What causes ghosting on iPhone X?

Imagine, you are playing an ouija board game, and your iPhone X is lying next to the board. Somehow, it’s your turn to move the planchette! Woah! But wait, why does your iPhone start responding by itself? Have ghosts operated your phone?  Spooked? Don’t worry, just kidding!

The spirit board game has ended, and let’s discuss why your iPhone is behaving weirdly. It could have happened because of the Ghost Touch Issue On iPhone X!

Here I am going to give you the best fix, and reveal the reason why the iPhone X Ghost Touch Issue has occurred?

The Reason Of iPhone X Ghost Touch

The main thing responsible for this glitch could be faulty driver assembly, imperfect adjusting of the display or maybe the damaged pin or some other hardware glitch.

So, before visiting the Apple Store to get the issue addressed, you can try these best fixes for iPhone X Ghost Touch Issue!

The Fixes For iPhone X Ghost Touch

Fix1- Reset All Settings To Halt Annoying iPhone X Ghost Touch

• Go to iPhone’s settings.

• Look for General and tap on it.
• Click on Reset.

• Here tap on Reset all settings. Now, enter the passcode to reset all the settings.

Now all the settings on your iPhone will come back to the default.

Fix 2- Force Restart iPhone To Get Rid Of This iPhone X Ghost Touch

A force restart is also a proven solution to resolve the issue. If you reboot your gadget, there are fair chances; you can get rid of this issue.

Here I am showing the directions to force restart your iPhone.

iPhone 8 or later devices- Press and release the Volume Up button, and hold down until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus- Press Volume button and Power button and release after you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 6 or earlier device- Press the Power button and Home button, until you see the Apple logo.

Fix 3-  Install All Pending Updates

• Tap on App Store from the Homescreen.
• Scroll down to updates.
• A list of apps will appear and Tap on update all.

• Update all the applications and then restart your phone and check whether the issue is still there or not.

Fix 4- Adjust 3d Screen Sensitivity

You may encounter the iPhone X Ghost Touch Issue when 3D screen sensitivity is weak or not working. Follow the steps below to make the 3D screen more responsive.

• Go to iPhone’s settings and tap on Accessibility (iPhone 7 Plus).

• Tap on Touch, scroll down to 3D & Taptic Touch.

• Now you can adjust the sensitivity to Light, Medium and Firm as per your preferences.

Fix 5-  Get iPhone X Screen Fixed by Apple

If you still facing issues with your gadgets, visiting an authorized repair center should be your solution. Before visiting the Apple Retail Store make sure to backup iPhone to iTunes or iCloud.

Final Words

I hope now you understood there was a hardware glitch on your iPhone rather than any spirit coming straight away from the Ouija board!

To get rid of iPhone X Ghost Touch Issue, I have shared the best 5 ways which will pull you out from this ghostly like situation.

Ghost touch is when your iPhone screen starts functioning on its own. Although touchscreen displays have completely changed the way we use phones, they come with drawbacks.

Before we delve deeper into the solutions to fix the ghost touch issue on iPhone, let’s first understand what it is and which devices have experienced the same.

• What is ghost touch on iPhone?
• Which iPhones are affected by ghost touch?
• How to get rid of ghost touch on your iPhone

What is ghost touch on iPhone?

As the name suggests, ghost touch is when the screen seems to react to non-existing touches, and the application starts functioning without you doing anything. Ghost touches are bothersome and may necessitate having your iPhone repaired by Apple. However, before attempting some quick fixes, you must first understand what causes ghost touch on iPhones.

Causes of ghost touch on iPhone

• Replacing or removing the touch screen during repair

Usually, if touch screens have been changed or removed during repairs, you might experience issues with screen sensitivity and ghost touch. 

• Manufacturing defects

Ghost touch can occasionally result from a manufacturing error. Back office and supply chain implications, industrial automation, data analytics, and other areas of the manufacturing/logistics departments might be responsible for such faults. Programming errors can even sabotage the entire software processing. Therefore, the program installation gone wrong might be to blame. 

• Hardware problems

Ghost touch might also be caused by a hardware issue. To check for hardware issues on your iPhone, launch Settings → select Privacy & Security (iOS 16) or Privacy (iOS 15 or earlier) → Analytics & Improvements → Analytics Data. There could be a list of error logs there. 

• Software issues

A glitch in the software, such as the iOS 16 upgrade, is a frequent cause of ghost touch. If there is a flaw in the update, it can influence how sensitive the screen is, and you might get an extremely annoying ghost touch. 

