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How to Fix the 'Ghost Touch' Problem on Android and iOS Smartphones

NextPit Google Pixel 7 Display ghost
© nextpit

While smartphones with touchscreens have become ubiquitous and the quality of materials used to make them have improved, many smartphones of today continue to experience a rather annoying issue called 'ghost touch'. In this article, we have put together a list of solutions that could help solve the ghost touch issue once and for all.

At the outset, let us warn you that while the ghost touch issue can be caused by several external factors that normal users like you and me can fix by simple troubleshooting, there may be some cases wherein a visit to the service center is inevitable. Especially if the underlying cause is a hardware issue. 

With the intro and the disclaimer out of the way, let's try to understand what this 'ghost touch' problem really is and how it affects the usage of your phone.

Jump to:

What is the ghost touch problem?

Ghost touch (or touch glitches) are the terms used when your screen responds to presses or inputs that you're not actually making, or when there's a section of your phone screen that's completely unresponsive to your touch. Exactly what the 'ghost' presses will do varies from device to device, but it seems to be more common in some devices than others.

Some of the devices that have been (in)famous for being susceptible to ghost touch issues include the old Motorola Moto G4 Plus, several models of the Apple iPhone—including the iPhone X, iPhone 11, and the iPhone 12 series, and some older OnePlus devices. All of that is to say, if you're having a ghost touch issue, it's probably not a problem with the software.

iPhone X app selection screen
Dead zones and ghost touch problems can also affect Apple iPhones. / © Apple

In more severe cases it's a hardware problem with your display and the way it's housed inside the chassis of your phone. If you're an engineer and are ok taking electronic devices apart (and have all the required specialty tools), multiple people have reported success simply by disconnecting the screen from the data connectors.

In other situations, water or dirt damage (or beneath the screen protector) can cause 'phantom' presses that aren't being made. There's no definitive single cause, or fix, for the problem, however, so you'll have to use some trial and error to fix the issue. This is especially true if you are out of warranty and wish to avoid a (usually expensive) visit to the service center.   

How to fix the ghost touch issue on Android and iOS

Listed below are some basic steps that you can try on your smartphones before you delve into more advanced, complex fixes. Note that these steps are applicable to both Android and iOS devices.

Disconnect the charging cable

Pile of mobile charging cables
Ghost touch issues can be the result of a faulty charger/cable / © NextPit

Surprising as it may seem, many a time, ghost touch issues happen only when phones are connected to a wall outlet. This is especially likely if you happen to use a charger/cable of spurious quality. Basically what happens here is that these chargers and cables affect the functionality of the digitizer—which is the sensor that detects your touch inputs.

If you are facing this ghost touch issue while charging your phone, it's best you replace the charger or charging cable with a new/better one. To check if a charger is really the cause, try charging the phone using a different charger/cable combo and check if the issue persists.  

Kill apps that are running in the background

A simple solution that can solve plenty of problems! Having many apps running in the background can cause a lot of issues. Generally speaking, open applications in the background can cause glitches on the software level which may result in ghost touch issues. So clearing them is a solid first troubleshooting step.

Although in Android, the process may vary from device to device, the rule of thumb is to open the overview panel, either by pressing the overview button on the bottom right. If you have gesture navigation on, you can either swipe up from the bottom of your screen, hold and then release. If you have a two-button navigation you simply swipe up from the middle of your screen. After that, depending on your device, you either swipe up or press the "Close all" button. 

To clear apps in iOS, you swipe up from the bottom of your screen and then using one, two, or three fingers, close the individual apps that appear on your screen. 

Remove the screen protector/tempered glass

If you're lucky, the problem for you is being caused by a screen protector that's got a tiny piece of dirt stuck behind it. The advice then is to remove it, clean your screen thoroughly and then replace the screen protector.  Be sure, however, to replace it with a good-quality screen protector.

Panzerglass screen protectors
Screen protectors and tempered glass can cause ghost touches (and lots of headaches!) / © NextPit

If you try to skimp on the quality, you may end up with screen protectors and tempered glass that are made of poor materials. These types of "protectors" cause more damage to your phone than save them from cracking. Basically, the poor quality of materials used on such screen protectors affects the touch sensitivity of the screen beneath it. 

A more extreme position would be to avoid screen protectors altogether since most modern smartphones come with adequate scratch and fall protection thanks to better quality glass made by Corning (Gorilla Glass) or AGC (DragonTrail).

