Many iPad users experience situations when their iPad does not recognize their finger, nor does it allow them to type in their passcode. Others may experience insensitive or screen responding randomly to touch and wonder why all these happen.
Several factors, from hardware to software, could make your iPad not respond to touch. Some of them are defective screens, incompatible stylus pens, buggy apps, and memory caches. However, one may not know the exact cause until you troubleshoot each one.
In this article, you will find the many reasons your iPad fails to respond to touch and what you can do to fix it.
Reasons for an Unresponsive iPad Touchscreen
Your iPad may suddenly fail to respond to your finger touch because of some faults or conditions that do not make the screen work as usual.
This next section will describe these faults/conditions.
Reason #1: System Data Needs a Refresh
There are two categories of apps on any smartphone. The first category is referred to as the system apps/software. And the other is the application software or referred to as apps.
The system apps run in the background, and they are the ones that let your iPad perform basic tasks such as switching off, switching on, responding to touch inputs, and many other essential functions of a computer/device.
Contrarily, the application apps are the ones that let you perform tasks such as listening to music on your iPad, checking the time, taking pictures, and many others. They are the apps that serve the purpose for which you got the iPad or any other smartphone device.
When the system apps have high memory logs, caches, and other irrelevant data uncleared, it can prevent your iPad from performing its primary function, like responding to touch.
Here is how to fix it.
Reason #2: Contaminants on iPad Screen
Debris, water, or any liquid substance that once spilled on your touchpad can prevent it from sensing your fingers.
Reason #3: Incompatible Devices Connected to iPad
Some devices connected to your iPad via USBs could prevent it from functioning well if they are incompatible.
Also, an iPad’s wrongly mounted screen protector could interfere with the touchpad. It could make your iPad touch sensor insensitive.
In other cases, the screen protectors may be defective or have cracks that hinder touch recognition.
Reason #4: Uninstall Any Suspicious Apps
Some apps have heavy system requirements, some may contain bugs, and some are outdated. Such apps run on your iPad, causing it to process slowly. As a result, your iPad will only intermittently respond to touch.
Reason #5: Unrecognizable Input
Some inputs are unrecognizable, for example, insulator materials like hand gloves. Also, if you use a stylus pen incompatible with your iPad, your iPad won’t recognize it.
Quick Fixes for an Unresponsive iPad Touchscreen
Given the five common reasons for a malfunctioning touchscreen, we’ll now look into the best fixes. Here they are.
Fix #1: Restart Your iPad
Here is how to force restart off an iPad.
If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, you can force restart it using the following procedures.
- Briefly press the volume up button for about 3 seconds. The home button is just next to the top button.
- Briefly hold down and release the volume down button.
- Hold the top button down and release it when the Apple logo appears.
If your iPad has a Home button, force restarts by holding the top and the home buttons simultaneously and releasing them when the Apple logo appears.
Fix #2: Clean Your iPad Screen
Using a soft fabric, thoroughly clean your iPad screen and dry it if there is moisture.
If you suspect that water or other substance may have inadvertently slipped into your iPad screen, you should take it to a technician for a fix-up.
Fix #3: Unplug and Disconnect Devices Attached to the iPad
Here are some devices and accessories you should disconnect from your iPad if it fails to respond to touch.
- Screen protector.
- iPad case.
- Connected Bluetooth device.
- iPad charger.
- iPad earpiece.
Fix #4: Uninstall Suspicious Apps
Check if you just installed a particular app recently. If you just installed one, that app may cause the problem.
Also, look for any available updates on Apple. If there aren’t any updates on the app, uninstall the app. Lastly, use antivirus software like Norton 360 to scan for suspicious apps.
Fix #5: Use a Recognizable Input Device
The following are some ways you can allow your iPad to recognize your touch.
- Remove coverings such as leather gloves or latex gloves from your fingers.
- Use the stylus pen specified by the iPad to work on your device.
Other Ways To Fix an Unresponsive iPad Touchscreen
Here are other ways to fix the iPad not responding to touch.
- Change ambient temperature during summer and winter if your iPad does not respond to touch. The extreme temperatures during these periods may prevent it from responding to touch.
- Contact a smartphone or iPad repair person if you cannot fix it using the solutions provided in this article.
Conclusion
Many faults could prevent your iPad from responding to your finger touch. Some of these faults are due to the elements, contaminants, and many others. You must immediately notify your iPad that it is unresponsive if you fix it immediately. Delaying to repair your iPad can further damage your gadget, mainly if there are cracks on the screen.
This article has provided a detailed list of why an iPad fails to respond to touch and how to fix the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can’t switch off your iPad from your iPad Settings, you can use the hardware buttons on your iPad to switch it off.
Contact a smartphone repair person if your touchscreen still doesn’t respond after hard resetting and trying all the fixes above.
Here are some fixes you can make when your iPad touchscreen is not working and is locked.
• Use your iPad Face or Touch ID to open it.
• Clean your iPad.
• Try an iPad stylus pen to see if it will respond to touch.
• Remove the attached devices and accessories on your iPad.
• Hard reset your iPad.
Remember: If your iPad is locked and you haven’t backed up your files to iCloud, you will lose some of the data on your iPad. Hence, when your iPad/iPhone is locked, it’s safe to meet a repair person before hard resetting it.
