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Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Touch Disease
iPhone 6 Plus flickering or not responding correctly? Here's why
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 8, 2022 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Which Devices Can Get It? What Are the Symptoms? What Causes It? Is It Really a Disease How Do You Fix It? What Are the Requirements for Apple's Repair Program? What Does the Program Cost? What Does the Repair Cover? What Are Your Next Steps It sounds like a made-up illness or something from Black Mirror, but iPhone Touch Disease is real for some iPhone owners. If your iPhone is acting weird, and you think you've got this problem, this article will help you understand what's happening and how to fix it. Which Devices Can Get iPhone Touch Disease
According to Apple, the only model affected by iPhone Touch Disease is the iPhone 6 Plus. There are some reports of the iPhone 6 being affected, but Apple hasn't confirmed them. What Are the Symptoms of iPhone Touch Disease
There are two primary symptoms of the disease: The iPhone's multitouch screen is not responding properly. This could mean that taps on the screen aren't being recognized or that gestures like pinching and zooming aren't working. The iPhone's screen has a flickering gray bar across the top. What Causes iPhone Touch Disease
This one is up for debate. According to Apple, the Disease is caused by repeatedly dropping the iPhone on hard surfaces and "then incurring further stress on the device" (whatever that means; Apple doesn't say). According to Apple, it's basically the result of the user not taking care of their device. On the other hand, iFixit—a site that focuses on repair and understanding of Apple products—says that the issue results from a design flaw in the iPhone and can happen on devices that haven't been dropped and on devices besides the iPhone 6 Plus. The problem has to do the soldering of two touchscreen controller chips built into the iPhone, according to iFixit. It's possible that both explanations are correct—that dropping the phone can loosen the soldering of the chips and that some un-dropped phones have manufacturing flaws—but there's no additional official word. Is It Really a Disease
No, of course not. And, for the record, we didn't name it "iPhone Touch Disease." Diseases are illnesses that can be spread from one infected party to another. That's not how iPhone Touch Disease works. Touch Disease is caused by dropping the phone (according to Apple), not because your phone sneezed on another phone. That would be a virus, and iPhones really don't get viruses. And phones don't sneeze anyway. "Disease" is just a catchy name someone gave the problem in this case. How Do You Fix iPhone Touch Disease
This is one problem you can't fix by cleaning your iPhone screen. In fact, in most cases, end users don't fix it. If you're really good with a soldering iron and don't mind taking a risk by opening your iPhone, you can do it, but we recommend against it. You could try to fix your broken touchscreen, but that might not do the trick. The simplest fix is the one that Apple is offering: the company will repair your phone. While you'll have to pay for the repair, it costs a lot less than many other iPhone repairs cost. You could use a third-party repair shop to make the fix, but the shop will need to have workers skilled in micro soldering and if they wreck your iPhone, Apple probably won't help you fix it. What Are the Requirements for Apple' s Repair Program
In order to qualify for Apple's iPhone Touch Disease repair program, you must: Have an iPhone 6 Plus In working condition That shows the symptoms listed earlier in the article That does not have a cracked or broken screen. The program only applies to devices within five years after the initial sale. So, if you're reading this in, say, 2020 and have a 6 Plus that's got these problems, you're not covered. Otherwise, if you meet all of those criteria, you likely qualify. What Does Apple' s Repair Program Cost
Apple's program costs $149 USD. That may not seem great, but it's cheaper than buying a new iPhone for $500 or more or paying for an out-of-warranty repair (often $300 and up). What Does Apple' s Repair Consist Of
While the program supposedly repairs affected phones, there are some reports that indicate that Apple is actually replacing them with refurbished phones. What Are Your Next Steps
If you think your phone has the Touch Disease, visit the Apple website linked to above and set up an appointment to get your phone inspected. Before taking your phone in, be sure to thoroughly back up all the data on your device. That way, if you do have to get the phone repaired or replaced, there's less chance of losing your important data. You'll also be able to restore that backup onto your repaired phone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix a Flickering Phone Screen Why Does My Phone Keep Freezing? How to Fix iPhone Stuck in Headphone Mode How to Fix it When iPhone Call Volume Is Low 8 Solutions for When Your iPhone Says No SIM How to Fix Surface Pro Screen Shaking and Flickering 8 Ways to Fix It When an iPhone Speaker Is Not Working What Is iPhone Error 53 and How Do You Fix It? How to Fix the Green Line on an Android Phone How to Easily Fix the iPhone White Screen of Death How to Fix It When Your iPhone Has No Service How to Fix Problems With Your iPhone Headphone Jack Apple Watch Repair: Everything You Need to Know The Best Options for iPhone Screen Repair Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Face ID Everything You Need to Know About iPhone SIM Cards Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies