iPhone XS Max Touchscreen Lagging? Hereโ€™s How to Fix It

If your iPhone XS Max feels sluggish or the screen is slow to respond, youโ€™re not alone. Delayed touchscreen response, frozen screens, and general lag are usually signs of a software issueโ€”or in rare cases, a hardware fault.

The good news? In most cases, this problem can be fixed at home with a few simple steps. Hereโ€™s how to troubleshoot and resolve lagging touchscreen issues on your iPhone XS Max.


๐Ÿ” Step 1: Check Storage Space

Before anything else, make sure your iPhone isnโ€™t running low on storage.

Go to:
Settings > General > iPhone Storage

If you’re below 1GB free, try deleting large files, old apps, or offloading media to iCloud. A full storage can cause sluggish performance and touchscreen delays.


๐Ÿ”„ Step 2: Restart or Force Restart Your iPhone

A basic reboot clears memory and eliminates minor glitches.

Soft reset:

  1. Press and hold the Side button + Volume Up until you see โ€œslide to power off.โ€
  2. Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds.
  3. Press the Side button again to turn it back on.

Force restart (if screen is unresponsive):

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

๐Ÿ“ฒ Step 3: Update or Remove Faulty Apps

Lag often stems from misbehaving or outdated apps.

To update apps manually:

  • Open the App Store
  • Tap your profile icon in the top right
  • Scroll down and tap Update All

If lag began after installing a specific app, delete it:

  • Tap and hold the app icon
  • Select Remove App > Delete App

๐Ÿ“ฑ Step 4: Install the Latest iOS Update

Apple regularly fixes performance issues in iOS updates.

To check for updates:

  • Go to Settings > General > Software Update
  • If an update is available, tap Download and Install

Make sure your battery is at 50%+ or your phone is plugged in.


โš™๏ธ Step 5: Reset All Settings

If youโ€™ve customized settings and arenโ€™t sure which ones might be causing problems, reset everything without losing data.

Steps:

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

Your settings will go back to default, but your data will remain safe.


๐Ÿงผ Step 6: Factory Reset (Last Resort)

Still sluggish? Time to start fresh. A factory reset removes all data and restores the phone to default state.

โš ๏ธ Back up to iCloud or a computer first.

To factory reset:

  • Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings
  • Follow prompts to reset and set up as new

If the screen is too unresponsive, use iTunes or Finder on your computer to restore via USB.


๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Still Lagging? It Could Be Hardware

If your iPhone XS Max continues lagging or has unresponsive zones on the screen:

  • It could be due to screen damage, liquid exposure, or a failing digitizer.
  • Book an appointment at an Apple Store or authorized service center.
  • If under warranty or AppleCare+, repairs may be covered.

Leave a Comment