Clean the phone case

Especially with the popularity of edge screens, the actionable area in many smartphone screens now extends to the sides of the device. That not only can lead to unwanted touch detection issues caused by our hands, but also when a phone case is not properly installed, or worse, is dirty.

Similar to the screen protector's tip above, remove the phone case, clean it properly and then reinstall it on the phone after drying. Remember to take special care if the case has a special feature—like built-in magnets, battery, or other—before cleaning the accessory.

Apple Smart Battery Case
Phone cases can also lead to ghost touch issues / © NextPit

Clean the display

As simple (or outright stupid) as it may seem—before we move to more advanced troubleshooting methods, it is always best to try and thoroughly clean the display. To do this, take a slightly moist soft cloth and wipe the screen. Follow this step with a dry cloth and wipe it clean. It is actually a good practice to wipe your screen every couple of weeks to prevent any smudges or dust accumulation which could eventually lead to the dreaded ghost touch issue.

Reset your settings and keep your device updated

Before we move on to more advanced solutions like a factory reset or device disassembly I heavily recommend making sure that your device is running the latest version of its software whether it is iOS or Android. Assuming that you keep your device updated one last effort to resolve the problem is to reset all of your settings to default. This process is almost the same as a factory reset but automatically maintains your data.

On iOS navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and choose Reset All Settings. This will only reset your device settings and will not delete any of your files. Keep in mind that network settings will be cleared too, so you will manually need to reconnect your device to your Wi-Fi. The home screen layout and keyboard settings will also be reset.

On Android, you will have to do a safe factory reset that will sustain all your data but reset all other settings. To do that you go to your settings and search for "Back up and Restore" (usually located in Settings > About Phone) and from there you can choose where you want your backup to be stored: Locally on your phone or your computer or in a cloud. If you need more information on this process, read the linked articles below.

How to fix ghost touch issue: Advanced troubleshooting

If none of the relatively simpler solutions worked for you, chances are high that your phone is suffering from more severe (i.e. actual) ghost touch problems. As such, your options aren't quite as straightforward.

This is because the cause can now be due to either a software issue or worse, a hardware problem.

Perform a factory reset

To check if buggy software is behind the issue, the easiest method is to perform a factory reset of your phone. This will bring your phone back to its original factory settings. If the issue was caused by an unruly app or a biggy software update, chances are high a factory reset will solve it.

Warning: A factory reset will delete all your data. Please make sure you backup all your data before going ahead with this step

To know how to factory reset Android and iOS devices please take a look at our dedicated articles below

Disassemble the screen assembly (for advanced users only)

This step is definitely not recommended for the average smartphone user. For folks who have the technical know-how to perform this task, and if they have the right tools at their disposal, opening up the affected smartphone, disassembling it, and putting it back together could potentially fix the issue.

Many people (and indeed, a bunch of YouTube videos) suggest that taking the phone apart, disconnecting the screen from the data connectors, and reseating all of that have been enough to fix the problem for them.

You could, of course, pay a third-party repair shop to reseat your screen in the connectors for you to see if it fixes the problem, which would be cheaper than a whole new panel.

Return/take it to the service center

Opened Fairphone 4 displaying the internal components
If everything fails, a visit to the service center could be necessary / © NextPit

The unequivocally best way to fix a screen glitch problem is to return the device to the manufacturer, ideally under warranty for a replacement. When within warranty, many companies will offer a new device in exchange for the faulty one, though some may opt to replace the screen instead to try and resolve the issue.

Although this is a simple option, it's probably not the quickest unless you're walking into a store to hand it over for a new one. If your handset is out of warranty, you'd probably have to pay for repairs and a swap won't be offered.

As you might have realized by now, there could be multiple reasons that cause ghost touch issues. And you might have to perform a series of steps to really know what is causing it. In case the simper steps do not work for you, the more advanced methods (save for the factory reset options) are best performed by a trained technician.


This article was last updated in November 2022. Older comments have been retained.

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  • Tj Senne 1
    Tj Senne 9 months ago Link to comment

    I am trying to read or searching something ghost touch starts now I m piss of fix pls


  • Ninjashyper6467 1
    Ninjashyper6467 Nov 2, 2022 Link to comment

    I like how while I’m trying to read it’s doing the ghost touch and trying to not let me read and, it’s getting really annoying and I can’t do anything, especially since I’m an artist and it’s screwing me over


  • 2
    Mohammed Rafath May 21, 2022 Link to comment

    For the ghost touch solution, I took away the tempered glass and there was no problem at all. After a few days, the screen was getting minute scratches, so I applied a film screen protector from Gadgetshieldz to protect it from scratches, I thought the ghost touch issues would come again, but the problem didn't occur. Also, the fingerprint was working properly for me! The tempered glasses that are not of good quality, will create these issues.

