iPad Pro 12.9” not responding to touch intermittently

I highly recommend going to an Apple store rather than sending any faulty device in the mail to Apple because the technicians working at the Apple stores have tremendous discretion in replacing the failed device on the spot. In the case at hand, the technician reset all settings on the iPad at the store and told me to take it home and try it out and if that did not work to do a total erase of settings and contents on my own. Neither of the foregoing resets remedied the problem. So, I took it back and explained that there was no resolution to the problem and they agreed to swap the device for a new one. To answer your question, the stuttering/ non-responsive touch screen was never replicated in the presence of the technician. Frankly, it’s totally random and it could take many hours for it to occur.

I have been having this exact same issue for months with my 2017 12.9” iPad Pro with LTE. I thought it was my tempered glass screen protector (and I installed that thing perfectly) so was hoping it was not hardware related but iOS related so I wouldn’t have to just toss it in the trash. I waited a while and issue continued to occur. I finally got fed up enough this week to take off the screen protector and the issue still occurred. I reached out to Apple support via chat today and they are sending me a new unit in the mail.

I did this as well about a month ago (although I still have valid AppleCare) for my iPad Pro 12.9 2017 mode and they sent me a replacement unit in the mail without having to go into the store. Didn't really have to argue or fight the tech on it much at all. I explained I had originally thought it was my tempered glass screen protector or maybe and app or software update. Erased iPad and started from scratch didn't resolved the issue and removed the screen protector and that wasn't it either. Sent me a new one and this one doesn't have the problem. Maybe try again with another tech? Try via chat and via phone. Especially if you still have AppleCare.

They mailed me the replacement and let me hold onto my broken one but put a $1,000 hold on my CC until my broken one was received.

Yes they will, don’t know why you’d think that. The only fix I’ve read that works (most of he time) is an exchange for another unit. My exchange unit (256gb 2017 Pro 12.9) has been working now for about 2 weeks without the issue. I even restored from my old backup so i’m not convinced it is a software problem.

I might be dreaming, but after disabling the Touch ID as instructed by Apple Support AND in addition I disabled now home button SIRI and OPEN WITH TOUCH ID functionality from settings, this seems to have solved my issues. Freezing does not happen anymore, but naturally I need to test more to see if this is really true.

Disabling "home button SIRI" and "Open with Touch ID" can be found under SETTINGS - GENERAL - ACCESSIBILITY - HOME BUTTON.

Again, for everyone that has posted here to date,

This issue/ bug is happening across all iPad Pro year and models ( even the brand new 2018, 3rd gen iPad Pro models ) and it is starting to affect both the 2018 and 2017 6th and 5th gen 9.7 inch screen iPads, too!!

I am beginning to think that this is a growing issue that is NOT hardware related, but either iOS 11 and/or iOS 12 related bug.

I have a 1st gen, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro still running iOS 10.3.3 and I am NOT experiencing these recent intermittent touch screen issues.

The best you can do is alert Apple to this growing issue.

The only way to get Apple to, DIRECTLY, listen to you is to use their feedback portion of their website.

iPad Feedback

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Cognizant Apple employees read ALL feedback generated from all of the various feedback pages and transfers the data to the proper and responsible Apple teams and personnel , but NO Apple employees will ever respond with any type of direct, individual replies from the feedback you post.

The more users that post product feedback about any product issue, the faster Apple is made aware and starts working on a fix/solution for a future software update.

Also, you may want to phone contact Apple, directly in Cupertino, California, and calmly talk to an Apple customer service employee about this issue via the link below.

Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Good Luck to You!

I have been experiencing the same issue. I have the 2018 12.9 iPad Pro. Can be very frustrating especially when trying to play games. I did fnd a way to work around the issue. When experiencing the intermittent non response to touch on the iPad Pro screen, take your Apple Pencil off the frame normally for Charging/Syncing. With your Apple Pencil still NOT attached to the iPad, restart your iPad. So long as you don’t re-sync your Apple Pencil, Finger touch works without issues. Hope Apple can correct problem with the Apple Pencil on 2018 iPad Pro 12.9“. Very frustrating. Hope helps.

