iPad touchscreen unresponsive after iOS 26.1 update

I had the exact same problem with my iPad after i updated to 26.1. I did a reset and cleaned the screen and changed my touch setting to fast. That helped enough for the iPad to be marginally functional, but not usable on a long term basis. Btw, i have googled this issue and it is a COMMON problem with iPads after the 26.1 update. HOW DO I KNOW IT WAS THE 26.1 UPDATE THAT CAUSED IT. BECAUSE THE 26.2 UPDATE SOLVED IT. Now it works perfectly liked it did before the 26.1 update. I believe the apple inadvertently tweaked the pencil sensitivity settings and it affected finger touch. But again thank goodness it has been corrected with 26.2 which i updated to yesterday.

after i updated to 26.2 the screen sensitivity issues resolved.

John Scott1 wrote:

I have a iPad Air m3 and have noticed certain areas of screen are not responding to touch. I am also on iPad OS 26.1. I mostly avoid using iPad until 26.2 is released to public in hopes it fixes it. Maybe that will fix the battery drain issues as well?

If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

To those wondering, ios 26.2 did nothing to fix the issue. Within seconds I had a screen freeze. Multitasking is useless as I can't touch the top icons or swipe apps up. All "fixed" with a screen off/on, until the issue repeats.

DVOmg wrote:

before the 26.1 update every thing worked fine on the iPad. After the update the touch screen would not work. So I took it to the Genius Bar. They tried to restore. Still did not work. They said since the touchscreen doesn’t work, there must have been some underlying issue that the update pushed over the edge. There was nothing they could do, no other test they could run since the touchscreen did not work. That I would have to pay for a new iPad if I wanted to still have use of one. So essentially no help. Hard pill to swallow that an update can break an iPad and they say sorry, but a new one.

"they tried restore" what does that even mean?

YOu can troubleshoot yourself here If your iPad won't turn on or is frozen - Apple Support

Just because you didn't like the answer you were given at the genius bar doesn't mean it wasn't helpful.

I have a iPad Air m3 and have noticed certain areas of screen are not responding to touch. I am also on iPad OS 26.1. I mostly avoid using iPad until 26.2 is released to public in hopes it fixes it. Maybe that will fix the battery drain issues as well?

This is an aggressive comment please watch your language in discussion forums. Genius Bar trying restore means exactly what it suggests: they did a DFU restore. This is a bug that hundreds of people are reporting online on multiple forums. It is not "user error" or "user damage". M-series iPads losing touchscreens immediately following an iOS 26.X update is not acceptable. Companies are obligated to not sell lemons to consumers, and they are obligated not to release self-destructing software updates to the public.

Months old Ipad Mini 7 and I have the same issue that started the day I installed the ios 26.1 update (I skipped 26.0). It's clearly software related with slowdown and parts of the screen not responding until I cycle it on/off (not even resetting, just going to the lock screen and back).

Usually Youtube will hang after a couple minutes, but it has even happened with just the settings screen open. And I can't even close it by dragging it up (it "shakes" and doesn't close).

I haven't taken to a Genius bar hopes a fix would come out but if I take the long drive, Apple better fix it.

For me, this issue is very noticeable with the YouTube app, although it is not limited to any specific app. The top portion of the screen often stops responding, and briefly turning the screen off and on will "fix" it for a few seconds.

I read some rumors that 26.2 will arrive in the first week of December and include some freeze and lag fixes for iPads. Hope is the last to die, right? I am keeping my fingers crossed. What a state these companies got (Microsoft, Amazon, Apple), it seems like all are turned into trash overnight.

DVOmg wrote:

I updated my iPad Air 5 to iOS 26.1. Now the screen does not respond to touch. Tried hard reset. Connecting it to update via PC. Restored it. Nothing works. The only response I can get from it is with an Apple Pencil, and only touching the bottom right i icon, not matter the orientation of the iPad the i icon will respond only to the Apple Pencil. No where else and does not respond to touch with my fingers. Took is to the Genius Bar and they were absolutely no help. They said so sorry, buy a new iPad.

Please define how Genius Bar was no help. You make it sound like you went it there and didn't look at your ipad and wanted you to buy a new ipad.

How about you explain in detail what they did that didn't work.

If your iPad won't turn on or is frozen - Apple Support

Neon wrote:

This is an aggressive comment please watch your language in discussion forums. Genius Bar trying restore means exactly what it suggests: they did a DFU restore. This is a bug that hundreds of people are reporting online on multiple forums. It is not "user error" or "user damage". M-series iPads losing touchscreens immediately following an iOS 26.X update is not acceptable. Companies are obligated to not sell lemons to consumers, and they are obligated not to release self-destructing software updates to the public.

No it isn't an aggressive comment, if people don't provide full details of what the issue is or what troublshooting steps they've done I'm not going to assume.

Nor do we get paid to ask 21 questions, we are user who volunteer their time to help others here.

Do you give vague details to your doctor when your in pain or actually give them as much description as possible.

If you're feeling is hurt that is on you, I really don't care.

JOCASC133 wrote:

Months old Ipad Mini 7 and I have the same issue that started the day I installed the ios 26.1 update (I skipped 26.0). It's clearly software related with slowdown and parts of the screen not responding until I cycle it on/off (not even resetting, just going to the lock screen and back).

Usually Youtube will hang after a couple minutes, but it has even happened with just the settings screen open. And I can't even close it by dragging it up (it "shakes" and doesn't close).

I haven't taken to a Genius bar hopes a fix would come out but if I take the long drive, Apple better fix it.

How about you actually read through the whole thread and follow the troubleshooting tips given.

How about not assuming everyone is as clueless as you? I followed those pointless steps and much more (disabled motion, background refresh, transparency, multi tasking etc). The problem is with the lousy update.