
8 Proven Fixes for iPhone 12/13 Touch Screen Not Working [2025 Updated]
Sep 28, 2025 • Filed to: Phone Repair Solutions • Proven solutions
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are among the most powerful smartphones, blending advanced hardware with iOS for a smooth user experience. However, many users face a common issue — iPhone 12 touch screen not working can't unlock or iPhone 13 touch screen not working.
Our proven fixes are simple, safe, and highly effective — no risk of harming your device. If your iPhone screen not responding to touch or you find your iPhone 13 touch screen not working can't unlock, these solutions will help you get your phone back to normal in minutes. Don’t let a frozen screen interrupt your iPhone experience — try our methods and enjoy smooth performance again.
Part 1: Some Types of iPhone 12/13 Touch Screens Not Working Issues
- Unresponsive or Delayed Touch: This occurs when the touch screen is not responding to your touch or is taking an unusually long time to respond.
- Calibration Issues: This occurs when the touch screen needs to be correctly calibrated to recognize your touches accurately.
- Ghost Touches occur when the device registers phantom touches that you did not initiate.
- Lines or Spots on the Screen: If you notice any lines or spots on your screen, it could be due to a hardware issue.
- Touch Sensitivity: If you notice that your touch screen is overly sensitive or not sensitive enough, it could be due to a software issue.
- Unresponsive Home Button: If the home button is not responsive when pressed, it could be caused by a hardware or software issue.
Part 2: Why My iPhone 12/13 Touch Screen Not Working
- Dirt on your hand or the screen
The dirt on your hand or the screen can cause the touch screen to stop working because the dirt can act as a barrier between your finger and the screen, making it difficult for the touch screen to sense your finger.
- Interference from screen protectors or accessories like Lightning cable
One common reason for an iPhone touch screen not working is interference from accessories like screen protectors or Lightning cables. A poorly fitted screen protector or cable placed too close to the display can prevent the screen from properly detecting touch.
- Operation system problems
Issues with the operating system, hardware, or software can all lead to an iPhone screen not responding to touch, causing problems like the iPhone 12 touch screen not working can't unlock scenario many users face.
- Out-of-date iOS Version
An outdated iOS version is a common reason for an iPhone touch screen not working. Updating your device to the latest software often fixes unresponsive screen issues quickly.
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Part 3: How to Fix iPhone 12/13 Touch Screen Not Responding?
1.Clean the iPhone Surface
iPhone has many complicated components with sophisticated designs. So, if any dirt or water on the iPhone screen, the device's efficiency and accuracy will be worse. In this way, cleaning your iPhone surface can repair your iPhone.
- Step 1. Please turn off your iPhone and unplug it from any power source.
- Step 2. Gently wipe the screen and edges of the iPhone with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove any dirt, dust, or debris.
- Step 3. Use a slightly dampened cloth to remove any sticky residue from the screen, paying particular attention to the edges of the iPhone. Do not use any harsh chemicals or cleaners.
- Step 4. Dry the screen and edges of the iPhone with a clean, lint-free cloth.
- Step 5. Plug the iPhone back into a power source and turn it back on.
Test the touch screen to see if it is now responding correctly.
2.Force Restart iPhone 12/13
A force restart is a quick hardware fix when the iPhone 13 touch screen not working or becomes unresponsive. This method helps clear minor bugs and settings issues, making it an easy solution for all users.
- Step 1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Step 2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Step 3. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
You can let go of the Side button when the Apple logo appears. Your device will restart, and hopefully, the problem will be resolved.
You may need to reset your device's settings if the problem persists.
3.Remove the Screen Protector
As we know, the screen protector can extend the screen life. But it is also able to interfere with its accuracy. So you can try to remove the screen protector.
- Step 1. Turn off your iPhone 12/13.
- Step 2. Remove the case, if you have one, and any screen protector that may be covering the touchscreen.
- Step 3. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe down the display.
- Step 4. Use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to clean the display. Make sure you press only a little hard on the display.
- Step 5. Use a soft brush to remove any particles that may have gotten stuck underneath the display.
- Step 6. Turn your iPhone back on and check if the touchscreen is responding.
- Step 7. If the touchscreen is still unresponsive, try restarting your iPhone 12/13.
- Step 8. If the touchscreen is still not working, you may need to take your iPhone 12/13 to an Apple store or authorized repair center to get it fixed.
4.Update your iPhone 12/13
When facing issues like an iPhone screen not responding to touch, the first step is to update your device to the latest iOS version for better performance and bug fixes.
- Step 1. To update iOS, open the Settings app and select General > Software Update. The device will check for any available updates and install them if necessary.
- Step 2. If a new version of iOS is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it. After the update, check to see if the touch screen is working correctly.
5.Control the Temperature of your Device
If your iPhone 12/13 touch screen is not responding, control the temperature of your device. You should avoid exposing your device to extreme temperatures, such as extreme cold or heat.
You can start by turning off your device and keeping it in a cool, dry place for at least an hour. This will help to regulate the temperature of the device. After the device has acclimated to the temperature, turn it back on and check to see if the touch screen is responding.
6.Check the Hardware Damage
The first step is to check for physical damage to the iPhone 12/13. Look for any cracks, dents, or other signs of physical damage that could be causing the touch screen to malfunction. If any physical damage is detected, the device should be taken to a professional technician for repairs.
