iPhone 7 Touch Screen Not Working? Here's Why & The Real Fix!

David Lynch

MARCH 22, 2017

Your iPhone 7 touch screen is not responding and you don't know why. The touch screen gives your iPhone most of its functionality, so it's incredibly frustrating when it won't work properly. In this article, I'll explain why your iPhone 7 touch screen is not working and show you how to fix the problem for good.

What's Really Going On With My iPhone 7? Is It Broken?

At this point we can't be sure why your iPhone 7 touch screen is not responding. The problem could be caused by the software or the hardware of your iPhone 7.

Let's talk about the software first: if the software of your iPhone crashed, or if your iPhone 7 touch screen is not responding when you open a specific app, your iPhone may be experiencing a software problem. The first few steps in our troubleshooting guide will explain how to uninstall and reinstall a troublesome app, as well as show you how to do some software resets.

If your iPhone 7 touch screen is not working due to a hardware issue, it's usually because the digitizer of your iPhone has stopped working. The digitizer is the physical component of your iPhone 7 that gives it touch screen functionality. Our troubleshooting guide will help you diagnose what's really going on with your iPhone's touch screen so you can fix the problem for good.

How To Fix An iPhone 7 Touch Screen That's Not Working

5 Steps Total
1.

Hard Reset Your iPhone

A hard reset is usually a temporary solution to a software problem. It doesn't change anything at all — it just forces your iPhone to start from scratch, and often times the problem comes back.

How Do I Hard Reset My iPhone?

  1. Press and hold the power button and the volume down button together until the screen goes blank and the Apple logo appears on the screen.
  2. When the Apple logo reappears, let go of both buttons.
  3. When your iPhone turns back on, the hard reset is complete.

Hard Reset On iPhone X or Newer

Hard reseting an iPhone X is slightly different than other models of the iPhone.

  1. Quickly press the volume up button.
  2. Quickly press the volume down button.
  3. Press and hold down the Side button.
  4. Release the Side button when the Apple logo appears on the center of the screen.
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2.

DFU Restore Your iPhone

A DFU restore has the potential to fix software problems by completely erasing the code which may be causing your problem. The code is rewritten as if your iPhone is brand new, so the software problem may get solved.

Think of it like a house that has cracks in the foundation. Rather than try and fix the cracks, we are building an entirely new foundation.

If you can, back up your iPhone before completing a DFU restore. Any time you do a restore, it erases everything from your iPhone. However, after the restore is completed, you restore all your backed up data back onto your iPhone.

How Do I DFU Restore My iPhone?

How To DFU Restore An iPhone SE, 6s, Or Older

  1. Using a Lightning cable, plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if you have a PC or Mac running Mojave 10.14 or earlier. Open Finder if you have a Mac running Catalina 10.15 or newer. It doesn’t matter if your iPhone is on or off.
  3. Press and hold the Home button and the power button simultaneously.
  4. After 8 seconds, release the power button, but continue to hold the Home button.
  5. Let go of the power button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  6. Your iPhone’s display will be completely black if you’ve successfully entered DFU mode. If it’s not, try again from the beginning.
  7. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.

How To DFU Restore An iPhone 7 Or 7 Plus

  1. Using a Lightning cable, plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if you have a PC or Mac running Mojave 10.14 or earlier. Open Finder if you have a Mac running Catalina 10.15 or newer. It doesn’t matter if your iPhone is on or off.
  3. Press and hold the power and volume down button simultaneously.
  4. After 8 seconds, release the power button, but continue to hold the volume down button.
  5. Release the volume down button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  6. You'll know your iPhone is in DFU mode if the display is completely black.
  7. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.

How To DFU Restore An iPhone 8 Or Newer

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a charging cable.
  2. Open iTunes (PCs and Macs running macOS 10.14 or older) or Finder (Macs running macOS 10.15 or newer).
  3. Quickly press and release the volume up button.
  4. Quickly press and release the volume down button.
  5. Press and hold the side button until the screen goes black.
  6. When the screen goes black, press and hold the volume down button while continuing to press and hold the side button.
  7. Hold both buttons for five seconds.
  8. After five seconds, release the side button while continuing to hold the volume down button.
  9. Keep holding the volume down button until your iPhone appears in Finder or iTunes.
  10. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.
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3.

Press Down On The Screen Directly Over Logic Board Connecting Cables

Have you recently dropped your iPhone 7? Even the slightest drop can cause the small cables that connect the logic board to your iPhone's display to come loose. If those cables were dislodged, it could be the reason why your iPhone 7 touch screen is not working. Sometimes, it's possible to reconnect them without having to open your iPhone.

  1. Press down on the part of your iPhone's screen where the small cables connect to the logic board (use the image above as a guide if you need to).
  2. Be careful not to press down on the display of your iPhone 7 too hard, as it could cause the screen to crack.
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4.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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5.

Repair Your iPhone Through Amazon Home Services

Amazon Home Services sends a vetted technician directly to you, whether you're at home or the office. They'll fix your iPhone directly on the spot. Amazon Home Services repairs typically take between 30–60 minutes.

  1. Go to Amazon's Home Service web page.
  2. Select your iPhone model.
  3. Choose the address you'd like the technician to come to.
  4. Select a date and time to schedule your appointment.
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iPhone 7 Touch Screen Problem: Solved!

Your iPhone 7 touch screen is working again, or you know your most convenient repair option if it has come to that. Now you know exactly what to do next time your iPhone 7 touch screen is not working. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. I hope you'll share it on social media, or leave me a comment down below if you have any other questions about your iPhone!

  1. Hard Reset Your iPhone
  2. DFU Restore Your iPhone
  3. Press Down On The Screen Directly Over Logic Board Connecting Cables
  4. Repair Your iPhone With Apple
  5. Repair Your iPhone Through Amazon Home Services

Applies To: iPhone 7

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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Chip Keyes
Chip Keyes
1 year ago

Thank you a thousand times. I was freaking out, both because I use my iPhone in most aspects of my life, and (more importantly) my wife is not well and was worried she could not contact me when I was out in the world. I feared I would have to wait for an appointment at the Apple App Store. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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Let Go Brandon
Let Go Brandon
2 years ago

I replace my iphone7 battery and the screen was completely unresponsive. I rebooted the phone using the ‘hold down volume button and power off button simultaneously’ and so far, so good! Thanks a million!

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karen hudson
karen hudson
2 years ago

hi my iphone 7 plus touch screen stopped working completely, ive done everything that ive searched, before i restored it just the top half of the screen was working, after the restoration its the whole screen, what should i do?

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Antonia Robinson
Antonia Robinson
6 years ago

Brilliant, Apple wanted to charge me £160 to fix this after reading this my iPhone is up and running for free…thankyou

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