ipeverywhere

Q: Touchscreen freaks out/registers touches without touching it.

Called Apple and they have not heard of this so wondering if I've got a one-of-a-kind problem here. Couldn't find another report of this anywhere. Please let me know if you are experiencing the below behavior:

After the screen gets excessively dirty with fingerprints the touchscreen will start registering touches without actually touching the screen. Safari will quickly zoom in/out, keyboard will open/close rapidly, links will be clicked at random bringing up new tabs, etc. etc. This all happens very quickly and is the best example but it happens in all applications.

If I sleep, hit the power button, and let it sit for 60 seconds then it will stop for a few minutes but ultimately comes back. Cleaning the screen does not always prevent it but cleaning the screen and rebooting (power off) does seem to stop this behavior until the screen gets dirty again.

When it is having a fit like this the screen seems to be overly sensitive. I can click on links by coming very close to the screen without actually touching it.

Anyway, when the iPad is having one of it's "fits" then it is basically unusable. Anyone seen this behavior? Or is it time to replace my iPad?

Thanks

iPad, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 26, 2010 11:53 AM

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Q: Touchscreen freaks out/registers touches without touching it.

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  • by Karelman,

    Karelman Karelman Oct 28, 2010 8:52 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2010 8:52 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    I have the same problem, I restored the iPad today thinking could be an app, but is steel happening.
  • by Tom in DC,

    Tom in DC Tom in DC Nov 1, 2010 4:16 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 1, 2010 4:16 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    This happenned to me today, though I cleaned the screen this morning. I tried cleaning the screen again, and a reset (holding the Home button on the front and ths Sleep button on the side until the Apple logo appears) did nothing. But after a second reset the iPad started working normally again -- but I dunno whether that was a permanent fix. More extreme, but worth trying, is a wipe and restore (after syncing with the iPad's master computer); I'll try that if/when it happens again.
  • by SL65AMG007,

    SL65AMG007 SL65AMG007 Nov 1, 2010 8:03 PM in response to Tom in DC
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 1, 2010 8:03 PM in response to Tom in DC
    Restore the iPad, but do not restore it from backup because it is a software glitch and you will only be putting it back on.
  • by sinoue,

    sinoue sinoue Nov 28, 2010 10:42 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 2 (220 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 28, 2010 10:42 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    This touchscreen problem has to do with air temperature. If your iPad is cold and the air is warm (or vice versa) the touch screen freaks out. Certain spots are more sensitive than others which is why you can often get the freak out to happen in the same spots on the screen. I can recreate this when I'm near my AC with cool air blowing around the unit and my warm breath triggering random touches.

    I struggle with this problem. I suggest turning off the iPad and warming the screen (hand or body contact) and then turning it back on away from any air drafts or rooms with extreme temp changes. If you need to recreate for apple store folks super chill your iPad and then breath on the screen. I don't know if some units are better than others in resolving this problem so I'm not sure Apple has a good solution in exchanging your unit with another return/refurb.
  • by angryinslc,

    angryinslc angryinslc Jan 4, 2012 8:42 AM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2012 8:42 AM in response to ipeverywhere

    I purchased my iPad 1 year 2 months ago and I am having this same problem.  I went to the Genius Bar as suggested in this thread and they would not help me because the iPad is 2 months out of warranty.  This is extremely disappointing since no product should be completely unusable in 1 year.  I can understand if I dropped it or if it was 3 or 4 years old, but 1 year?  Come on Apple, is this a policy you feel good about?

    A product with a major malfunction that was hundreds of dollars and you won't help a customer because I am just outside the warranty window?  Nothing this expensive should be completely broken in 1 year.  I expect a quality electronic product should last 3-5 years; 1 year is just not acceptable.  I won't be purchasing another Apple regardless of how cool the products are because they don't stand behind them. Apple is happy to take your money and tout a customer service orientation, but when push comes to shove, they are no better than Microsoft when it comes to standing behind their products.

