Touch screen issues hit iPhone 16 Pro and older models
by William Gallagher · AppleInsiderLast updated 9 hours ago
In what appears to be an iOS 18 bug, users of iPhones including the iPhone 16 Pro are reporting touches and taps not being recognized.
It's not clear how widespread the issue is, but broadly some users are finding that their touchscreens are ignoring taps, swipes, and other gestures. The problem is not consistent, either, but typically the issue appears to resolve itself within a few moments — until it later reoccurs.
Most reports concern the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, but they are not exclusive to the new models. Instead, anecdotal evidence appears to suggest that the problem lies with iOS 18.
As first spotted in detail by 9to5mac, it looks to be that iOS 18's touch rejection is too sensitive. This is the system that means an iPhone can deduce whether a tap is just an accident of how the user has picked up the device, or it's a deliberate choice that requires a response.
There's no indication of how many users are affected, and reports on online support forums say it is happening on certain iPads, as well as iPhone models as old as the iPhone 14. Mastodon user Khaos Tian, however, has demonstrated one way how the issue can be intentionally triggered.
Some users are reporting issues specifically around the new Camera Control button. However, it's not clear whether this is the same issue and touch or palm rejection is briefly blocking that button too.
Since it appears to be affecting iPads and older iPhones, it does seem most likely to be a software issue rather than any physical fault with the iPhone 16 Pro range.
A similar issue affected the iPhone 12 mini back in 2020, although that turned out to be related to cases and screen protectors blocking touch sensitivity.
Apple has not yet commented on the reports.
14 Comments
kelemor 30 comments · 5 Years
About 8 hours ago
I was having these problems then last night I saw an iOS 18 update for all iPhone 16 models. I installed it and everything seems much better.
irishado 3 comments · 2 Years
About 8 hours ago
I had this too. For me it was a very easy fix. I realised that I was touching it wrong as it was my MacBook Pro
Doh!!!!!
jfabula1 154 comments · 2 Years
About 8 hours ago
irishado said:
I had this too. For me it was a very easy fix. I realised that I was touching it wrong as it was my MacBook Pro
Doh!!!!!
that’s a funny one, liked it
bshank 257 comments · 7 Years
About 7 hours ago
This has occurred on iOS 17 on my 15 Pro Max for the past few months prior to iOS 18 public release
jeffharris 822 comments · 22 Years
About 7 hours ago
Since upgrading my iPad Pro 11" and iPhone 13 Pro to iOS 18, I've noticed unrecognized taps.
It seemed like apps freezing.
If I switch to another app, then back it would go away. In browsers, reloading pages seemed to unfreeze them.
Not great.
Hopefully Apple fixes this soon.
I usually wait for the first bug-fix update before upgrading. Bad on me.
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