The touchscreen is the main way you interact with your smartphone. As such, an unresponsive screen or ‘ghost touch’ (apps opening by themselves or icons acting like you’re touching them) can make your device unusable.
Causes of these issues may include glitchy apps, overheating, faulty chargers, a dirty or wet screen, and damage or faults in the screen.
TCL suggests some possible fixes for a smartphone screen that is misbehaving.
Restart the smartphone: A simple restart is a good place to start troubleshooting your faulty screen. In many cases, a forced restart or switching the phone off and on again will fix the problem.
Clean your smartphone display: Moisture or accumulated dirt can cause your screen to stop working. Using a soft, moist cloth to wipe your touchscreen and then gently drying it often resolves the issue.
Shut apps down one by one: Occasionally, a glitchy app is the cause of your smartphone’s weird behaviour. Close apps down one by one to eliminate the possibility that one of them is causing the issue.
Tap each corner of the phone: When a touchscreen stops working after a phone is dropped, an internal connection might be loose. Gently tapping on each corner of the phone may cause it to reconnect.
Replace your charger: If you experience screen problems using your phone while it’s plugged in, a low quality or unofficial cable or charger might be the cause. Try a different charger to see what happens.
Scan for malware: It doesn’t happen that often, but in rare instances, a malware infection can cause ghost touch. Use Google Play Protect or an antivirus app to check for potentially harmful apps on your phone. You can also go to Settings, Storage, Cleanup to remove unused apps, app data, and files from your phone.
Remove the case and screen protector: Dust or moisture can get between the protector and the screen. Remove the case and protector, then wipe the screen to test. When you get a new screen protector, get a high-quality one and ensure it’s fitted properly.
Factory-reset your device and ensure you have the latest version of Android: Very occasionally, your problems could be due to a software glitch. Resetting your device to its factory settings and downloading the latest version of Android may fix the problem.
Visit the repair shop: When all else fails, find a reputable service centre and ask them to take a look. They’ll be able to tell you what the issue is and, if necessary, repair or replace your screen.