7. Optimize iPhone Performance with Dr.Fone App - Smart Clean
If your iPhone 12 touch screen not working can't unlock due to system lag or low storage, cleaning up your device can fix the issue. Clearing cache, junk files, and unnecessary data helps improve performance and restores smooth touch response. Dr.Fone App - Smart Clean (iOS) helps you effortlessly free up space, remove junk files, and optimize your iPhone’s performance. By regularly cleaning your device, you can prevent sluggish behavior and ensure a smoother touch screen experience. Try Dr.Fone Smart Clean today to keep your iPhone running at its best!
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Part 4. Easy Tool to Fix iPhone 12/13 Touch Screen Not Working
Dr.Fone-System Repair
Wondershare Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) is a powerful tool that can fix system glitches causing issues like iPhone touch screen not working on iPhone 12/13, restoring normal performance quickly.
With Dr.Fone – System Repair, you can easily fix issues like iPhone 12 touch screen not working can't unlock and restore smooth functionality. This tool also lets you enter Recovery Mode or DFU Mode to repair deeper iOS system errors, ensuring your device runs without touch screen glitches.
Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)
Fix iOS System Issues on Your Own
- Fixes various iOS issues like iPhone stuck on Apple logo, white screen, stuck in recovery mode, etc.
- Works smoothly with all versions of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
- Retains existing phone data during the fix.
- Easy-to-follow instructions provided.
Steps of Usage:
- Step 1. To begin the process of repairing your iPhone's system issues, launch Dr.Fone on your computer. On the homepage, select the 'System Repair' option.
- Step 2. On the next screen, specify that you are repairing an iOS device. Then, choose the 'iOS Repair' option to start the repair process.
- Step 3. Next, select the 'Standard Repair' option. This mode will attempt to repair your device while keeping all data secure. You can select 'Advanced Repair' if the Standard Repair fails, but please note that this will erase all data on the device.
- Step 4. To continue the repair process, you must put your device into Recovery Mode. To do this, connect your device to the computer via a USB connection and enter the password for the lock screen. When the 'Trust' pop-up appears, tap it to continue. Select the 'Guide to Recovery Mode' option if your device is unresponsive or acting abnormally.
- Step 5. Once your device is in Recovery Mode, Dr.Fone will detect it automatically. You will be presented with a list of different iOS firmware available for installation on the device. To select one, click 'Download'.
- Step 6. The iOS firmware will start downloading, and the progress will be displayed on a progress bar. Once the download is complete, the firmware will be verified before being installed on your device.
- Step 7.After verifying firmware, click 'Repair Now' to start the iOS system recovery process.
- Step 8. When the repair is finished, a prompt window will show the successful completion of the process. Click 'Done' to finish.
The Bottom Line
Suppose you are facing the iPhone 12 touch screen not working issue. In that case, you should look into possible causes such as dirt on your hand or the screen, interference from screen protectors or accessories, or operating system problems.
We highly recommend using Wondershare Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) for a smooth and reliable repair process. This professional iOS repair tool is designed to fix system glitches, recover lost data, and resolve common issues like iPhone screen not responding to touch.
iPhone 13 Issues
- Apps Keeps Stopping
- 1. iPhone 13 Safari Not Working
- 2. iPhone 13 Apps Keep Crashing
- 3. iPhone 13 Apps Stuck on Loading
- 4. iPhone 13 WhatsApp Calls Don't Work
- 5. iPhone 13 Won't Download Apps
- 6. iPhone 13 Apps Not Opening
- 7. iPhone 13 Apps Won't Update
- 8. iPhone 13 Safari Freezes
- 9. iPhone 13 Safari Not Loading Pages
- iPhone 13 Charging Issues
- 1. iPhone 13 Battery Draining Fast
- 2. iPhone 13 Overheating
- 3. iPhone 13 Overheats While Charging
- 4. iPhone 13 Won't Charge
- iPhone 13 Not Working
- 1. iPhone 13 Overheating And Won't On
- 2. iPhone 11/12/13 Won't Turn On
- 3. iPhone 13 Restarts
- 4. iPhone 13 Problems
- iPhone 13 Screen Issues
- 1. iPhone 13 Touch Screen Not Working
- 2. iPhone 13 Stuck on White Screen
- 3. iPhone 13 Frozen Screen
- 4. iPhone 13 Black Screen
- 5. iPhone 13 Camera Black Screen
- 6. iPhone 13 Goes Black During Call
- iPhone 13 Services Fail
- 1. iPhone 13 Face ID Not Working
- 2. iPhone 13 Not Ringing
- 3. iPhone 13 Call Failed
- 4. iPhone 13 Poor Call Quality
- 5. iPhone 13 iMessage Not Working
- 6. iPhone 13 Dropping Calls
- 7. iPhone 13 No Service Problem
- 8. iPhone 13 Not Receiving Calls
- 9. iPhone 13 SIM Failure/No SIM Card
- 10. iPhone 13 iMessage Not Syncing
- 11. iPhone 13 Hotspot Not Working
- iPhone 13 Tips

James Davis
staff Editor
Generally rated4.5(105participated)