  • by the_ironoutlaw,

    the_ironoutlaw the_ironoutlaw Feb 24, 2012 3:24 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2012 3:24 PM in response to ipeverywhere

    I also had/have the same problem. My iPad2 was doing the random launch/scroll/swipe etc., so I took it into the Doncaster Apple Store here in Victoria, Australia and they replaced it straight away as they were able to see it play up live. Trouble is the replacement is also doing the same thing! The Apple in-store rep originally said it was a hardware problem but obviously (?) it's software. Then again it could be static of some kind or even the STM clip cover putting pressure on the corners or interfering with the iPad's back? No idea. But it's back to the Apple Store to let them figure it out. P.S. I've reinstalled/removed apps that may have caused issues but it's still playing up...

  • by lucky.charm444,

    lucky.charm444 lucky.charm444 Mar 6, 2012 5:59 AM in response to angryinslc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2012 5:59 AM in response to angryinslc

    angryinslc wrote:

     

    I purchased my iPad 1 year 2 months ago and I am having this same problem.  I went to the Genius Bar as suggested in this thread and they would not help me because the iPad is 2 months out of warranty.  This is extremely disappointing since no product should be completely unusable in 1 year.  I can understand if I dropped it or if it was 3 or 4 years old, but 1 year?  Come on Apple, is this a policy you feel good about?

    A product with a major malfunction that was hundreds of dollars and you won't help a customer because I am just outside the warranty window?  Nothing this expensive should be completely broken in 1 year.  I expect a quality electronic product should last 3-5 years; 1 year is just not acceptable.  I won't be purchasing another Apple regardless of how cool the products are because they don't stand behind them. Apple is happy to take your money and tout a customer service orientation, but when push comes to shove, they are no better than Microsoft when it comes to standing behind their products.

     

    Sorry to reply so late but i would just like to say that this is not right! do you not have any laws about products lasting a quality amount of time for the price you pay? i know you are all in america but here is australia we have laws which state that products which cost over a certain amount of money should intend to last a long time.. especially something like the ipad which we pay hundreds and sometimes when they have first come out we can pay over the $1000 mark. It is not right to pay this amount of money and have software and touch screen faults which would be the manufacturers fault. not ours.... Apple does have extended warrenty which maybe should have been considered buying. but when you do purchase a product with a years warrenty... apple is saying the product is only going to work at its best for that amount of time. like when you buy a tv with 3 years warrenty the manufacturer knows that that tv is going to last three years. so it is expectable in some ways that the item is going to break down after only one year... in this case they need to make the ipad cheaper as who wants to pay nearly $1000 on something that is going to last them one year.... by the way i have the same problem but it is the whole screen... tried to restore it and i can only get as far as typing the password in for my wifi access but then it will start typing for me all these other letters that i hadnt typed.... so i cant even use this. My question to everyone is: WHY ARE WE SO FIXED ON HAVING AN APPLE BRANDED ITEM WHEN APPLE CAN ONLY TRUST THAT THEIR ITEMS WILL ONLY LAST ONE YEAR WHEN WE PAY SO MUCH??? we are all fixed on brands... get over it people go buy the acer or the hp or some other product... most do more things than the ipad.... and can view flash items....

  • by luvbomb7,

    luvbomb7 luvbomb7 May 27, 2012 1:48 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 27, 2012 1:48 PM in response to ipeverywhere

    Same exact thing happening with my iPod touch 4, I restored to factory same result. Can't event type in the security key for my wifi, completely useless at this point it was bought last June and the apple support tried to sell me either a 69.00 plan or a one time incident plan for 29.00, glad it's not just me I don't even have to touch the screen and it flips pages opens random apps the keyboard is useless....hope they acknowledge this problem

  • by luvbomb7,

    luvbomb7 luvbomb7 May 27, 2012 2:00 PM in response to darndtjr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 27, 2012 2:00 PM in response to darndtjr

    Defineltly not resolved I have the same issue on my iPod touch 4 not even a yr old yet, cant type on it, random apps open on their own, don't even have to b touching the screen, tech offered no advice other than to try to sell me a 69 dollar 2 yr extended warranty

  • by Ark1,

    Ark1 Ark1 Aug 14, 2012 12:42 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2012 12:42 PM in response to ipeverywhere

    I have the same problem with my iPad.  It is an iPad 1 purchased on the first day of sales. It was completely fine until a week ago.  Now it gets a flurry of random screen touches that makes it unusable.  This happens in Safari, in the Home screen, and in other apps.  Temperature is always consistent, so that is not the problem.   I've cleaned the screen, I've restored the iPad.  Any suggestions?

