iPhone 8 Plus Touchscreen Not Responding? Here’s How to Fix It

If your iPhone 8 Plus suddenly stops responding to touch inputs or the screen freezes up entirely, don’t panic. While it may seem like a hardware issue, in many cases, it’s a software-related glitch that you can fix yourself.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and fix an unresponsive touchscreen on your iPhone 8 Plus.

1. Force Restart Your iPhone 8 Plus

The first thing to try is a forced restart. This helps clear temporary software glitches without affecting your data.

Here’s how:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side (Power) button until the Apple logo appears.

Let the phone reboot completely, then check if the screen responds.

2. Update iOS Using iTunes

If your screen isn’t responsive and you can’t update over the air, use iTunes on a computer to install the latest iOS version.

Steps:

Connect your iPhone to a computer using a Lightning cable.
Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina+).
Click your device name when it appears.
Choose Check for Update > Download and Update.

This will install the latest bug fixes and performance updates, which may solve the touchscreen issue.

3. Perform a Factory Reset via iTunes

If an update didn’t help, your iPhone may need a full reset.

To factory reset:

Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
Click on your iPhone under Devices.
Select Restore iPhone under the Summary tab.
Follow the prompts to erase the device and install a fresh copy of iOS.

⚠️ Make sure to back up your data before doing this.

4. Restore in Recovery Mode

If your iPhone still isn’t working, try putting it into recovery mode.

Steps:

Connect your iPhone to your computer.
Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button.
Keep holding it until you see the Connect to iTunes screen.
iTunes will prompt you to Update or Restore—select Restore.

Let the restore process finish, then test the touchscreen again.

5. Restore in DFU Mode (Advanced)

If the issue persists, DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is your final DIY option.

To enter DFU mode:

Connect your iPhone to your computer.
Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down.
Hold the Side button until the screen goes black.
Then hold Volume Down while still holding the Side button.
After 5 seconds, release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down until your device appears in iTunes (screen remains black).

You can now perform a DFU restore in iTunes.

Still Not Working? Time for Service

If none of these steps work, you’re likely dealing with a hardware issue, especially if the phone was recently dropped or exposed to liquid. Visit an Apple-authorized service center or contact Apple Support to get it professionally diagnosed.