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iPhone 12 mini touchscreen issues

Is anyone else having intermittent touchscreen issues with their iPhone 12 mini where it randomly won’t register touch input?

TLDR: my phone screen stops registering touch input randomly only when inside of a case and also with a screen protector on. With just the case on, the screen is fine, and with just the screen protector on the screen works fine. It’s only when they’re combined that my screen goes all janky.

I got my 12 mini today, went to Bestbuy to pick up a screen protector, installed the screen protector, put the phone in the Silicone MagSafe case and set everything up. Everything seemed fine until I noticed that the touchscreen was not responding like it should to touch input. I noticed that the screen would only act up if I had the case on. When I took the case off the screen was responding exactly as it should so I figured it was an issue with the case. However, my sister had also gotten her iPhone 12 mini today and we tested the MagSafe case on her phone but hers didn’t exhibit the same problem.

At this point I decided to pull the screen protector off and test again with and without the case on, and the touch input issues were gone altogether. So I figured, “okay, maybe I got a bad screen protector,” so I went back to bestbuy, returned what I thought to be a faulty screen protector, purchased a Zagg Invisible Shield screen protector, and had them install it for me. But when I powered my phone back on in the car, the screen still wouldn’t register touch input correctly with the new screen protector while in the MagSafe case. I can still take the case off and the screen works fine, but inside the case with a screen protector on, the screen starts acting up.

Finally, I decided to try a different case altogether. We went to Target and I put on a generic non-MagSafe case and the screen issues returned. I’m not sure why but it seems like the issue only pops up when a case is on the phone while also having a screen protector on. If I take one or the other off everything works perfectly. Does it seem like my device might be faulty?

iPhone 12 mini, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 13, 2020 6:36 PM

Top-ranking reply

Rastajafarian Author

Level 1

28 points

Posted on Nov 14, 2020 5:56 AM

Check the link that was posted above. I think they’ve narrowed the problem down to a grounding issue. If you touch any part or the metal chassis of the phone, the lock screen touch input starts working normally again.

For now, I’ve found that touching the camera rings while unlocking fixes the problem. It’s not a great solution but at least it’ll get me by before I can get my phone looked at. There’s no way I’m going without a case or screen protector so this will have to do for the time being. I have an appointment to get it looked at tomorrow so I guess we’ll see.

Hopefully this helps someone

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615 replies

DMN254

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2021 9:54 AM in response to Rastajafarian

My iPhone 12 mini and it is not in a covered case or protector....and I have all current updates....just did it....could not answer a call nor open missed call message afterwards.....why? For as much as these phones cost and it’s only 3 months max old.....hmmmm!

Apr 11, 2021 7:11 PM in response to Rastajafarian

Not solved.... I have the latest update and I’m still having issues with my touchscreen not working. I haven’t tried taking off the screen protector or the case. The whole phone just froze up and the touchscreen wouldn’t work so I couldn’t turn the phone off

Bageljay

Level 1

8 points

Apr 11, 2021 7:20 PM in response to Paulako13

This worked for me. Try putting a finger on the camera lens so you're touching a part that isn't covered by the case or screen protector. If that works then you should have success by taking off the case, the screen protector or both. I'm using a clear silicone case with a screen protector without issues.

Jun 5, 2021 12:24 PM in response to Bageljay

I have the latest update and the s teen still freezes. Someone mentioned covering up the back cameras and that has worked for me; you have to hold your hand over the camera for a few seconds and then everything will start moving again.

CsAndras

Level 1

8 points

Jun 26, 2021 8:29 AM in response to Rastajafarian

This is still happening on Minis. Rarely but happening. I have experienced it like 3-4 times since I have my Mini. Sure OS is latest. No screen protector, original Apple silicone case. Pretty frustrating. Last time the mobile fully discharged and I plugged to my MBP via USB-C cable to charge - which is not how I used to charge. Fully charged, no touch response, had to use the button restart method. Whether this is SW issue - most probably. Whether it is resolved already - not really.

Nov 20, 2020 5:10 AM in response to Rastajafarian

Apple has fixed the issue in the latest update. Update iOS to 14.2.1

Adeson

Level 1

19 points

Nov 17, 2020 9:16 AM in response to Rastajafarian

Lod728

Level 1

4 points

Nov 19, 2020 10:17 AM in response to tarun-rajput

Arkenu

Level 1

9 points

Nov 19, 2020 12:02 PM in response to DDDavie

Correct.

Nov 13, 2020 7:38 PM in response to Rastajafarian

I also just realized that the problem is significantly worse on the Lock Screen. After the phone is unlocked and at the Home Screen the touch input seems fine, which is also weird

Nov 14, 2020 6:03 AM in response to Ginessence

Honestly the fact that other people were experiencing this issue while purchasing in-store doesn’t exactly instill with much confidence that a device exchange will fix the problem

sjc752

Level 1

20 points

Nov 14, 2020 7:10 AM in response to Rastajafarian

Seems like Apple got rid of their QA department and are now solely relying on the community for live production testing.

Ombracol

Level 1

4 points

Nov 14, 2020 3:52 PM in response to Rastajafarian

I find that if I use less surface area, hence side of my thumb, or different finger it works, but if I use my thumb bigger surface area it does not

au227

Level 1

4 points

Nov 14, 2020 7:33 PM in response to Rastajafarian

Me too. I am seeing this problem at Lock Screen only. I took out the case. The problem seem to go away.

wasim132

Level 1

4 points

Nov 14, 2020 9:56 PM in response to wasim132

By the way the issues were with a screen protector and a case. Without the screen protector, but with my iPhone still in the case, the screen touch response works fine

iPhone 12 mini touchscreen issues