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TroubleshootingScreen Replacement

Why is my phone screen unresponsive in places?

A screen that ignores touches in some spots is usually blocked by a case, a screen protector, moisture, debris or a misbehaving app or setting, and less often by a damaged display. Restart the phone, clean and dry the glass, remove the case and protector, install updates and test in safe mode. If dead zones remain, the screen needs service.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Restart the phone

    Turn the phone off and back on.[1] On a Galaxy, hold the Side and Volume down keys for more than 7 seconds if it will not respond normally.[3]

  2. Step 2: Clean and dry the glass

    Make sure that your screen is clean and free of any debris or water.[1] Take off gloves and peel off any stickers covering the screen or sensors.[2]

  3. Step 3: Unplug accessories

    Unplug any Lightning or USB-C accessories. If the screen works afterwards, try a different outlet, cable or charger.[1]

  4. Step 4: Take off the case and screen protector

    Remove the case and any screen protector, then test the dead spots again.[1][2]

  5. Step 5: Check the touch settings

    On a Pixel 9, open Touch sensitivity and try Adaptive touch on or off; on a Pixel 8a or earlier, try Screen protector mode.[2] On a Galaxy with a protector fitted, try raising the Touch sensitivity setting.[3]

  6. Step 6: Check accessibility and gesture settings

    On a Galaxy, turn off TalkBack if touches are not working, restore any changed touch settings, and turn off the Magnification shortcut if it is set to triple-tap.[3]

  7. Step 7: Install updates

    Install any pending system update and update your apps.[2][3]

  8. Step 8: Test in safe mode

    Restart in safe mode. If touch works there, a recent third-party app is the likely cause, so remove recently installed or updated apps one at a time.[3]

  9. Step 9: Run the built-in touch test

    On a Pixel 9, run Touch diagnostics.[2] On a Galaxy, run the Touch screen test in the Samsung Members app.[3]

  10. Step 10: Back up and book service

    If dead spots remain, back up the phone and arrange service.[1][3]

Start with what sits on the glass

A screen that ignores touches in patches is, more often than not, being blocked or confused, not broken. The quickest checks cost nothing. Apple's guidance for a screen that is too sensitive or responds intermittently to touch starts with a restart, a clean screen, unplugging accessories and removing cases or protectors.[1] Google's Pixel help adds taking off gloves and peeling off any stickers covering the screen or sensors.[2]

A black Samsung smartphone standing open in a beige flip cover on a table, with a diagonal crack across the top of the screen, held by a hand
Photo: Sima shimony, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Restart first. Samsung says a temporary system error may cause the touchscreen to stop responding normally.[3] Then make sure that your screen is clean and free of any debris or water.[1] A damp fingertip, a smear of lotion or a film of condensation can all make part of the screen go dead.

Next, unplug whatever is attached. If your screen works after removing an accessory, try using a different outlet, cable, or charger.[1] A bad charger can make the whole panel behave oddly while it is plugged in.

Case and screen protector

Try removing the case or screen protector to see if touch responsiveness improves.[2] Edges are the usual trouble spot: a thick case lip or a protector that has lifted can swallow touches near the border, where gesture swipes begin.

If the protector helps in one place and hurts in another, check the phone's setting for it. On Pixel 9 models, Touch sensitivity has an Adaptive touch switch; on the Pixel 8a and earlier, the equivalent is Screen protector mode.[2] On a Galaxy fitted with a protector or tempered glass, Samsung suggests increasing the Touch sensitivity setting.[3]

Software and settings

If the phone behaves with the case off, look at software. Install any pending system update and update your apps. Samsung also points to TalkBack, a Magnification shortcut set to triple-tap, and full screen gestures as settings that can interfere with touch.[3] If only one app misbehaves, the problem is probably that app, not the screen.

To separate an app problem from a hardware one, restart in safe mode. Safe mode will help determine if there is a recent third-party app that is causing an issue on your device.[3] If touch works in safe mode, remove recently installed or updated apps one at a time.

Then use the maker's own test. Pixel 9 models have Touch diagnostics under Display and touch, and Samsung's Members app has a Touch screen test.[2][3] Drag a finger across the whole screen: if the same spots stay dead in the test, that points to the display itself.

Stop and call a pro if

  • Dead spots survive every step above. If your screen still isn't working, you might need to set up service for your device.[1] Samsung likewise says to visit a Samsung service center if the issue persists.[3]
  • The glass is cracked, or the phone was dropped or wet. Impact and moisture damage the touch layer under the glass, and no setting fixes that.
  • The screen touches itself. Ghost taps, flickering or lines across the display are also display faults.
  • You are tempted to reset. A factory reset is a last resort that erases everything on the device, so back up your data first.[3] It will not repair a damaged display.

Back up before you hand the phone over, in case the repair shop needs to reset it.

Getting help in Virginia

If the display is the culprit, a screen replacement is usually the fix. Start with what phone screen replacement costs in Virginia, and read whether a third-party repair shop is safe to use before choosing where to go. More guides are at phone and tablet repair answers, and you can browse local phone and tablet repair businesses.

When you are ready, describe the dead spots and your phone model once and local repair shops quote it.

Common questions

Can a screen protector make part of the screen stop responding?
Yes. Google and Samsung both tell you to take the protector and case off to see whether touch improves. Pixels have a touch-sensitivity setting for protectors (Adaptive touch on the Pixel 9, Screen protector mode on the Pixel 8a and earlier), and Samsung suggests raising Touch sensitivity when a protector or tempered glass is fitted.
Can water or a damp finger cause dead spots?
Apple tells you to make sure the screen is clean and free of any debris or water, and Samsung says to wipe away moisture with a soft, dry cloth. Dry the glass and your fingers, and test again.
How do I tell an app problem from a broken screen?
Restart in safe mode. Samsung says safe mode helps determine whether a recent third-party app is causing the issue. If touch works normally there, remove recently installed or updated apps one at a time. If the same spots are dead in safe mode, the display is more likely at fault.
Should I factory reset to fix it?
Only as a last resort. Samsung lists it after every other step and warns that you must back up first, because it erases everything on the device. A reset will not fix a damaged display.
Is a replacement screen worth it?
If dead spots persist after the steps above, the display or its touch layer is the likely cause and replacing the screen is the fix. See what a replacement costs in Virginia before you decide.

Sources

  1. [1] If the screen isn't working on your iPhone or iPad, Apple Support. Checked October 28, 2026.
  2. [2] Fix touch and response issues on your Pixel screen, Pixel Phone Help, Google. Checked October 28, 2026.
  3. [3] Troubleshoot touchscreen issues on a Samsung Galaxy device, Samsung Electronics America. Checked October 28, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.