So I went into Apple and was able to reproduce the problem in front of them. They are giving me a brand new unit.

I found out finally that mine has the issue when I take the pencil off the side. If I leave it on, it works perfectly. Once I take it off, the iPad starts to stutter even after I've reconnected it. I pick my new one up tomorrow.

If you have an older iPad Pro and not the new 2018 models ( because am I not sure if it is a combination of hardware/software ) on older iPad Pro models it is software.

I own a 1st gen 2015, 12.9 inch iPad and I am NOT having ANY touch issues with my iPad Pro.

My iPad Pro is still running iOS 10.3.3 and have not had any touch issues, at all!

Absolutely none!

This is an iOS 12 ( and possibly an iOS 11 ) issue for sure.

The best all of you can do is alert Apple to this growing issue.

The only way to get Apple to, DIRECTLY, listen to you is to use their feedback portion of their website.

iPad Feedback

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Cognizant Apple employees read ALL feedback generated from all of the various feedback pages and transfers the data to the proper and responsible Apple teams and personnel , but NO Apple employees will ever respond with any type of direct, individual replies from the feedback you post.

The more users that post product feedback about any product issue, the faster Apple is made aware and starts working on a fix/solution for a future software update.

Also, you may want to phone contact Apple, directly in Cupertino, California, and calmly talk to an Apple customer service employee about this issue via the link below.

Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Here is a possible Temporary Solution from user Andrew Ngo

Original posting from here.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8653631

“For those whom have touch screen unresponsive issue with iOS 12.1.....

Goto Setting -> General -> Accessibility -> Touch Accommodations, Turn on Touch Accommodations. Leave everything else in the options alone.

All my touch issues gone!”

Try his solution and if it works, go to the post link I supplied and let him know whether his solution worked for you, or not.

Good Luck to All!

I’ve mentioned this to a couple people, but they end up as responses under somebody else’s answer, and you have to go to the last page to see the last comment. I’ve not had any trouble with mine for a little over a week now. I’ve been using it the same way in the same place and everything is working properly. It does start to act up on occasion and I have a little bottle of anti-static spray That you spritz on the front of your shirt in your hand and the problem goes away. I believe the issue is static electricity. If you don’t want to get and I static spray, next time it happens hold the iPad up in the air with one hand take the other hand and lightly rub around the middle perimeter of the iPad with the other hand. And then start to use it again and see if that works.

I have been in contact with Apple support regarding this and I’ve just done the last thing that they wanted me to do, which I was really not looking forward to, and that was to do an iTunes system restore. I set up my iPad as a brand new device so I did not restore from a backup. Or did I reinstall any apps. Today was the second day that I’ve been using it and this morning it started to exhibit intermittent screen unresponsiveness again.

I’ve got a new iPad coming out express so hopefully this issue will be a thing of the past. I’m thinking that since it had the problem as a new device the issue isn’t with something in my backup so I’m going to restore my iPad and save myself the extreme hassle of getting all my apps reinstalled.

Adding my name to the list of people with the problem. 2018 iPad Pro 12.9". For me, non-response only affected the right 2" of the screen when in portrait mode. If I rotated the iPad, it was the same 2" that was non-responsive - so the top 2" when in landscape and the left 2" when held upside down in portrait.

I booked a Genius Bar appointment and then realised I should update to iOS 12.2 or they would likely tell me that was the problem. But as soon as the update was done, the problem disappeared. It's now been 3 days with full responsiveness and no issues. I am still waiting for the problem to resurface.

What really ticked me off at Apple was the genius stated there was no known problem and they had never heard of non-responsiveness on iPad pros.

I’ve read in some other postings about this same problem that some folks have had success with either turning on assistive touch (under GENERAL in SETTINGS):

... or by limiting the frame rate to 60 frames per second (under ACCESSIBILITY in SETTINGS):

Hope this helps!