    Tj Senne


  • lars is bored 1
    lars is bored Mar 22, 2022 Link to comment

    The "ghost touch" starting happening with my phone yesterday, and I can't tell exactly what it is because it doesn't respond when i tap anything on the screen. It just taps on everything by itself and I can't do anything about it, other than take it to a repair shop and I was hoping to resort to that last. I can't even power off and restart my phone because that requires for me to touch the screen and as I said before: everytime I touch the screen, it doesn't respond. The only things that work are the power and volume buttons. Letting it die, charge over night, and then powering it back on this morning did not work. I can't even get into my phone because anytime its died or been powered off in the past it can't use my finger print when it first starts up, it makes me put in my pattern, which I cannot do because it doesn't do anything when I touch it. The phone is a lg 40 thinq. If anyone has any suggestions, other than going to a repair shop, that'd be great thanks.


  • Emmanuella 2
    Emmanuella Dec 11, 2021 Link to comment

    Im a student and i use a school Chromebook but this ghost touch thing needs to stop its annoying

    Zois Bekios ZannikosFabien Röhlinger


  • 4
    ttucjacks123 Jul 9, 2021 Link to comment

    I once faced the ghost typing issue in my iPad. I tried some common ways. Well, finally, I had to use TunesKit to fix my iPad stuck in the issue quickly.


  • 1
    Yokobluu (Tami Perrotti) Apr 13, 2021 Link to comment

    I have a Motorola One and had to change the screen twice because it broke. The second time they may not have used an original screen and now its broken again, the colors are all messed up ( vertical lines in usually white go through it) and recently it started with phantom touches. They are so bad I can't do anything on my phone anymore, not even shut it down. This pretty bad because I refuse to spend more money on changing the screen at it'll be a while until I can get a new one aaaaaaa


    • mymel0 3
      mymel0 Apr 19, 2021 Link to comment

      oh no, idrk what to do with my tablet anymore, because i also refuse to spend more money on it. i hope yours gets fixed soon!


  • 1
    James W Jan 25, 2021 Link to comment

    I found out how to fix this issue, with my chuwi ubook. I had issues with phantom touches on the left side of the screen. It was extremely annoying. It would come and go as it pleased. You may not like it, but you'll have to factory reset. Luckily I just got it, so it was easy for me to redownload the programs I had before it. Hope this works for everyone else. Good luck. I signed up to give you guys this information. So i deff hope it works. -_-


    • mymel0 3
      mymel0 Feb 17, 2021 Link to comment

      Hello! So I also have this problem and I had tried a factory reset on my device, but nothing happened. It may be because I have a different device then you? I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab s8 or a8 (Idrk which one) one of those two. But all I did was let it restart for around 24 hours?


  • mymel0 3
    mymel0 Dec 2, 2020 Link to comment

    Hello everyone, I have been lurking around trying to solve this issue for myself, but I am wayyy to young to do any of this. I can't take anything apart nor use an igniter. I have to try the *simple* things. I tried wiping my device down. It only worked for a few minutes. Then, started again. I was on another website and found some more *simple* tricks.

    This "Ghost touch" thing started a little bit over August. It then stopped in early October. It has been free of this touch thing since now. A day after Thanksgiving, the device had starting touching itself again. I had no clue why. I didn't think it was a software issue, knowing that even when it updates or restarts it doesn't stop. I don't think it's a hardware issue either. People say the digitizers may be the problem, as it may need to be put back it place, or something? Though, wouldn't it mean you had to have dropped it hard enough? I haven't dropped my device for months. Not even before the touch came back. The next thing I have came to was that it may be a virus? I don't actually have any proof of this. I would assume, though, that if it were a virus...would it really start, then stop, and then come back? If anyone can help me with this problem, you would be a life saver. I've nearly had this for 2 years. Almost going to be 2 during Christmas. I don't assume it's the tablet breaking down itself, or getting old. If you can answer, that'll be great! Thanks a-lot!! c:

    Edit: I've also found out that when on games, sometimes you can see where the device is tapping on. It seems to be at the bottom. But, when I turn the device around, it interacts with the top instead. Just thought I should say this in case it helps.


