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Level 1

17 points

Touch Screen issues

Watch: 42mm, stainless steel, iOS 8.2

Problem: Touch screen extremely unreliable, ~50% of the time will not respond to touches or swipes. Then starts responding haphazardly, and often incorrectly, as if though it is registering a "touch" elsewhere on the screen and is now averaging between the two touches. When the rest of the screen registers touches, the upper right seems problematic. Will often not register #1 or #2 on passcode screen. Digital crown works well to scroll, as does the other button.

Sometimes powering down and restarting helps, sometimes not. Hard to say if it would have returned to being responsive if just left alone.

Anyone else with similar problems?

No Apple store in my town, closest is 1.5hrs away.

<Re-Titled by Host>

Apple Watch, iOS 8.2, null

Posted on May 17, 2015 6:48 AM

Best reply

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,775 points

Posted on Dec 9, 2017 7:00 AM

If your Apple Watch does not respond to touchscreen inputs as expected, then the following steps may help:

Remove any screen protector, case or bumper that you may have fitted to your Apple Watch.

If you have not yet done so, update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest compatible software versions, starting with your iPhone:

Clean and dry your Apple Watch, being sure to follow Apple's cleaning instructions:

Restart (normally) your Apple Watch and iPhone, turning both devices off together, then restarting your iPhone first:

Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support
- Note that Apple advises that you should not force restart (referred to by some, but not Apple, as a "hard reset") your Apple Watch unless it cannot be restarted normally.

If the issue persists, next unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch:

The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch automatically when unpairing via the app.
Initially choose to Restore from Backup during set up (most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions such as Apple Pay cards and passcode).
If the issue persists, next try unpairing and setting your Apple Watch up as a new watch.
Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

If the issue persists, then I suggest that you contact Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), make a Genius Bar reservation or visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance:

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42 replies

Aug 21, 2015 2:07 AM in response to bmaltais

Me too happened to me a week ago, after hours and hours doing resets and pairing have come to the conclusion that what is wrong is not the screen, I think (I not think, I confirm!) That are sensors the back, the 4 circles fails. If Apple Watch put the plane on a wooden table you will see that it works perfectly, and if you separate yourself from the table touch screen playing the fool again.

See someone can confirm?

bmaltais

Level 1

0 points

Nov 16, 2015 8:39 AM in response to Macvisions

Hi, this was not my case. In my case even with the watch on a table the display was not responding properly

Sep 23, 2015 9:39 PM in response to Jonas4321

I had the exact issue described here. Touch display behaving very strange. thr watch worked perfectly for a couple of month. Then this started a couple of weeks ago. The display works after a hard reset but only for an hour or less. The same after a recharge. Very strange. I was ready to take to my local Apple Store, but I decided to wait for watchOS 2. Upgraded earlier this week. Same problem!

Now to the good news.

I read this thread and saw the post about cleaning the digital crown. Under running water turn and push the crown. I didn't believe in that solution since my problem had nothing to do with the crown. It work perfectly. But I tried it. And it actually solved the touch display issues. I can't explain it but it works. Have been working for a couple of days now. Try it!

Sep 25, 2015 9:35 AM in response to Thorbear77

And now a couple of days later the display is back to not working. And the clean with water trick does not work anymore...

I guess the next step is to go to the Apple Store.

bmaltais

Level 1

0 points

Sep 25, 2015 9:40 AM in response to Thorbear77

Mine came back a 3rd time from Apple Care and it has been working ever since. I don't know what it is but something is certainly tripping some sensors or something and causing the issue. My biggest complain is that the last time the watch came back the screen was damaged (the glass is marked on the right side where it goes round) but try to prove they did it and not me ;-( I am not happy but what can I do ;-(

Nov 16, 2015 8:36 AM in response to bmaltais

I am now also having the same issue after the watch working perfect for 3 months. What changed.

I have reset it several times and that sometimes fixes it for a few hours. I have noticed that if I test the touch screen on my wrist and confirm its not working then move the watch to the charger it works. As soon as I mover it off the charge it fails again.

Given many of the post ref failing after a few months, could this be peak battery voltage which dropped from its brand new high. If while new the voltage from battery is 1.3 and after a few months the peak voltage from the battery drops to 1.25 it might impact the touch screen drivers. Just a thought but still have a watch that does not work.

Not looking forward to the visit to the Apple Store. How much time is this going to burn up.

May 2, 2016 5:12 AM in response to Jonas4321

Brand new watch, 42mm Sport received as a birthday present yesterday.

Out of the box screen wouldn't respond in setting the language, then suddenly did. Paired to my phone but couldn't change the watch face.

My wife has a 38mm sport and it was obvious comparing them that there is something defective with the screen/watch.

Call out to Apple on Sunday, helpful guy in the USA but couldn't put me through to anyone in UK, got a call from Apple in Dublin this morning couple of choices, take and replace in store, or drop off at UPS. I'm in London Wednesday so will do so then.

We have a lot of Apple products, first one we have had an issue with.

condie1

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2016 5:23 PM in response to David Shakeshaft

II fear we are paying the pioneer's orice

Rakic90

Level 1

4 points

Jul 29, 2016 11:00 AM in response to edmathers

I am having the EXACT same issue. When on the charger, touch screen works flawlessly, but when of the charger, touch becomes unresponsive, has "self" random touches etc.

My warranty expires on August 6th and I am really scared if they will replace the watch for this problem?

How did you solve yours?

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,775 points

Jul 29, 2016 11:04 AM in response to Rakic90

If your watch is not behaving expected, contact Apple Support (mail-in service may be available) or make a Genius Bar reservation with a view to having it checked (under warranty, if eligible):

To check your warranty status (the serial number is on the back of your watch):

https://checkcoverage.apple.com

Nov 28, 2016 2:03 PM in response to Jonas4321

This happened to me today and my son turned th voice over off and now my watch works great.

Dec 9, 2017 6:56 AM in response to Jonas4321

I have the same problem also. Such a delay for anything I touch very frustrating. By the way what is a hard restart. I would like to see if that might help

Touch Screen issues