Fix: iPhone 13, 13 Pro or 13 Pro Max Ghost Touch Problem

Is your Apple iPhone unexpectedly loading random apps or performing operations even when you haven’t touched the display? This is termed Ghost Touch, where the screen reacts without you touching anything on the screen. This problem has affected both old and new iPhones. Many iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max owners are facing ghost touch problems on their devices. If you are also one of them, don’t worry; some solutions have fixed the ghost touch problem for many problems. We’ll go through all of them as you progress in this article.

There could be many reasons why your Apple iPhone faces the ghost touch problem. The problem occurs mostly due to a faulty touch screen sensor. It can happen when the device is dropped from a certain height. Hardware is not always the thing to blame; sometimes, a software bug can trigger this problem. If you have recently installed an iOS update and started facing the ghost touch problem, the problem is a software bug. Some least common reasons for the ghost touch problem to occur are insufficient free storage, defective screen protectors, and protective cases.

Now that we understand the problem let’s deep dive into the effective ways of fixing the ghost touch problem on Apple iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Here’s How to Fix the iPhone 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max Ghost Touch Issue

Although the title mentions iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro, the methods are relevant to all iPhone models. The ghost touch problem occurs when the device faces performance issues, which mainly occurs when the device does not have sufficient free storage. You also need to ensure that not so many heavy apps and games are running simultaneously. With these points in mind, let’s move on to the first solution.

Solution 1: Restart Your iPhone

A temporary bug or random software glitch can trigger the ghost touch problem on your iPhone. Restarting the device frees up some RAM and removes apps from the back. So, even if your device is facing performance issues, this method can be effective.

To restart your iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max, press the power button and one of the volume buttons simultaneously until you see a slider. Drag the slider from left to right. Your phone will turn off. After a minute, press and hold the power button for a few seconds to turn on your iPhone.

Sometimes the normal restart does not work; then, the force restart method comes into the equation. This method is recommended when the ghost touch problem prevents the iPhone from rebooting.

Steps to force restart an iPhone 8 or later:

1. Press and release the volume up button.
2. Press and release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button. Release it when the Apple logo appears.

Steps to force restart an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus:

1. Press and hold the volume down button and the sleep/wake button.
2. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Steps to force restart iPhone 6, 6 Plus, or earlier:

1. Press and hold the sleep/wake button and the Home button.
2. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Solution 2: Install the Latest iOS Update

If you are still facing the ghost touch problem on your iPhone, updating the iOS version should be your next step. This is because the latest software update includes fixes to known issues besides new features and improvements. Hence, you should update your iPhone as soon as possible.

Here’s how to update your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Select General and tap on Software Update.
3. If an iOS update is available, click Download and Install to update your phone.

Once your Apple iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version, check if the problem is fixed.

Solution 3: Remove the Screen Protector

To protect the screen from accidental scratching or cracking, we apply a thin layer of glass or plastic to the phone’s screen. This thin layer is called a screen protector, a lifesaver, but sometimes it becomes the source of some screen-related problems. You should remove the screen protector that could fix the ghost touch problem on your iPhone.

You can easily remove the screen protector on your iPhone. If the protector has been cracked or you are not feeling confident enough to remove it, take your phone to a repair shop. After removing the screen protector, clear the display gently with a silk cloth.

If you have protected your iPhone with a hard case, I would recommend removing it, too, during the troubleshooting. A hard case can twist the screen, which can cause serious screen-related problems on your iPhone.

Solution 4: Turn off System Haptics

iPhone 13 is equipped with loads of exciting features. One of them is Haptic Touch. Although this feature has some great benefits, some users have reported that enabling the Haptic Touch makes the screen unresponsive or causes the ghost touch problem. You should disable the System Haptic on your iPhone and check if it can fix the problem.

Steps to turn off System Haptic on iPhone 13:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to Sound & Haptics.
3. Scroll down and find the System Haptics option. Turn it off.
4. Reboot the device.

Solution 5: Free Up Some Space

If your iPhone 13, 13 Pro, or 13 Pro max is running low on storage, you will not get the same performance. A decrease in performance can trigger the ghost touch problem. You should therefore maintain the available space on your iPhone. To free up space on your iPhone, delete unnecessary photos, videos, and documents.

Solution 6: Reset All Settings

If your iPhone still faces the ghost touch problem, resetting all settings can do the job for you. After you apply this solution, all the settings, including app preferences, keyboard dictionary, privacy settings, display settings, and network selection, will reset to the default values.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Open the Settings app and select General.
2. Tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Click Reset.
4. Tap Reset all settings on the next screen. Enter the lock screen passcode if prompted.
5. Confirm to reset all settings on your iPhone.

Solution 7: Factory Reset Your iPhone

If none of the solutions have worked for you, a factory reset will likely fix all software-related issues on your phone. Before I tell you the steps, you should know that a factory reset removes everything on your phone, including your files, images, photos, installed apps, etc. You should therefore take a full backup of your iPhone before going ahead.

Follow these steps to factory reset your iPhone 13:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Tap on General and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Click Reset and tap on Erase all Content and Settings.
4. Enter the lock screen passcode if promoted.
5. Confirm the factory reset process.

Factory resetting your iPhone can take a couple of minutes. During the process, do not press any button. Once it is done, set up your iPhone as you did after powering on the device for the first time.

Conclusion

In this guide, we briefly looked at the possible reasons why your iPhone might face the ghost touch problem. Later on, we went through some effective ways to fix the issue. I hope this guide was useful to you. Which solution helped you fix the ghost touch problem on your iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max? Share your thoughts or suggestions (if any) in the comments below.