Q: iPhone 6 plus intermittent unresponsive screen

Okay so, after I got my screen replaced again (had to pay $234) it started happening again so, I took it back to Apple. As soon as I explained to him what was going on, he said they had to replace it. He said last week Apple sent a memo saying that this was a common problem and to just replace the phone with a brand new (not refurbished) phone. I was glad that I didn't have to pay for a new phone and if you do go, make sure to back up your phone. I have mibe set to where it automatically backs up when it's plugged in and charging. He said the problem is a software and hardware issue and it is basically the brain and body not syncing up. They don't know what causes it yet.

Hi Pat,

I agree, this should be some hardware related. Can you help to guide us here how to 'clean' and 'check' the connector position?

I can help myself to open the LCD but not sure which one is the molex connector.

Thanks!

Apple is well aware of this issue and has no fix as of yet. My (brand new after having replaced through express replace due to the camera issue) iPhone 6+ became unusable yesterday. Contacted support in the morning, described the problem and pointed them at this board. Was told it was a software issue and needed to restore. Pointed out where everyone says that's not working, was told to restore. Restored as a new device last night, lost a bunch of data. Didn't work. Went through 3 Apple care reps who kept telling me to restore. Again pointed them at this forum. They then conceded it was a hardware issue and agreed to replace, for a fee. After arguing that I just received this new product and they had given me a replacement one, and that it was under warranty, they agreed to replace the device for free and conceded that it was a known issue.

So I wasted 6 hours of my life, 30 if you count that they could have had a new phone here this evening if they'd quit playing dumb in the morning, and lost a bunch of data for a known hardware issue... Jokingly asked the rep if I had contacted Microsoft support by mistake. I miss Steve, Apple supporter for my entire life but this experience put a huge dent in my faith. Will be contacting FTC as to why they haven't issued a recall for this known issue. I recommend you do the same. If your phone isn't damages, accept nothing less than a cost-free replace brand new device. (and be prepared for the new phone to have the issue...)

I've now had an almost identical experience.

I'm now on my 3rd iPhone 6+.

They initially asked me to go to an Apple Store (the 4th time I would have to do so with this issue) but they couldn't find an appointment. They asked if I could go even further to which I  basically said, "look.. it's a 50 mile round trip for me to go to an Apple store. I've done that 3 times already. That's 150 miles, £20 in fuel, £10 in parking and over 8 hours of my life to try and get something resolved that is in no way my fault and should be working fine - I need an alternative".

That's without taking in to account the time I spent backing up, restoring factory settings, erasing the phone, setting up as a new device, restoring again etc. etc.

So they recommended the 'Express replacement service' and I said OK.. and I knew it was coming.. £29 fee for the replacement. I said no, that's not good enough and (after speaking to a supervisor) they agreed to waive the fee. But not before patronising me by saying "on this occasion, and if it turns out to be your fault we're going to charge you".

So I've now got the new phone and all is OK. I'm sending back my old one today via UPS (because if I don't they'll charge my credit card £700!)

Not thoroughly impressed with the customer service from Apple - but then I never have been. Hopefully can put this behind me and enjoy my iPhone again!

I Have the same issue with my iPhone 6 Plus, intermittent unresponsiveness, grey flickering at the top of the screen, it started two days back, never seen this issue before.

Had the same issue after receiving a replacement phone 2 days ago because of another issue.  The screen would become unresponsive to the point that I could not answer any calls. I took it the to the apple store earlier today, they are well aware of the problem and replaced my phone on the spot.

I've had my iPhone 6 Plus 128GB for 10 months now....suddenly last week the top of the screen started flickering, the screen would freeze, couldn't open apps, etc. Would re-start and then sometimes for a few minutes or sometimes for a few hours I had no issues. I was ticked though as I don't want the issue to get worse as I travel a ton. I had a 2 year Apple Care plan, so I took it into an authorized Apple Rep. They recommended I restore my phone to factory settings....don't restore from a previous back-up. They wanted to see is it a hardware or software issue. Well after I re-stored it to a brand new phone, I found the same issues again.

They sent it away to get replaced. Got the new one back and same day started having flickering issues with the new phone despite having none of my old apps, songs, photos, etc on it!! I then re-stored my phone again, but this time created a brand new Apple ID, brand new iCloud ID, etc....swallowing the pill of losing all my songs, apps, etc. Thinking my Apple ID, etc had just gotten corrupted somehow....

So with new phone and new Apple ID / brand new iCloud account....I am NOT getting any flickering issues now. HOWEVER, the phone will still freeze every so often (sometimes every few minutes....sometimes every couple hours). I hard re-start the phone once or twice then the freezing goes away for a little bit, then happens again. Weird though that flickering went away on this phone when I went to a new Apple ID/new iCloud account from scratch....but this freezing crap is driving me nuts. Only apps on my new account / iPhone are Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram....no songs, photos, etc.