  • 2
    random_potato Nov 29, 2020 Link to comment

    Just want to add that I think the issue for me (iphone 7) was static electricity. I did process of elimination to come to this conclusion, since I know it's not really a well-documented reason. I know in my case, it's not a hardware issue because when it first happened (some time in autumn) I simply updated and cleaned the phone it worked fine until now (winter), where it started acting up like crazy again. It's not a software issue because I've updated it, reset it, and everything but the ghost touch was still there. The last possibility was that it was an environmental issue.

    I noticed that when I played rhythm games to test the touch screen, if I breathed on the phone to temporarily add humidity (to "settle" the charges) the ghost touching would immediately stop. Then I realised right now it is winter where I am, and static charges tend to be more present in the air because it is drier. I noticed that when I had the humidifier on the issue wasn't there. Furthermore in my room I sit next to the window which I had covered in a plastic film to prevent a draft from coming in. The plastic also contributes to the static I think because when I moved elsewhere in my room/apt the ghosting was gone again. This also explains why at first cleaning with water was also a temporary fix, since the room was still static-y in itself the screen would quickly act up again... Perhaps this might also be your issue, at least to test out. Maybe the issue is prevalent in a new model phone (like the iphone X), since the digitizers being made are probably more sensitive to static charges, which makes sense given that technology is improving. Or maybe it's just something internal, but not necessarily a hardware issue (I read other comments that say zapping the phone helped). Hopefully this helps!

    mymel0


    • mymel0 3
      mymel0 Dec 1, 2020 Link to comment

      Hello! I am also having the same problem you are. My ghost touch also started in near autumn, around August-October. It then stopped during late October. It's now been around 2 months. I thought it was fixed when it stopped, but, a few days ago, a day after thanksgiving, it had began to start again. I think your right. I think during the start of fall it turned down the static. Now that Winter is starting again, its much more dryer. Where I live, it's really dry. Most of the year. Especially during fall. Probably, when fall was coming to an end, the dryness was dying down, causing the static to also die down. Now that winter is coming, the dryness is coming back. I don't think that I should get an app, that may damage it even more. I don't assume it's a virus? I don't think it's a screen issue. I cleaned my screen and it only lasted for a few minutes. I don't think it's a hardware issue either. I agree with you, I think it's more of an environmental issue. Knowing that it's just the static around the device. Again, devices aren't perfect so we have to deal with it.

      If your trying the zapping technique, I wish you the best of luck! I think I'll just press around the screen. I researched about it and learned the digitizers inside the device may need to be snapped back in place. So, if the zapping technique doesn't work, I assume you try the snapping option. You may need to use your finger nails and slide around the screen with a little bit of pressure. It may help. Good luck! 😇👍🏾


      • 2
        random_potato Dec 6, 2020 Link to comment

        Good to know I'm not the only one noticing weird patterns in the phone behaviour haha. Actually since I figured out it may be an issue with a lack of humidity I've been able to avoid the ghost touch since I made that first comment. I just avoid "static hotspots" (what I'm calling it) in my home. For me this really only at my desk, since it's near the window that I covered with a plastic sheet (to prevent draft). I'm pretty convinced it's the plastic, as well as not being able to open the window causing that area to be a hotspot. It's like when you rub your head on a balloon, those types of materials insulate and tend to gather static on its surfaces... You'd think it be a negligible amount of static, but I guess the sheet is big enough to mess with my phone. -_-"

        Maybe you can also do some "experiments" to figure out where the ghost touch appears the most in your home. I found a quick fix in turning on a small humidifier in these "hotspots" but I think it's best to just avoid using your phone in them, or open a window if you can. I also think the "zapping technique" I mentioned is that ignition thing, but I'm also not well-verse in fixing my phone so idk. Either way, I luckily don't have to try it since my phone is okay now (hopefully forever), although I wish I figured out it was a humidity for me before I destroyed my screen protector lool. Hopefully it's a straightforward issue for you too! Good luck as well~

        mymel0


      • mymel0 3
        mymel0 Dec 10, 2020 Link to comment

        I have LOTS of windows in my house. Pretty much each wall has atleast a window on it. But, I've found that this one area does a pretty good job of stopping the ghost touch. I did a factory reset on my tablet. It seems to work when I turn the screen one way, but the other way has the "Ghost touch". Since I have a tablet, it isn't very relatable to a phone (In some ways it is tho). Where I get most of the touches were near a sliding door which I assume carries most humidity knowing it is really just a giant window. Where I find less humidity is near two small windows and my bedroom. I also had realized when I charged my tablet for two long, it starts acting up.

