iPhone Touchscreen Delayed After iOS 13 Update? Try These Fixes

If your iPhone feels laggy or unresponsive when swiping between home screens or tapping on apps after installing iOS 13, you’re not alone. Many users noticed delayed touchscreen response after the update—especially those on beta builds. While it can feel frustrating, the issue is often tied to minor software hiccups and app conflicts, not hardware.

Here’s how to fix touchscreen delays on your iPhone after updating to iOS 13.

Close All Background Apps

After an update, background apps might act up and slow down your phone.

For iPhones with Face ID:

Swipe up from the bottom and pause in the middle.
Swipe left or right to view open apps.
Swipe up on each preview to close them.

For iPhones with Home buttons:

Double-press the Home button.
Swipe up on each app preview to close.

Clear all apps, then check if your touchscreen feels smoother.

Restart or Force Restart Your iPhone

A simple reboot can do wonders, especially after a system update.

Soft reset (normal restart):

Hold the Power/Side button and drag the power slider.
Wait 30 seconds, then press Power again to reboot.

Force restart:

iPhone 8 and newer: Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold Side until the Apple logo shows.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Hold Volume Down + Power until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s or earlier: Hold Home + Power until you see the Apple logo.

After rebooting, test touchscreen responsiveness again.

Update Your Apps

Outdated apps can lag or misbehave after an iOS update.

To check for updates:

Open the App Store.
Tap your profile icon in the upper-right.
Scroll to see available updates.
Tap Update All or manually update individual apps.

Once done, reboot your phone to apply changes.

Delete Problematic Apps

If the lag seems tied to one app, delete it:

Press and hold the app icon until it jiggles.
Tap the “–” icon or Remove App, then confirm.
Alternatively, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, select the app, and tap Delete App.

Reboot after deleting any misbehaving apps.

Reset All Settings

Some settings may have been changed or corrupted during the update.

To reset them:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

This will reset things like Wi-Fi passwords and preferences but won’t erase your data.

Free Up Storage

Low storage can slow down performance and touchscreen response.

Check available space:

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Delete:

Unused apps
Old videos or photos
Safari cache (Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data)

You can also enable Offload Unused Apps in App Store settings to save space.

Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If none of the above helps, try a factory reset.

⚠️ Backup your iPhone first.

To reset:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your passcode and follow the prompts.

Once reset, set up your iPhone as new (don’t restore from a backup just yet) and test responsiveness.

Use Recovery Mode or Restore via iTunes/Finder

If your phone’s still lagging badly, restoring iOS using iTunes might help.

Connect your iPhone to a computer with the latest iTunes or Finder.
Put your device into Recovery Mode:
- iPhone 8+: Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold Side.
- iPhone 7/7 Plus: Hold Volume Down + Power.
- iPhone 6s or earlier: Hold Home + Power.
Keep holding until you see the recovery mode screen.
Choose Restore (this will erase your device and reinstall iOS).

Still Lagging? It Might Be Hardware

If none of these steps help, you could be looking at a hardware issue. In rare cases, touchscreen delays are caused by a failing digitizer or other physical damage.

In that case, book a Genius Bar appointment or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to have your device checked.