Which iPhones are affected by ghost touch?

In November 2018, Apple acknowledged that some iPhone X models had touchscreen problems. Even though that’s an old issue, some users of iOS 16 on iPhone X have brought it up in 2022 as well. Apple hasn’t publicly acknowledged the iPhone ghost touch issue, but investigations and internet complaints have proven that other models have also been impacted. Below is a list of the models rumored to have this screen glitch: 

• iPhone 5 
• iPhone 6 
• iPhone 7 
• iPhone 8 
• iPhone XS 
• iPhone XR 
• iPhone 11 
• iPhone 12  
• iPhone 13  

Note: Ghost Touch can occasionally be experienced on any iPhone.

How to get rid of ghost touch on your iPhone

Here are 10 simple solutions that help you stop ghost touch on your iPhone. Let’s get started!

1. Check Accessibility settings on your iPhone

Accessibility settings may have an impact on the touch of your iPhone. You may have unintentionally activated Touch Accommodation, Assistive Touch, Back Tap, or even a function that recognizes taps on your phone’s back. To adjust these settings:

1. Open Settings → Accessibility → Touch.
2. Now, toggle off/on these four options as per your liking: Assistive Touch, Touch Accommodations, Back Tap, or Haptic Touch.

2. Restart your iPhone

You may always try restarting your smartphone if you have problems with the iPhone screen glitch. As rebooting always updates your devices, it also fixes any ghost screen issues that may have been caused by applications. Follow the steps mentioned in our detailed guide to restart your iPhone. 

3. Stop using third-party accessories

Some third-party charging cables, headphone jack adapters, battery charging cases, and other accessories might cause odd screen motions. If you only experience ghost touch while a physical peripheral is attached, it is most likely the accessory that is to blame. So, it is recommended to use accessories certified by Apple and check if the problem resolves. 

4. Clean your screen

You may think it’s only a silly step, but you have no idea how effective this one could be. To start cleaning the screen on your iPhone, make sure all external peripherals are unplugged. Now, wipe the screen with a soft cloth. Lint-free cloths and screen cleaning sprays are preferred.  

5. Update to the latest iOS

Your iPhone may face compatibility issues if you’re using an older version of iOS. Your existing iOS may have some bugs that may lead to phantom touch issues on your iPhone. To rectify the iPhone glitch screen, you may update iOS to the latest version using the steps mentioned in our detailed guide.

6. Update apps in App Store

iPhone’s ghost touch issue might be caused by out-of-date applications. It would be best if you upgraded the out-of-date apps on the Apple Store to correct them. You may have a few applications waiting for updates if automatic updates are not enabled. Read the following article for detailed information about how to update an app on iPhone.

7. Remove or replace your iPhone’s screen protector

Screen protectors are very thin sheets of glass or plastic that are used to shield the iPhone’s screen from damage. While they are often advantageous, they occasionally may interfere with your touchscreen’s functionality. Be careful not to scratch your iPhone’s screen when removing the screen protector from your phone. 

8. Reset iPhone Settings

If you feel like the ghost touch issue is because of the settings you’ve customized recently, then you can always revert back to your iPhone’s default settings. To reset your settings back to default, you need to follow the following steps:

1. Launch Settings → General.
2. Go to Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings.  

9. Do a factory reset

This is the last resort if your iPhone continues to have ghost touch errors. You can attempt factory resetting your iPhone to fix the glitch screen issue. I advise backing up your iPhone before continuing because this step will erase the device’s data. Please go through our guide on how to factory reset your iPhone and iPad for detailed steps.

10. Contact Apple Support

Well, if none of the aforementioned measures work for you, there’s always Apple Support. You might be able to get your screen changed for free, depending on your iPhone model and warranty. To obtain assistance, you can get in touch with Apple Support directly or go to a nearby Apple Store or authorized Apple Service Provider. 

Note: If you own an iPhone X or an iPhone 11 that’s manufactured between November 2019 and May 2020, then Apple will replace your iPhone’s screen for free.

Winding up…

Please let us know in the comment section if you experience any other issues with your device. I’ll make it a point to respond as soon as possible. Don’t forget to read the other articles as well. Below is a list of a few topics that might interest you.

How do I fix the ghost touch on my iPhone X?

Why is my iPhone screen ghosting?

How do I stop my phone from ghosting?

Why is my iPhone X doing things on its own?