        But, my tablet stopped touching itself, so I assume it had stopped. If it does start again, idk what I would do. I don't actually know if I have a screen protector or not. I got this for Christmas so I didn't actually BUY it. Hopefully, I never get this weird behavior again, but if it starts again, I may end up saying goodbye to it. Mostly, because it's almost been 2 years and thats when most devices die down. Anyways, I hope your device never has this "Ghost touch" again! Have a great day!

        Edit: My tablet has "Ghost Touch" again-..únù


  • 1
    Alex Morgan Aug 30, 2020 Link to comment

    I solved my ghost touch problem by downloading an app called "partial screen" on playstore,, works by manually placing a dormant region provided by the app on the area where the ghost touch problem is,, very simple and works perfectly for me.


    • mymel0 3
      mymel0 Sep 8, 2020 Link to comment

      Do you have a way that doesn't need to get an app? Nothing too extreme though. Just something very simple?


    • 1
      theo hadley Oct 26, 2020 Link to comment

      ahh! thank you so much. it fixed 99% of my ghost touches, and now my phone works again! you're a big help :)


  • 1
    flxdata May 27, 2020 Link to comment

    I seem to have gone into this, went into emergency mode, then came back out and things for now look ok. Rebooted, as I couldn't before that. The first fix for anything that has computer components (phone, tablet or computer) is to reboot.


  • 1
    WHATDAHECKIZDIS Dec 12, 2019 Link to comment

    This article is completely useless. Your solutions are basically: return it, take it apart if you're a phone repair technician (which most people aren't), or do some weird crap with a lighter that could potentially damage your phone and has no guarantee of working.


  • 1
    theallister Nov 21, 2019 Link to comment

    Wouldn't recommend doing the igniter thing for ghost touch, it just triggers the ghost to go bananas on your screen


    • 1
      Boladayl Apr 3, 2020 Link to comment

      Completely. Utterly. Outrightly useless. a complete waste of time


  • 1
    Sparky Nov 17, 2019 Link to comment

    I am amazed! The electronic spark worked on my Kyocera duro force. It was only a few months old...Couldn't type ANYTHING then 2 Sparks later all fixed up... Thanks pit buddies!


  • 1
    Pzzyhunter Nov 6, 2019 Link to comment

    When trying to fix "ghost touching" screen using Igniter does it really need to take the screen protector off? Please reply


  • 1
    cslevine Oct 25, 2019 Link to comment

    This can be real a software problem.
    The fact is that a restore seems to get rid of it... and for the 1rst 3 minutes, nothing happens. All seams to be OK... Then, you input manually time and date, and you see 1 first again funny movement on the numbers....
    And then when you enter into parameters : ghost touches are back again, more an more often again... until you do not have any control again !
    This is a virus attack, and no system hard reset can do something. This goes worse and worse growing the android version number. I remember NO problem at all with Androïd 4 wich was the most stable version of Androïd. More the updates, More the problems !!
    And less are the possibility ( PC <-> tel ) !


  • 1
    Michelle Harris Oct 24, 2019 Link to comment

    When I was talking to my daughter something cut her outta the conversation then made a crackling noise then a ghost said get out


  • 1
    bartus2003 Oct 14, 2019 Link to comment

    I had Ghost Touch problem on my Xiaomi mi9 in Call of Duty Mobile and PubG.

    This is the only solution which fixed my problem:

    xiaomi.eu/community/threads/xiaomi-mi-9-ghost-touch-issue.51043/#post-503263


    1. Open settings
    2. Activate developer options (My device > Tap 8 times on "MIUI-Version")
    3. Settings > Additional Settings
    4. Developer options
    5. Disable MIUI-Optimizations (at the very bottom).
    6. Reboot


  • 1
    Bharat Aug 30, 2019 Link to comment

    My Ghost is a night crawler. After midnight it calls up random numbers from the contacts, which is a serious
    action when my family members happen to be called, alarmed as if there has been an emergency or calamity.


