Android touchscreen not working? 8 fixes to try

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

A screen that ignores touches, reacts in the wrong place or jumps by itself often has a simple cause on the outside. Only when that is ruled out is it worth looking at apps and settings.

Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the screen, not screenshots.

Step by step

1. Look for damage

   Check the glass for cracks and chips. A cracked screen can stop reacting in parts and needs a repair. Software steps do not help.

   Done

2. Remove the case and screen protector

   A badly fitted protector or a case that presses on the edge of the glass causes missed and false touches. Also peel off any stickers over the screen or the sensors at the top.

   Done

3. Take off gloves and clean the screen

   Most touchscreens do not react to gloves. Wipe the glass with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth and dry your hands.

   Done

4. Restart the phone

   Hold the power button for about 30 seconds, or until the phone restarts. On some phones you then tap Restart on the screen.

   Done

5. Test the screen

   Slowly drag a finger from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. If the item you are dragging is let go at the same spot every time, that part of the screen is faulty.

   Done

6. Try safe mode

   In safe mode, only the apps that came with the phone run. If the screen works there, an app you installed is the cause. Leave safe mode and uninstall the newest apps one at a time. The steps are in how to start an Android phone in safe mode.

   Done

7. Switch off Developer options

   If you ever turned them on, open Settings, tap System, then Developer options, and switch them off. Some of these settings change how touches are handled.

   Done

8. Last resort: factory reset

   A reset removes all data from the phone. Back up to your Google Account first. See how to factory reset an Android phone. If the screen does not react at all, the reset can be started with the phone's buttons.

   Done

Good to know

If the screen still does not work after a reset, the fault is in the hardware. Contact the maker of the phone or your network provider about a repair.

A phone that has become wet can show the same symptoms. Let it dry completely before you judge the screen.

Back up while the screen still reacts: how to back up an Android phone to your Google Account.

In short: Damage, case and protector off, clean, 30-second restart, drag test, safe mode, Developer options off, factory reset.