Your iPhone screen is acting weird. Maybe it won’t respond. Maybe it’s frozen. Maybe it’s doing that fun thing where it randomly taps itself like it’s haunted.

Whatever it is, you’re here because something’s wrong — and you’re trying really hard not to throw your phone into the lake.

We get it. But before you assume it’s broken forever, here are 5 quick fixes to try — plus what it means if none of them work.

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1. Clean the Screen (Seriously)

Let’s start embarrassingly simple.

If your screen isn’t responding to touch, try:

• Wiping it clean with a soft, lint-free cloth
• Washing your hands (yes, really — greasy fingers are a thing)
• Removing screen protectors or cases that might be interfering with touch

Sounds silly. Solves the issue more often than you’d think.

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2. Force Restart the iPhone

If your screen is frozen or laggy, force-restarting might kick it back into action.

Here’s how:

• For iPhone 8 and later:
  Press and release Volume Up → Press and release Volume Down → Hold the Power button until you see the Apple logo
• For iPhone 7:
  Hold Volume Down + Power until the Apple logo appears
• For iPhone 6s and earlier:
  Hold Home + Power until restart

Still frozen after that? Move on to #3.

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3. Check for Physical or Water Damage

If your phone recently:

• Took a fall
• Got wet (rain counts)
• Slept in the snowbank during a “quick” night out

…then the issue might be deeper.

Signs of hardware problems:

• Screen flickers or shows lines
• Random ghost touches (aka phantom swipes)
• No touch response at all

This usually means the digitizer (the part under the glass that reads touch) is damaged, and the screen will likely need to be replaced.

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4. Try Charging It (Yes, Even If It Seems On)

Sometimes a low or unstable battery can cause the screen to behave erratically.

• Plug it in with a certified charger
• Let it sit for 10–15 minutes
• Watch for signs of life or improved responsiveness

If the screen turns on but still won’t respond — or only works while charging — the issue might be power management or a bad battery.

We cover both under our iPhone repair services in Barrie.

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5. Boot Into Recovery or DFU Mode (Advanced)

If all else fails, and your phone screen is black or frozen on startup:

• Recovery mode can help restore iOS without deleting data
• DFU mode is a full reset and reinstall of iOS (use with caution)

You’ll need a computer with iTunes or Finder, and some patience. If this sounds like a bit much — that’s what we’re here for.

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When It’s Time for a Repair

If your screen:

• Doesn’t respond after a force restart
• Has visible damage or cracked glass
• Only works intermittently or with pressure
• Glitches, flickers, or shows ghost touch

…it’s time for a replacement screen.

Good news: We’ve got those in stock.

Most iPhone screen repairs at Barrie Screen Repair are:

• Done same-day
• Use high-quality parts (OLED or LCD — we explain the difference)
• Covered under warranty
• Priced clearly with no surprise fees

Typical cost ranges from $120 to $550 depending on the model.

Need your iPhone fixed today? Request a fast quote →

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Related Repair:

Also having issues with an iPad screen?
Check out this guide: iPad Screen Repairs — What They Cost and When to Do It

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TL;DR — Don’t Panic (Yet)

Try the simple stuff first:

• Clean the screen
• Force restart
• Check for damage
• Plug it in
• Try recovery mode

If it still isn’t working, we can help.

Request a quote or book your repair here

Same-day fixes, honest pricing, no pressure — just a working screen again.