iPhone XS Touchscreen Unresponsive? Here’s How to Fix It

by

Waking up to a frozen iPhone that won’t respond to touch can be incredibly frustrating—especially when you can’t even unlock the screen. If your iPhone XS suddenly stopped responding to taps or swipes, don’t worry. This guide walks you through the most effective troubleshooting methods to fix an unresponsive touchscreen.

🔧 Common Causes of an Unresponsive iPhone Screen

  • iOS bugs or system glitches
  • App conflicts or crashes
  • Low system resources or overheating
  • Corrupted files after an update
  • Faulty or damaged hardware (digitizer or display)

✅ Step 1: Force Restart Your iPhone XS

Even if a regular reboot didn’t work, a force restart may fix the problem.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side (Power) button until you see the Apple logo.

This simulates a battery pull and forces the system to reboot. It’s often enough to clear up minor bugs and crashes.

✅ Step 2: Restart While Charging

If your iPhone screen is still frozen, plug it into a wall charger and wait a few minutes, then perform another force restart while it’s plugged in.

Why this works:
Sometimes, a low battery or power glitch prevents the screen from responding properly. Charging ensures the device has enough juice for a clean reboot.

✅ Step 3: Perform a DFU Restore (Advanced Step)

If the screen is still unresponsive, it’s time for a Device Firmware Update (DFU) Restore. This is the deepest type of restore you can do and reloads both the firmware and iOS software.

Important: This will erase all your data. Make sure you have a backup if possible.

Steps:

  1. Connect your iPhone XS to your computer via USB.
  2. Launch iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or newer).
  3. On your iPhone:
    • Quickly press Volume Up
    • Quickly press Volume Down
    • Then press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black.
  4. Once black, press and hold Volume Down while continuing to hold the Side button for 5 seconds.
  5. Release the Side button, but keep holding Volume Down for another 5 seconds.
  6. If successful, iTunes/Finder will display:
    “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.”

Now click Restore iPhone and follow the prompts.

✅ Step 4: Check for Physical Damage

If none of the above solutions work, your iPhone XS may have a damaged screen, faulty digitizer, or internal hardware issue. Especially if:

  • You recently dropped the phone
  • It’s been exposed to moisture
  • There are visible cracks or discoloration on the screen

In this case, the best move is to visit an Apple Store or authorized repair center.

🛠️ When to Contact Apple Support

Reach out to Apple Support or schedule a Genius Bar appointment if:

  • Your iPhone XS is under warranty or AppleCare
  • The screen remains unresponsive after a DFU restore
  • You suspect hardware damage

They can run diagnostics and offer repair or replacement options.

Leave a Comment