. Then, you have to select General.
- Next, your task is to click on Software Update. After tapping on this, you need to wait until the iPhone checks for new updates.
- Once you see an update, you have to click on Download and Update. It enables you to install the most recent iOS version on your iPhone.
Try a Different iPhone Case:
The case’s shape can affect screen sensitivity. Generally, manufacturers aim to produce cases in such designs so that these can support all iPhone models. But sometimes, some areas of the case can touch the screen corners or edges and lead to this issue. If you see that the issue is fixed when you use the phone without a case, you should go for a new case.
Remove Screen Protector or Third-Party Accessories:
Screen protectors refer to the thin layers that are made of plastic or glass. You need to use these to keep your device secure from getting damaged or any scratches. You must not use a low-quality screen protector. If it has been used a lot over time, you can face touchscreen problems.
Phantom touches can be seen if there is a crack on the screen protector. Besides, you can face the problem when debris and air bubbles get stuck between the screen and the screen protector. You can use a credit card or a business card so that you can slide between protector & screen and remove the protector properly off the screen.
Suppose the protector gets cracked and stuck on the surface. In that case, you have to take your phone to an authorized service center or Apple who can remove it professionally. Moreover, you can face the issue due to third-party accessories such as phone cases or battery charging cases connected to your phone. Your job is to remove these phone cases to check whether the problem persists or not.
Look Closely for Signs of Damage:
You can face the problem due to the damage caused to your iPhone display. Have you dropped your device from a height? Then, it may happen that your device is unable to work properly. In order to check for any display failure, your first task is to see whether any visible damage sign exists on your iPhone or not.
You can face these issues because of cracks or dents on your display. Is there any visible damage sign? If the answer is no, you have to use a screen tester app. It enables you to check if the display contains dead pixels or non-responsive portions.
In that case, you have to visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to troubleshoot the issue. Once you take your phone to the service provider, they will give the most effective solution based on the underlying issue.
Clear Apps Running in the Background:
If you want to clear background apps in iOS, your job is to swipe up from the bottom screen. After that, you have to use one, two, or three fingers. Ensure that you close the apps available on the screen.
Free Up iPhone Storage:
Isn’t enough storage space available on your device? Then, the device may start to respond slowly or result in this issue.
In order to free up space, you need to go to Settings. Then, your job is to navigate to General. Now, your job is to go to Storage. After that, you have to delete all the nonessential apps.
Reset your iPhone Settings:
If you have experienced the issue immediately after making some changes to your iPhone’s settings, your task is to restore the iPhone to factory settings. These are the steps you need to follow:
- If you want to reset iPhone settings, you have to open its Settings app. After opening the app, your task is to select General.
- Now, you need to scroll down to the bottom of the page once you see the next screen. Then, you have to click on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- After that, your job is to click on Reset at the bottom.
- Finally, you have to select Reset All Settings, which is located in the overflow menu.
In case, none of the methods that we have mentioned in this article works, then the only thing you can try is to contact Apple Support for assistance. You can replace your phone for free depending on the model you use and its warranty. While it is possible to contact Apple directly, you can navigate to the Apple Store or Authorized Apple Service Provider to fix this issue.
- iPhone X: The company will replace the defective display for free for three years after you buy it.
- iPhone 11: The company will replace defective displays for free, if the screen doesn’t respond to touch and was produced between November 2019 and May 2020.
You can visit Apple’s Get Support page and then you need to explain the problem you are facing. Or, you can get assistance from the nearest Apple Store or Authorized Service Center to get rid of the issue.
Tips to Avoid Getting Ghost Touch on iPhone:
These are some tips that you should follow to prevent the issue from occurring on the iPhone.
- Ensure that the battery percentage doesn’t drop lower than 10 per cent.
- You should not use or store an iPhone in extremely hot or cold conditions. The ideal room temperature to use an iPhone is 32°F-95°F. On the other hand, the ideal room temperature for storing iPhones is -4° F and 113°F.
- You should clean your device in a timely manner so that dust doesn’t get stuck on the screen.
The Bottom Line:
In this article, we have given several solutions to troubleshoot the ghost touch problem on both Android and iPhone. Try all the steps one by one and let us know in the comment section which method worked for you. If you are unable to fix the phantom touches issue yourself, it is recommended to take assistance from an expert technician. For any confusion or doubts, you can ask us via comments.
