How to Fix Galaxy A14 Unresponsive Touchscreen

galaxy a14 unresponsive touchscreen

An unresponsive touchscreen is one of the most frustrating issues you can encounter on your Galaxy A14. It makes the phone impossible to operate and use normally. The problem is often caused by a software glitch, an unoptimized app, system settings needing adjustment, or a hardware fault with the screen itself.

The good news is there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try restoring full touchscreen responsiveness on your A14.

galaxy a14 unresponsive touchscreen

Restart the Phone

A simple restart will refresh the phone’s memory and reload all system components cleanly. This can fix minor glitches causing an unresponsive touchscreen.

  1. To restart, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down key for a few seconds until the Power off prompt appears.
  2. Tap Restart and confirm you want to reboot your phone.

Restarting helps reload touch drivers and services for a fresh start.

Update Software to the Latest Version

Keeping your Galaxy phone’s software up to date is the first step in fixing touchscreen problems. Samsung regularly provides system updates that include bug fixes, performance enhancements, and touchscreen optimizations.

  1. Go to Settings > Software update and tap Download and install to get the latest Android version available for your A14.

Installing new updates can resolve software glitches causing touchscreen issues.

Check for Overheating Issues

Excessive heat buildup inside the phone can sometimes disrupt proper touchscreen function. If you notice the A14 feeling hot when the touchscreen stops working, it likely indicates an overheating problem.

  1. Close all apps, disable Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, and let the phone cool off for 30 minutes.
  2. Try using the touchscreen again when the phone has returned to a normal temperature.

Overheating less commonly affects the touchscreen, but it is worth checking.

Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

Turning on Airplane mode essentially cuts all connections and signals to the device briefly. This can flush out any connectivity or signal issues that may disrupt the touchscreen.

  1. Open your quick settings panel by swiping down from the top of the screen with two fingers.
  2. Tap the Airplane mode icon to enable it and wait 30 seconds.
  3. Then disable Airplane mode again and test if the touchscreen starts performing normally.

Wipe Screen Connectors with Rubbing Alcohol

Grease, debris, and moisture on the phone’s screen connectors can inhibit touchscreen responsiveness. Carefully clean the connectors at the edges of the Galaxy A14 screen using a cotton swab or soft cloth dampened lightly with rubbing alcohol.

Avoid excess liquid, and don’t submerge any components in liquid. Let the phone air dry for a few minutes after cleaning the connectors before testing the touchscreen again.

Check for Screen Protector or Case Interference

If you are using a screen protector or protective case, it is possible there is interference preventing proper touchscreen functionality. Try removing the protector or case and use the phone directly without them.

If the touchscreen starts working normally, then the accessory is likely causing interference. You may need to replace the protector or case.

Test in Safe Mode

Booting your Galaxy A14 into Safe Mode starts it with default settings and only the essential apps running. This isolates any third-party apps that may be disrupting the touchscreen.

  1. Press and hold the Power button and the volume down key until the Power off prompt appears.
  2. Then tap and hold the Power off option to turn it into Safe Mode.
  3. Tap Safe mode to finally restart your phone.

If the touchscreen works normally in Safe Mode, then a third-party app is the issue.

Uninstall recently downloaded apps one by one to pinpoint the problematic app.

Reset App Preferences

Resetting app preferences will clear any irregular settings, permissions, or cached data that could be interfering with touchscreen functionality.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > tap the three-dot Menu > Reset App Preferences.

This will reset all apps to their default states while retaining the apps themselves. Check if the touchscreen works properly after resetting app prefs.

Back Up Data and Factory Reset

If all else fails, the nuclear option is to back up your data and perform a factory reset. This will erase all data and settings on the device and return it to a clean, fresh state as if brand new.

  1. The process is found under Settings > General management> Reset > Factory data reset.

Be sure to back up anything important first, as a factory reset will wipe the phone completely clean. This should resolve even an advanced touchscreen issue at the expense of erasing your data.

Contact Samsung Support

In the unlikely event, the touchscreen remains unresponsive even after factory resetting the Galaxy A14, then the issue may be hardware related. Contact Samsung Support in your region for assistance.

They can run diagnostics, arrange a repair or replacement if the phone is still under warranty, or provide instructions for paid service if needed.

Provide as much detail about the issue as possible when contacting support.

With patience and systematically working through these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to resolve the most common causes of an unresponsive touchscreen on your Galaxy A14.

Don’t hesitate to contact Samsung’s support professionals if you exhaust all self-fix options. In most cases, thoughtful troubleshooting will get your touchscreen functioning properly again.

FAQs

  1. Q: Why did my Galaxy A14 screen become unresponsive and not register touches?

    A: An unresponsive touchscreen on the Galaxy A14 is often caused by software glitches or frozen processes. Apps freezing up, system errors, and unoptimized settings can all prevent the screen from properly responding to touch input. Hardware issues like ribbon cable damage or digitizer failure can also lead to an unresponsive screen.

  2. Q: How can I get my Galaxy A14 screen to be responsive again if taps and swipes don’t work?

    A: First, try a simple restart by holding the power button for 10 seconds to force a reboot. This will reload the software and restart frozen processes that may be causing the unresponsive screen. Also, check for any pending system software updates and install if available. If the issue persists, boot into safe mode to determine if third-party apps are the culprit. As a last resort, back up data and perform a factory reset to eliminate system glitches.

  3. Q: What should I do if my Galaxy A14 screen is completely unresponsive or showing visual glitches?

    A: A glitchy, frozen screen that is completely unresponsive points to a hardware defect rather than a temporary software issue. Connect the phone to an external display via cable to check if the display is faulty. Try reseating internal display connectors. If hardware tests don’t isolate the issue, then the LCD or touchscreen digitizer itself is likely defective and requires replacement or professional repair. Refraining from use until repaired prevents further issue escalation.