  • 6
    mahikhan Aug 6, 2019 Link to comment

    superb


  • 2
    JetBananaTM Aug 2, 2019 Link to comment

    the igniter trick works because of the static electricity. All you gotta do is rub your phone hard against a carpet im not joking it worked for me, simple and cost less and not timely


    • mymel0 3
      mymel0 Sep 8, 2020 Link to comment

      So, sorry that this is like a year later, but, I've been having Ghost Touch since I was at my grandma and grandpa's house, I simply thought it was just a little bug that would be fixed by the next day, but as I am looking stuff up, it seems to be the static electricity? I have been trying the most simple things, for example: I am not an engineer, so I am not going to take my whole tablet apart. I tried wiping the screen with a damp paper towel, but it stops for a bit then, it starts all over again!! Thats the only thing I've tried, when I tell my parents, they simply assume that it's a virus. I searched this up and it could be a virus but I don't have a ghost extension. I have also been whenever I turn my tablet off for the day, I turn the power off hoping it will work. I am too young to bring this to a real engineer to fix this problem, and am too young to take this apart. Today I will try to rub this on my carpet really hard, but just a question, what device do you have? I'm asking because just in-case this is a specific device fix! Thank you so much if you answer this question! 🥺🤧


  • D Fear 1
    D Fear May 23, 2019 Link to comment

    thank you for the lighter tip - really does work - amazeballs - virtual lucky shamrock to you


  • 1
    gorgonbunny May 14, 2019 Link to comment

    Believe in miracles! The electricity trick works!!

    Okay, my phone, an Essential PH-1, was pretty much unusable because of the 'ghost touching' issue going bonkers one day, so I tried everything I could think of: factory reboot, wiping with dryer sheets (which actually seemed to make it worse), wiping it with electronic wipes, putting it in the freezer (I thought it might be overheated), shaking it, yelling at it, changing every setting I could think of. Finally, out of options, we were sure that we'd have to suck up the $200 for the insurance to get a replacement.

    So, since the insurance applies to any damage anyway, we decided to try zapping it with electricity -- right in the middle of the screen for less than a second (not with an igniter, but a different device) . And the ghost touching problem instantly went away!


    • hargao siumai 1
      hargao siumai May 15, 2019 Link to comment

      hi i have the same phone and have the same ghost touch issue too, but it happens occasionally, like couple times a day and as soon as i lock the screen and unlock, the problem goes away. was it something that happened to you? how did you verify if your ghost touching problem has been completely gone away by the igniter? I would like to give a try too!


    • A H 1
      A H May 30, 2019 Link to comment

      I have the Essential PH-1 as well. I had it replaced because of a ghost touch issue. The replacement worked great for a while, and then a couple months later the ghost touch is happening again! I saw a comment about static electricity causing the issue. I'm going to try removing my case the next time it acts up.


  • Carl Pratt 2
    Carl Pratt Apr 11, 2019 Link to comment

    Ghost touches real fix for a real problem. In case all you highly intellectual minds are not aware of the fact hardware is affected by a build up of static electricity. Simply wipe down you plastic in-cased phone and the inside of the case and edges with a dryer sheet or antistatic spray and know more problem.

    JetBananaTMmarco sarli


    • 2
      JetBananaTM Aug 2, 2019 Link to comment

      Yep, i rubbed my phone against my carpet. Thanks for the tip bro it worked!


      • 1
        Vitalis Ifoh Aug 18, 2020 Link to comment

        for how long did you rub it against a carpet and what type of carpet?


      • mymel0 3
        mymel0 Sep 8, 2020 Link to comment

        I think you just rub it until it works again? Just keep rubbing and looking at your device to see if it still works, sorry you had to wait for 3 weeks! Hope this helps you!! :)

        Edit: Sorry I didn't answer your other question! 😅
        But I don't think it matters what type of carpet you use. Any carpet can give out static electricity, so just rub your device and it should work in any second! I haven't tried this out myself yet because I also have this "Ghost Touch" thing, but I will today. I hope this helps you! Comment back to me if it works!! :D 😁


  • aisha zeba 1
    aisha zeba Apr 10, 2019 Link to comment

    TQ ...it worked perfectly......


  • 1
    pepitohonguito87 Mar 5, 2019 Link to comment

    I got a Moto 4G Plus I returned it three times because of this problem. I got stuck with one because my warranty expired. I thought that the last one was ok but after a couple of months the problem started. I will tell you do not ever purchase a Motorola phone.


  • Vitor Hugo Chaves 1
    Vitor Hugo Chaves Jan 1, 2019 Link to comment

    WTF MAN! THAT IGNITOR TRICK WORKED PERFECTLY ON MY XIAOMI MI A1 WITH GHOST TOUCH ISSUES! THANK YOU!


  • Charles Ramirez 1
    Charles Ramirez Dec 7, 2018 Link to comment

    I am currently trying Factory Reset


  • Ugochukwu Agu 2
    Ugochukwu Agu Sep 11, 2018 Link to comment

    Thanks guys. The lighter trick worked like a charm. I was experiencing ghost touch on my Xaiomi redmi note 4x when i woke up this morning. I was contemplating getting a new LCD for my phone. I tried the lighter trick ,like 10 times and it worked like a charm. I am so happy and greatful.


