Cannot slide to answer phone calls

I have the problem as well. Slide to answer works only sporadically. Sometimes doesn't slide at all. Sometimes only halfway and then springs back. (And this is only an issue with "Slide to Answer" for incoming calls. "Slide to Unlock" works fine.)

With all due respect to the good people offering suggestions, this is not a hardware issue, nor is it human error or dirty hands. Our phones (mine at least, can't speak for everyone) have never been dropped, never gotten wet and have never been jailbroken.

I currently have an iPhone 4, but the problem existed on my iPhone 3GS as well, as well as a previous iPhone 4 that had screen issues. I have tried restoring the phones and, with each new one, always begin as a new phone, never a backup of an older one. It also occurs with both iOS4 as well as OS3.

Because of this, I can only think of two possible causes: 1) A downloaded App that is making the problem occur, or 2) Something within my iTunes that is making this one feature glitchy.

I'd be curious what apps others have on their phones. Maybe we can find a common denominator.

Here are mine:

Record, NotifyMe, Dropbox, MusicID, Slingplayer, DVR Remote, XM Radio, iHandy Level, Appzilla, Chase Mobile, Citibank Mobile, Flixster, IMDB, ebay, Open Table, CNN, AP Mobile, Angry Birds, Skee-ball, Doodle Jump, Fruit Ninja, Downhill Bowling, Labyrinth 2, Words with Friends, Backgammon, Sudoku, Apple Texas HoldEm.

I should also mention that I have thousands of photos from my iPhoto library. Not sure if this could have an effect.

I've pretty much scoured the internet, and nobody has a good solution yet. Any help appreciated.

I have the same problem with my new iPhone 4. Sometimes the slide to answer will not move at all. Once it moved half way then jumped back (i tried several times).

I have the updated iOS 4.0.1, I didn't have that problem with 4.0 but then I didn't have that version for long.

This problem is very annoying as it makes me look ridiculous trying to answer a call and having to drop it in the end.

This is only with slide to answer, never with slide to unlock or to switch off.

I think it has always happen when someone in my contact list was calling.

Need a solution quickly !

I have this problem as well intermittently. I do not have any custom ring tones assigned.

New to here. have same problem. Very annoying. Still not answer from Apple?

I have seen this problem. I think it has to do with temperature differential. I'm guessing the phone is in my pocket heating the screen to body temperature and pulling it out to answer there is not enough energy differential for the screen to feel the finger swipe.

The problem probably goes away after the glass warms in the air for a few seconds, but when answering we pull out the phone and swipe. That's just a guess.

The point is I too have seen this problem and it is very frustrating to miss a call because of the finger swipe issue. It would be nice if there was a hard button way to answer and ends calls.

Although I enjoy apple products, if the phone stops being a good phone, then all the other stuff is nonsense and I'll have to get another product. This and the speakerphone-only issue are two strikes against this phone.

I've noticed this on all of the iPhones that I have owned, 2G, 3G and now the 4. To me, it appears it happens after the phone is been in my pocket for a while. I believe the front glass gets heated up somewhat to body temperature and thus has difficulty differentiating the heat from your finger and as a result doesn't recognize your finger as easily.

Hello,

It is not possible that it is due to temperature difference since after the call is missed I can try to swipe for as long as I want, it won't move from a single pixel but as soon as I double press the power button it work perfectly.

Now that it has been mentionned, the problem has indeed occured when the phone was in my pocket and the weather was very hot. But since I have only had the problem 4 times and cannot reproduce it when i want it is difficult to say if this is the cause.

The first time it occured, the green arrow moved half way and bounced back each time i tried to answer. The next 3 times it didnt even move 1 pixel. It also happend when i received an sms.

But did pressing the power button twice right after solved the problem?

It happend again today, impossible to move the green arrow to answer a call.

I managed to answer the call after pressing the home button twice. I will do this next time and report here if it works again.

This problem is the worst problem a phone can have. I mean what good is a phone if you cannot answer calls ? This is my first Apple phone and it will be my last if they don't solve this huge issue.

I had the problem as well. I will try some of the tips in this thread. It's frustrating me more since this happened with my original iphone all the time. I hope Apple FINALLY gets around to fixing this!!

I have the same problem, I have an IPhone four month ago and from the be begining one every ten calls more or less can´t be answered.

The problem happens with iOS 3.1 and with 4.

All the touch screen of my iphone works properly, and the problem only happens when I have an income call. I have never had the problem with the unlock slider (that is in the same position) in any temperature condition. So probably is some bug in the software.

It happens frequently with one of my contacts, but sometimes happens with others.

It is very frustrating, and if not solved is a black point in the phone, because I bought it mainly for be used as a excellent telephone.

And finally, it is the only telephone I have ever heard in which a phone call can not be answered.

Help, Please.

Have the exact same problem with iPhone 4. Has happened twice in first month of owning the phone (I had 1st generation iPhone for years and never had the problem) The "slide to answer" sticks or springs back when trying to answer a call. Both times it has happened my phone was in my pocket... makes me wonder if touching the screen in some way when pulling the ringing phone out created the problem?

Ya, apple still cannot figure out a way to fix this problem, I also never heard a phone that cannot answer a call.

Same problem here in the netherlands. Had an iPhone 3G and now have an iPhone 4 and the problem is exactly the same. Happens to unknown callers and contacts.

Any answers from Apple yet? It seems many people have this issue.