What it's likely to be
Damaged touch layer
Most likelyOn modern iPhones the touch layer is built into the display. A dead strip is a classic sign of a drop.
Phone is frozen
PossibleIf the clock stops updating and buttons do nothing too, the phone is hung — not the screen.
Connector shaken loose
Less commonA hard drop can loosen the touch connection without cracking anything.
Try this first
- Force restart: on iPhone 8 and newer (including SE 2nd and 3rd gen), press and let go of volume up, press and let go of volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. On iPhone 7, hold volume down and the side button together.
- Check whether the clock updates and whether the side button locks the phone. If yes, the phone is running and the touch layer is the issue.
- Remove a thick or cracked screen protector and try again.
- To back up a phone you can't tap, connect it to a computer you've trusted before, or use Siri to turn things on.
Bring it in if
- Touch is still dead after a force restart.
- Only part of the screen responds.
- The phone dropped recently, even without a crack.
What SPR usually does
Screen replacement — Original Grade
The touch layer can't be swapped on its own on these models, so the screen is replaced.
Screen replacement — Premium TFT
The lowest-cost route back to a fully working touch screen.
Glass-only replacement will not fix this. It only swaps the outer glass, and the touch layer underneath stays the same.
Price depends on the model and option. WhatsApp us your model for a free quote, or see how we check it first.
Still not sure what it is?
Send a photo or a short video and your model. A technician will tell you what it looks like and what the options are — free, no obligation.
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