  • Destroyer Vish 1
    Destroyer Vish Sep 9, 2018 Link to comment

    Guys im using mi max and facing ghost touches issue but here's what i did which confirms its not a hardware issue and u should also check as this method is perfect for such check.
    I measured the area where autotouches shows ..its like 2 inches from above and then i switched to single handed mode which reduced screen to a corner and surprisingly the touches were covering same area as they were before ehich now were 4 inches below the top so virtually at same place but in real there was a difference of 2 inches of effected area.
    So as last resort im now going to factory reset my device as it seems to b only possible way for me to fix any software or ui bug or issue.
    Please suggest me ways to fix such issue other than factory reset 😔 thanks in advance


    • Ugochukwu Agu 2
      Ugochukwu Agu Sep 11, 2018 Link to comment

      Try the lighter trick


      • 1
        mobidik Oct 1, 2018 Link to comment

        shocking , used a cooking gas igniter stick, saw a spark hit the glass of Lenovo vibe and problem was cured. used the telephone dialer , showed the area of "1" was ghost touching.Zapped it right there! Unbelievable. Static will create a problem if voltage detection is used in the digitiser , as the charges create a field (units measured in volts/meter or similar).


  • Giacomo Nencioni 1
    Giacomo Nencioni Apr 1, 2018 Link to comment

    My Ulefone, after almost 2 years started with the "ghost touch".
    The piezoigniter of the lighter worked after 4/5 shocks.
    After using my phone a lot (I'm 25, so chat, videos, social, game etc.) and dropping it too quite often (maybe once every 2/3 months) plus the dirt, dust, rain, overheat, extra charching etc. it started to freak out.
    I've tried to turn it off, reboot, factory reset but it seems that "defrib effect" was the only way.
    Thanks guys


  • Sarvath Bass 1
    Sarvath Bass Feb 7, 2018 Link to comment

    i save my 1000 bucks,time by this idea good one...,
    initially i thought it was silly but it works ...
    and thanks


  • Tomáš Netik 1
    Tomáš Netik Jan 21, 2018 Link to comment

    After I changed digitizer, I had that problem. I solve it by antistatic tape I put it between digitizer and motherboard(phone body) and around the electric connection. It works for me. If you havent this kind of tape, you can put another similar protection between these parts.


  • Thomas Orlay 2
    Thomas Orlay Jan 18, 2018 Link to comment

    How I fixed it:
    Turn ON Adaptive brightness and then cover the selfie camera with a piece of tape (or just cover the camera with your thumb when unlocking the phone).

    Katrina Sparrow


    • Katrina Sparrow 1
      Katrina Sparrow Mar 19, 2018 Link to comment

      Works for now. Thank you!


  • Simon Fink 2
    Simon Fink Jan 3, 2018 Link to comment

    There is a solution to the Motorola ghost touch problem.

    I had the phone 6 months and the problem got so bad that it made using it completely impossible. The only thing I could use it for was answering a call.

    Following advice I simply turned off adaptive brightness AND turned the brightness level down to the lowest possible setting. The problem has completely disappeared.

    The downside is that the phone is now not great for looking at photos or video but I use the phone mainly for business and don't need a great camera and never watch video/play games on the thing.

    Katrina Sparrow


    • Marco Bernabei 2
      Marco Bernabei Sep 6, 2018 Link to comment

      Moto X Style, it worked for me. I can also turn it to the max brightness.


  • Vineet Rana 1
    Vineet Rana Dec 8, 2017 Link to comment

    Thanks u so much for this valuable information. I am using micromax canvas 5 e481 and I was facing ghost touch problem on my mobile from past few days but from yesterday it was really hard for me to use my mobile. But after reading this artical I just removed the screen guard from my mobile and it works. Thank u once again


  • Rutger 1
    Rutger Jul 30, 2017 Link to comment

    I fixed my oneplus one screen ghosting by taking it apart and cleaned out the water corrosion on the lcd connector.


  • Robert Twigg 2
    Robert Twigg Jul 22, 2017 Link to comment

    The GPU rendering ”FIX” did not prevent Ghost Touches on my Moto G4 Plus.


  • Deepak Tripathi 3
    Deepak Tripathi Jul 21, 2017 Link to comment

    Here is the fix, works perfectly fine:
    To fix ghost touches.

    Go to Settings -> Developer Options -> Enable Force 2D GPU Rendering.

