
Apple’s highly sensitive multi-touch interface allows you to control your iPhone with a few simple tap, drag, pinch, and swipe gestures. However, it is annoying if you can’t swipe on your iPhone for some reason.
You might not be able to swipe on your iPhone due to a post-update bug, temporary iOS glitch, screen protector affecting the touch response, damaged touchscreen sensor, or outdated iOS version.
To make things easy for you, we prepared a comprehensive guide on why you can’t swipe on your iPhone and how to fix the issue with quick troubleshooting steps.
- Why Can’t I Swipe on My iPhone?
- Troubleshooting the Swipe Issue on Your iPhone
- Method #1: Restarting Your iPhone
- Method #2: Force Restarting Your iPhone
- Method #3: Offloading Apps
- Method #4: Pushing Down the Screen
- Method #5: Updating the Apps
- Method #6: Resetting All Settings
- Method #7: Factory Resetting Your iPhone
- Method #8: Uninstalling Faulty Apps on Your iPhone
- Method #9: Updating Your iPhone
- Summary
Why Can’t I Swipe on My iPhone?
If you cannot swipe on your iPhone, it can be due to the following reasons.
- There is a temporary iOS glitch.
- You have a damaged touchscreen sensor.
- Your device caught a post-update bug.
- You dropped your iPhone.
- The screen protector is affecting the touch response.
- An outdated iOS version is installed on your iPhone.
Troubleshooting the Swipe Issue on Your iPhone
If you are wondering how to fix the swipe problem on your iPhone, our 9 step-by-step methods will help you troubleshoot the issue quickly and easily.
Method #1: Restarting Your iPhone
If you can’t swipe on your iPhone, you can try restarting it with the help of the following steps.
- Open Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Shut Down”.
- Turn off your iPhone by sliding the power off icon.

Press and hold the side button on your iPhone to turn it on again and check if the issue persists.
You can also manually turn off the iPhone by pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds and sliding the power off icon.
Method #2: Force Restarting Your iPhone
You can also force restart your iPhone to fix the swipe issue by following the below steps.
- Press the volume up button briefly.
- Press the volume down button briefly.
- Press and hold the power button.
To force restart an iPhone 7, press and hold the volume down and power button together until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Method #3: Offloading Apps
iPhone users can also offload apps to free storage space and fix the swipe issue with the help of these quick and easy steps.
- Open Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “iPhone Storage”.
- Tap the app you want to offload.
- Tap “Offload App”.

Once you offload an app, it will free up storage on your iPhone, and your swipe problem will be fixed.
Offloading an app deletes it from your iPhone, not the documents and associated data. Your data will be reinstated when you reinstall the app from App Store.
Method #4: Pushing Down the Screen
If you can’t swipe, push down the screen of your iPhone to fix the problem in the following way.
- Place your finger on the screen.
- Place another finger on the other side of the screen.
- Apply pressure firmly.
Pushing down the screen of your iPhone will reconnect the logic board and LCD cable and fix the swipe problem.
Method #5: Updating the Apps
If you are experiencing a swipe issue with any app, try updating it with these steps.
- Open App Store.
- Tap the “Apps” icon.
- Tap “Update” next to the app.

Method #6: Resetting All Settings
To solve the swipe problem, you can reset all settings on your iPhone using the steps below.
- Open Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Transfer or Reset iPad”.
- Tap “Reset All Settings”.
- Enter your passcode.

Method #7: Factory Resetting Your iPhone
If you still can’t swipe on your iPhone, factory reset it to fix the problem with the following steps.
- Open Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Transfer or Reset iPad”.
- Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”.
- Tap “Continue”.
- Enter your passcode and tap “OK”.

Method #8: Uninstalling Faulty Apps on Your iPhone
If you suspect an app to be the cause of the swipe issue, uninstall it by following these steps.
- Locate the app you want to uninstall.
- Touch and hold the app.
- Tap “Remove App”.

Once you uninstall the faulty third-party app, the swipe gesture on your iPhone will work fine.
Method #9: Updating Your iPhone
You can also fix the swipe problem on your iPhone by updating your phone to the latest version of iOS.
- Open Settings.
- Tap “General”.
- Tap “Software Update”.
- Tap “Download and Install”.
- Enter your passcode and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
- Tap “Install”.

Once you tap “Install”, your iPhone will be updated to the latest version of iOS, and your swipe gesture will work fine.
Summary
In this write-up, we have discussed several reasons which can make the touch screen of your phone unresponsive and explained 9 different ways to fix the problem.
Hopefully, your troubles are over, and now the swipe gesture is working seamlessly on your iPhone.