Sooooo I told Apple and they said "we'll just sent you another replacement for the phone we sent you 2 days ago." I'm like, "BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE ISSUE!" I think it's somehow a software issue....so weird I go 10 months with no issues (and years with other iPhone models with no issues), then all of a sudden had a bunch of issues and then the replacement they sent me same day of receiving has same issues. Then I go to a new apple id and half the issue goes away, but freezing still occurs....

I'm still working thru this. I think I'm going to give in to Apple sending me another replacement via Express....just to be absolutely sure. It's so disheartening that I've found on Apple Discussion thread, as well as on other posts on Reddit, MacRumours, etc. that other users are having the same issues with their iPhone 6 Plus .... clearly there's an issue that needs to be fixed! Why did I go 10 months with no issues and all of a sudden 2 different phones in a week are going bonkers??

Update: On the replacement iPhone 6 Plus 128GB I received that I just posted about....I tried pinching my iPhone front and back together tightly when my screen freezes up (home & power buttons work, but screen goes completely unresponsive)....and all of a sudden it starts working after a few seconds pinching hard. Also will start working again after hard re-starts.

Like I said above, the flickering was happening on my 10 month old iPhone 6 plus....and then on my new replacement the day I got it despite factory restores, etc. Even created a brand new Apple ID & iCloud....that caused flickering to go away, but freezes would still happen. Now looks like freezing goes away holding iPhone tightly together. Hmmmm

Still messing around....but seeing that this thread is quite active daily (and found thru Google searches by people like me), I thought I'd post this update.

The flickering is a known issue, Apple will replace the phone.

One look at my screen and they knew the issue.

Hi ,

I just received 1 more phone related to the same issue, after perform some troubleshooting, I can confirm that this is related to the molex connection on the board since is just there when the issue happen when you pressed or move it, it's seems this part is sensible and Apple is aware of that, please note that this is not solved by changing the LCD, or Restore the phone, I know you believe that is a hardware issue too, but I can confirm that is related to the board, I will try to change this part and let you know the result, related to your question, if you are aware about how to open the phone and disamble the lcd on a safety way you you will see 4 connection from the LCD to the board, the small one in L is the one for the home button, the 3 in the same line are related on the following:

The first one you see before disconnect the LCD is related to the front camera, the second one ( the one in the middle of the 3) is the one cause this failure, even if you press the part with the phone turned on you will be able to reproduce the issue, I can recommend you to go to an Apple store and put your phone under warranty before to open it. Since even if you clean or adjust that part it will eventually fail and first if you don't have the training you will have the risk for a damage on the phone and second you will lose your warranty. So if there's nothing you can do or you don't have warranty anymore then yes you can go to a repair shop with a micro soldering experience on iPhone phones and replace that connection, however I need to first give a try changing this part to confirm that this solve the issue, but im like 90% sure that is related to that part, all the capacitors, chips, diodes are fine on the board.

Apple must do something about it since it seems a bunch of phone have or will have this issue in the next months.

Thanks

I am having a lockup issue as well. I will launch messages for instance,the app comes up but the window is white and blank. Touch doesnt work,neither does either button. Then after 15 or 20 seconds it will respond and perform all of the button clicks I had done. It also happens when i double click the button to kill apps that are running,the screen will move back and where you would normally slide up to kill an app,nothing responds,same thing with the buttons as well,then all of a sudden, 15 or 20 seconds later all the swipes and button pushes I had done all go through and the phone is fine.  It's getting annoying. I just installed a fresh system on the phone and it still does it.

Update... Went to apple store and told them i'd already tried the usual tricks w/out success. They said that 99% of the time it's the screen and they would replace it for me. I asked for a new phone and they assured me it was just the screen. I came back an hr later when "repair" complete and the tech said, you were right, we're going to give you a new phone cause that failed...

new phone; so far so good...

I walked into the store today while the issue was happening. They took one look at it and said "You're getting a new phone today".

Walked out 10 minutes later with a new phone.

They seemed 100% aware of the problem and that the only fix is to replace the entire phone.

It seems to be a hardware issue, I see this a lot in my tech center with customers using the iPhone 6/6+ as well as a bunch with the 5S/5C. From what I've read it appears that LG supplies the screens for newer iPhones so I believe that is a clue to what the problem is...

I'm not trying to bash LG or anything, but from my experience at work, LG devices over the last couple of years have been notorious for having these exact screen issues. Partially or fully unresponsive screens and sometimes randomly selecting things without being touched, sometimes flickering or jittering. G2s were extremely bad with it, G3s haven't been as bad but I still see them and I've seen far to many G4s for comfort with screen issues considering how long it's been on the market.

Putting 2 and 2 together that is the theory that I've come up with, so I'd say get to an Apple store and get a warranty replacement if you still can.

Hello!

I am having this problem... however I bought the phone from a 3rd party and it has been open... so I doubt I can go to the Apple Store and get a new phone. Do they check your phone before giving you a new one? Or how does the process go? Thank you!