Level 1

6 points

iPhone 5 Touchscreen Problems

Just unboxed the iPhone 5 and for the most part it's great. But one big problem has been occurring with the touchscreen, which I've heard is new (integrated with the display itself versus a separate capacitive layer as in past iPhones). I'm curious if anyone else has been having this issue or has any suggestions on what to do...

The touchscreen acts up by "sensing" my finger even when it's not actually touching the screen, but is just very close. This happens gradually at first, then it seems to get a little worse, requiring me to use more exaggerated gestures to actually get the phone to do what I want it to do. Eventually the phone will just respond to my hand waving above it even several millimeters above the screen, and seems to go haywire. It starts missing the letter/button that I'm trying to type. Sometimes the whole screen freezes to where I can't swipe to unlock, slide between home screen pages, etc. Although the physical buttons like the home button and standby button do seem to still respond despite the touchscreen being messed up or frozen, it doesn't get rid of the problem when I go back to what I was doing.

Eventually, I end up resetting the phone by holding down both the standby and home buttons simultaneously for a few seconds. When the device powers on again, it seems to have done the trick and the touchscreen is back to normal. However, the problem reoccurs with a fairly high/annoying level of frequency. (I mean I've only had the device for a few hours total and it's already happened at least half a dozen times.)

Has anyone else experienced this? Does this sound like I have a lemon or could this be a general issue? I wonder if it can be fixed with a software patch or if I need a replacement screen/device. Pretty frustrating to deal with right out of the box, and I don't really want to go anywhere near an Apple Store today with all the craziness that's probably taking place...

iPhone 5, iOS 6

Posted on Sep 21, 2012 12:58 PM

243 replies

May 28, 2013 9:14 AM in response to casarboleda

In your case, I would call Apple support and tell them that it happens at random times. They will put a lock on it and force it to be replaced. The next day you should recieve a box with instructions on shipping the phone back. They also offer express which makes them need your credit card but you get the phone first with instructions on how to send your defective one to CA.

May 28, 2013 11:51 AM in response to darius9686

darious.. are you sure that wil fix it??.. I about to go buy a new adapter.. cause I really suspect that if I get a new phone replace.. I will just waste my time cause the problem will repeat.

May 28, 2013 12:03 PM in response to khodson98

I'm afraid that won't solve the proble.. specially if it's the charger or static related

May 28, 2013 12:13 PM in response to casarboleda

I would still definitely try. Apple will fix anything and continue to help even if it isn't fixed. Sure it is a hassle but they're really understanding.

May 28, 2013 1:14 PM in response to casarboleda

I do believe it is the fix. Since I have gotten a new charger I have not had any touchscreen glitch at all. I recently found out that you can take back a charger or sync cable to apple to have it replaced for free if damaged.

May 28, 2013 1:25 PM in response to casarboleda

Okay I see what you're talking about now! Do what Darius is telling you tell them on the phone your charger is defective and they will send you a new one the next day with instructions on how to send the old one back. If that doesn't work then you'd have to take in or send in your iPhone for replacement.

May 28, 2013 1:41 PM in response to casarboleda

mine started the same way... It was gradual and I wish I would have replaced it the moment it started. I now have an appointment with Genius bar hoping to get some resolution to this. Unfortunately it seems like the only resolution is phone replacement though.

May 28, 2013 1:58 PM in response to jenniferfromlake charles

You guys should bring the phone to Genius Bar for replacement, but I would expect to make two trips as for my case.

Trip one: I told them the issue the they tried to reload everything again. I was home and screen still locked up time to time. I used my ipad to take video while it had issue.

Trip two: came back to Genius Bar and showed them the video, they agreed the issue and replaced my iphone. The device has zero locked up since 7 months usage

May 28, 2013 10:28 PM in response to westlawn51

I have solved my problem, if the Iphone5 not dragging up and down just highlight the bottom or up and use your 3 fingers to drag up and down while you reach down you can see the rest bottom click on it the I phone 5 will automatically rest and the I phone 5 will un lock from the freeze mode.

iPhone 5

May 29, 2013 5:09 AM in response to westlawn51

i have the same problem here, when i charge my phone the touch screen won't react, when i unplugged it, it works just fine, when i charge it yesterday i can still use it, but i won't now....... (iphone 5) will i get a replacement or something when i go to the apple store

saurabh1

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2013 4:30 AM in response to AryaDuta197

I had the same problem, the touchscreen was slow and unresponsive while charging. Strangely and mysteriously, removing the plastic cover/case solved the problem somehow. Very strange but can it work for others too?? Are you people using any protective cover on the phone?

May 31, 2013 8:43 AM in response to khodson98

Ok, I went to a retail store in my country. They look at it, and I showed them a youtube video that displayed the same problem. Then they ask me to leave the phone with them for 5 days and they will contact me afterwards.

I'll post again when I get a respond from them.

Jun 3, 2013 1:48 PM in response to casarboleda

Ok, got a new phone back right away. First day and no problems.. all good so far.

nyc863

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2013 5:30 PM in response to westlawn51

In case it helps anyone viewing this topic, my iphone5 had some pretty dire screen freezing issues, for example it would just go unresponsive, or respond in fits and starts. It seemed to happen when I was out and about, but not at home. Sometimes I could reproduce it other times I could not.

The apple store recommended a wipe and restore which I did, and things did get a bit better.

Anyway it turned out to be the screen protector that came with my iphone5 case

I peeled it off, and the problems went away. I've been using the same phone now for several months without a single touch issue (with no screen protector).

Jul 2, 2013 4:44 PM in response to westlawn51

Unboxed my iPhone 5 today. Everything way fine until this crap happends to me aswell. But the screen only stop reacting when it charges. and the i felt on the charge adapter and it was boiling hot. I swappit it to the charge adapter i used for my iphone 4 and now it works while it charging, without any freezes or wierd behavior.

So far so good, but i did just felt on the adapter now again and it start to getting hot. but maybe the old adapter still works. So hopefully its just the new adapter that make the phone reacting wierd. I will come back for feedback how the knew charging adapter worked.

Hope this will help some of you guys problems too!

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iPhone 5 Touchscreen Problems