    To get developer option-> settings- about phone tap 7 times build number.

    Tick the box

    and you are done :)

    Thom BurnettNiklas MurrayRandy StoutAngel Midnight


    • Angel Midnight 1
      Angel Midnight Jul 26, 2017 Link to comment

      worked like a charm 100% thanks a billion for sharing !!!!


    • 1
      Randy Stout Aug 9, 2017 Link to comment

      Thanks. So far has been working better than all the other suggestions.


    • Carri L. 2
      Carri L. Aug 21, 2017 Link to comment

      My MotoG4 has been driving my insane taking over my (device) life!! I've done as you suggest, so will wait with baited breath to see if I can gain back control! Thanks in advance ;)

      Farran


    • Javier Cravioto 1
      Javier Cravioto Sep 12, 2017 Link to comment

      Thanks!!


    • Niklas Murray 2
      Niklas Murray Sep 14, 2017 Link to comment

      Testing this tonight. Been dealing with this "ghost" issue on my G4 + (black from amazon) however my wifes g4 + (white from amazon) ordered at the same time has never once shown the issue. I've noticed it most when I drop the phone in my shirt pocket and pull it out to use it again. It will be going ballistic tapping all over, I have to hold the power button and repeatedly click the power off and restart the phone to make it stop.

      pepitohonguito87


      • Jamie Anderson 1
        Jamie Anderson Sep 21, 2017 Link to comment

        Yes my mum's G4+ goes nuts when she goes out with it in her bag. I read elsewhere that it's caused by static interfering with an improperly earthed screen. Is the shirt acrylic?


    • Jean Cole 1
      Jean Cole Oct 8, 2017 Link to comment

      Oh great and powerful Oz, thank you.


    • 1
      paulo Nov 30, 2017 Link to comment

      you are a star ****************


    • Marco Bernabei 2
      Marco Bernabei Sep 6, 2018 Link to comment

      Moto X Style, worked for me!


    • 1
      pepitohonguito87 Mar 5, 2019 Link to comment

      It didn't work ☹️


  • Robert Twigg 2
    Robert Twigg Jul 5, 2017 Link to comment

    I have had THREE Moto G4 Plus models with the problem.

    pepitohonguito87


  • 2
    Brian Goode May 5, 2017 Link to comment

    Advising readers to return your phone for a refund from Motorola, within the warranty period, is easier said than done. They refuse replacements or refunds and insist that you keep returning the phone for repair, which is highly inconvenient. In the UK, after one failed repair, you're entitled to a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Motorola flatly refused to do anything other than another repair, even on receipt of an official letter. I eventually used the UK government's small claims procedure to request a refund. Even then, they tried to insist on their own terms rather than their legal obligation. I did eventually get a refund but most people wouldn't know about their rights or would just give up the ghost, so to speak.

    Farran


    • Brittany McGhee 21
      Brittany McGhee May 5, 2017 Link to comment

      That's very disheartening. Thanks for sharing your experience, Brian.


  • Neeraj Makam 1
    Neeraj Makam Mar 31, 2017 Link to comment

    When I initially read through the article, I was sure the "miracle approach" doesn't work. But after getting too frustrated with my oneplus 3, I tried it on that, and it worked perfectly after one single click. Just leaving this comment here for other fellow readers to try it out once before discarding the possibility of it being true.


  • Stewart Lindsay 1
    Stewart Lindsay Mar 22, 2017 Link to comment

    Had this on my Lenovo K3 Note - dont know how to fix this without replacing the screen which looks too fiddly. Seems phones are not built to last now because of the amount of use with social media


  • Andria D. 11
    Andria D. Mar 15, 2017 Link to comment

    A LOT of users report problems like this with the ZTE Zmax Pro, particularly for multi-touch, as with games. Thankfully, I haven't had the problem; I don't game, and the only use I've had for multi-touch is to pinch or spread a map or small text, and I've never seen any problems with my own Zmax Pro. I think that particular phone, being a dead-cheap bargain phone, just has a lot of "lemons"... which fortunately I didn't get.


  • 20
    Reg Joo Mar 15, 2017 Link to comment

    It does happen, not so much with my android(I can actually count on two hands how many times my androids did that in almost 3years), but man! the ipad air I have does it all the time.


    • 24
      Deactivated Account Mar 15, 2017 Link to comment

      on which android phones did you encounter this problem?


      • Jean Cole 1
        Jean Cole Oct 8, 2017 Link to comment

        Moto G-4 and G-4 Plus

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