iPhone 8 Plus Touchscreen Slow to Respond? Try These Fixes

If your iPhone 8 Plus touchscreen has suddenly become sluggish or unresponsive, don’t panic—this guide will walk you through all the possible software fixes before you consider a trip to the repair shop. Whether the lag appeared after a system update, an app installation, or seemingly out of nowhere, here’s how to troubleshoot it.


Why Is My iPhone 8 Plus Touchscreen Lagging?

A slow or unresponsive screen usually boils down to one of two issues:

  • Software-related problems, such as bugs, system crashes, or memory overload
  • Hardware damage, typically caused by a drop, pressure, or moisture exposure

As long as your iPhone hasn’t suffered physical damage, you can likely fix it with the solutions below.


Solution 1: Restart or Force Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes, all your iPhone needs is a fresh start.

Soft Reset (Standard Reboot):

  1. Press and hold the Side button until the “slide to power off” option appears.
  2. Slide to turn off the device.
  3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo shows up.

Force Restart (If unresponsive):

  1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

This method clears minor bugs and frees up memory without deleting any data.


Solution 2: Adjust or Disable 3D Touch

The iPhone 8 Plus has a pressure-sensitive 3D Touch feature that can affect screen sensitivity.

To change its settings:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > 3D Touch
  2. Try adjusting the sensitivity to Light
  3. Or toggle it off completely to see if response improves

Solution 3: Check Available Storage

Running low on storage can slow down your phone’s responsiveness.

Check it here:

  1. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage
  2. If storage is almost full, consider deleting unused apps or large files

Apps using too much space (especially media-heavy apps like video editors or games) can bog down system performance.


Solution 4: Remove Screen Protectors and Cases

Sometimes screen protectors or third-party cases can interfere with touch input.

  • Remove any case or screen protector, especially those that are thick or don’t fit perfectly.
  • Test the touchscreen again after removal.

Solution 5: Reset All Settings

If something in your settings is causing the problem but you’re not sure what, try this reset:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings
  2. Enter your passcode and confirm

This won’t delete personal data like photos or apps but will reset system settings like Wi-Fi passwords and wallpapers.


Solution 6: Factory Reset as a Last Resort

If the problem persists, a full system reset may be necessary to rule out deeper software corruption.

Backup your data first via iCloud or iTunes.

Then:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
  2. Confirm with your passcode
  3. Set up your device as new or restore from a backup

If you restore from backup and the issue returns, the backup might be corrupted. Try setting it up as a new iPhone to test.


Still Not Working? It Might Be Hardware

If your screen is still lagging or completely unresponsive after trying everything:

  • Think back: Did you recently drop the phone? Was it exposed to moisture?
  • If so, you may be dealing with a damaged digitizer or internal display connector.

In that case, it’s time to:

  • Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider
  • Have a technician inspect the screen hardware

iPhone 8 Plus screen replacements may still be covered under AppleCare+ if you’re eligible.


Preventative Tips Moving Forward

  • Avoid filling up your storage
  • Keep iOS updated to the latest version
  • Only install trusted apps
  • Remove screen protectors that affect touch sensitivity

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