If your iPhone 8 responds slowly to touch—like it lags when you swipe, type, or scroll—you’re not imagining things. This touchscreen delay can make using your phone super frustrating. While this isn’t a widespread iPhone 8 issue, it has affected users, especially after software updates. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix slow or delayed touchscreen response on your iPhone 8.
1. Reboot Your iPhone (Soft Reset)
A quick restart can clear out minor bugs and memory clogs that affect touch responsiveness.
To soft reset:
- Hold the Side button until “slide to power off” appears.
- Slide to turn off.
- After 30 seconds, press the Side button again to turn it back on.
If your screen is barely responsive, do a force restart:
- Quickly press and release Volume Up.
- Quickly press and release Volume Down.
- Hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
2. Close All Background Apps
Background apps can crash or lag and cause overall system slowness, including touchscreen delay.
To close apps:
- Double-press the Home button to bring up the app switcher.
- Swipe up on each app preview to close them.
Once done, restart your phone to clear out any residual glitches.
3. Update iOS and Apps
Outdated software can cause touchscreen issues. Check for updates to fix known bugs.
To update iOS:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
To update apps:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon, then scroll to the Updates section.
- Tap Update All, or update individual apps.
Restart your iPhone after installing updates.
4. Delete Recently Installed or Faulty Apps
If the lag started after installing a new app, that app might be misbehaving.
To delete an app:
- Tap and hold the app icon until it wiggles.
- Tap the X or Remove App.
- Confirm Delete.
Restart your iPhone and test the touchscreen again.
5. Free Up Storage Space
If your iPhone is low on free storage, that can slow down the system and cause touch lag.
To check your storage:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Delete old videos, large apps, or offload unused content if you’re low on space.
6. Disable 3D Touch (Optional)
Some users with sensitivity issues found that turning off or adjusting 3D Touch improves responsiveness.
To disable or adjust:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > 3D & Haptic Touch.
- Toggle 3D Touch off or adjust the sensitivity slider.
7. Reset All Settings
If the problem is caused by a bad setting or configuration, resetting all settings can help.
To do this:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
This won’t delete your data, but it will reset things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display settings.
8. Do a Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If all else fails, a full reset can rule out deeper software issues.
To factory reset your iPhone:
- Back up your data first via iCloud or iTunes.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the prompts to wipe and restore your device.
You can also restore your phone via iTunes or Finder on a Mac if you want to roll back to an earlier backup.
9. Still Lagging? Contact Apple
If your iPhone 8 is still slow to respond after everything above, it might be a hardware issue—especially if it was dropped or got wet.