  • by sinoue,

    sinoue sinoue Aug 15, 2012 2:35 PM in response to Ark1
    Level 2 (220 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 15, 2012 2:35 PM in response to Ark1

    Did you take it back to Apple?  I did and they swapped it out.  It helped when I showed them a video of the ipad freaking out that I shot with my iPhone.  They swapped me out at no charge.  If you are out of warranty they will offer a repair price.  I've heard others have replaced the iPad digitizer thru 3rd party sites for $150 or less, or you can do the repair yourself and buy just the part for under $50.

     

    I had a similar problem with my first iPhone where I had worn out the swiping to unlock area of the digitzer.  Apple gave me a repair price or a discount on a new iPhone.  Went with the later and have been happy to not having any new issues.  My guess is that they improved their manufacturing process.

     

    Some Useful Links:

    iPad Digitizer vs LCD screen: http://www.ipadcrackedglass.com/iPad_Digitizer_vs_LCD.html

     

    Take a video of your ipad freaking out and post it to YouTube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwKi52cUID4

  • by David Darrow,

    David Darrow David Darrow May 27, 2015 1:40 PM in response to sinoue
    Level 2 (155 points)
    May 27, 2015 1:40 PM in response to sinoue

    sinoue wrote:

     

    This touchscreen problem has to do with air temperature.

    That kind of makes sense, but it is happening to mine (over a year old) now and I am certain the iPad is the same temp as the air, give or take a degree or two for iPad warmth. It is always used in the same conditions, and this behavior is new. And intermittent.

     

    Using Facetime yesterday (I do, a lot) the screen was flashing the 'end-call and other icons' on and off rapidly. I had to end the call and Hard-Reset. Today the symptoms are different, but must be related.

     

    Weird.

  • by SkeeterTheSquirrel,

    SkeeterTheSquirrel SkeeterTheSquirrel Mar 29, 2016 1:57 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Mar 29, 2016 1:57 PM in response to ipeverywhere

    The same has been happening to me! I'm going to Apple this weekend, but maybe I won't have too if I figure it out. I have tried rebooting, resetting, taking off the case, massaging it (don't ask, I found this somewhere) "bending" the corners, and noting works! It is almost completely unusable because it happens every five minutes. Your problem is like mine, except mine wasn't dirty. Help, pleeeeaaaaseee help.

  • by aehovey,

    aehovey aehovey Aug 29, 2016 12:15 PM in response to ipeverywhere
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 29, 2016 12:15 PM in response to ipeverywhere

    I have had this issue before, and I was finally able to replicate it! I don't know if it will happen to others under the same conditions, but perhaps someone will find it useful.

     

    This was happening to me as described in this thread (and has happened to me in the past also). My keyboard was going crazy while I was trying to send a text. I went to the home screen and apps were being clicked spontaneously, the search was being pulled down, and nonsense was being typed in on the keyboard (random characters). It was all happening so fast that I couldn't even click on things to get out. Even when I tried to shut off the phone I had trouble swiping the shut off slider; I had to hold the power button a couple of times to try before I could get the slider to move.

     

    After shutting off my phone I turned it on again, and had the same issue! I read some posts here about it possibly being a static electricity issue. Then I noticed that I had my phone plugged into an outlet to charge. I thought perhaps that was connected to the issue. I unplugged my phone from the wall outlet (actually a power strip), and the issue stopped immediately!

     

    I wanted to see if it truly was causing the issue, so after I used the iPhone a bit and verified it was working fine, I plugged the phone back into the charger connected to my power strip, and sure enough, the issue came right back, stopping again once I unplugged it.

     

    I do not know if other experiencing this also had their devices plugged in. In my case, that was the issue.

    I hope this is useful!

     

    Andrew

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