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My Phone Is Clicking Things On Its Own! (7 Potential Reasons)

My Phone Is Clicking Things On Its Own! (7 Potential Reasons)

Smartphones have come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.

Previously, all that mobile phones could do was make calls, send text messages, and perform a few other basic functions.

Fast-paced developments over the past few years have opened up a whole host of new features and applications to mobile phone users.

Increased complexity, however, also means that there is a heightened likelihood for users to experience glitches and issues with apps and functions.

One such bug that people are encountering is the issue commonly known as “ghost touch”.

Ghost touch describes the phenomenon where your mobile phone starts activating features on its own without any input from you at all!

If you have been subject to this issue it may have seemed that you were watching someone else using your device.

Thankfully, ghost touch can usually be resolved.

In order to rectify the issue, your first step is to identify which faults may be causing the issue.

Common causes for this issue include a cracked screen, faulty display, overheating, or other issues that we’ll discuss below.

Below, we’ll take a deep look at identifying the exact cause of your “ghost touch” issue.

Following that, we’ll also detail the most effective solutions for each problem so that you can fix the issue easily by yourself in the comfort of your own home!

Why Is My iPhone Clicking Things On Its Own? And How Do I Fix Ghost Touch?

Why Is My iPhone Clicking Things On Its Own? And How Do I Fix Ghost Touch?

There are several different possible causes that could be behind your iPhone screen clicking things without you actually physically touching the screen.

This occurrence can be related to both hardware and software issues.

Hardware issues can involve physical damage to a particular component of your smartphone, which then causes it to begin functioning strangely.

Software-related errors may occur due to glitches or faults in the settings and app functions on your device.

Below, we will look at some of the most common issues that can cause ghost touch and the ways in which you can fix them.

1. Cracked Phone Screen

Cracked Phone Screen

The first thing that you should check is whether there are any cracks on your screen.

A cracked screen may not affect your usage of the phone initially, but issues can develop if left unrepaired.

You may find that after some time, a cracked screen can start to result in your phone performing random functions on its own!

When a phone display is cracked, it can cause the touch capacitor to malfunction and begin to select random functions- otherwise known as the ‘ghost touch’ effect.

Turning the phone on and off again may fix the problem temporarily, but it’s definitely not a permanent solution.

To fix the issue permanently, the only true long-term solution is to replace the cracked screen completely.

2. Previous Inadequate Phone Repairs

Previous Inadequate Phone Repairs

This particular problem is usually the result of a situation where you have engaged the services of an unauthorized (or insufficiently skilled) phone repairer.

Fixing smartphones is a delicate task, and only certified technicians should be trusted to do the job professionally. 

If you have recently sent your phone in for repair and begin to observe the phone screen start moving icons randomly, there is a chance that it is being caused by an error made during the restoration process.

This issue may be the result of something as simple as a loose connection or damaged cable inadvertently caused when a repair technician was troubleshooting an unrelated issue.

If you have noticed a new ghost touch problem after a recent repair, the best thing to do is to take your smartphone back to the technician to have the problem resolved.

Usually, phones that have just undergone repairs by legitimate businesses will be under some kind of warranty, so you’ll most likely be able to get this fixed for free!

3. Software Errors

Software Errors

Glitches in a poorly designed app can create unintended side effects such as a phone clicking things on its own.

The first thing to do when you think this may be a possibility is to identify all of your newly installed apps and check if they’re functioning properly.

One of the things that you can do is to uninstall a recently downloaded app and restart your phone, as this will allow you to check if it was the app that was causing the problem.

It’s also a good idea to read the reviews for the app as experienced by other users.

If others have been complaining about the same occurrences in negative reviews, then you’ll have found the cause!

Check all the apps you installed before the ghost touch issue started, and uninstall them one by one till you find the troublemaker.

If uninstalling new apps doesn’t resolve the issue, try a soft reset by turning off your phone and pulling the SIM card and battery out for around 10 minutes. You may need to do a hard reset if your smartphone battery is inbuilt.

4. Faulty Screen Protector

Faulty Screen Protector

You can also experience instances with ghost touch if you currently have an improperly fitting or faulty screen protector on your device.

The ghost touch effect may take place if you have not firmly or correctly attached the screen protector over your phone screen.

Additionally, if there are particles such as dust or droplets of liquid in between the screen and the protector, ghost touches may occur!

You can fix this issue by making sure your screen is clean by wiping it with a soft cloth before installing a screen protector.

Manufacturer guidelines are usually available with each product to help ensure that you affix the screen protector to the phone screen correctly.

Alternatively, there are plenty of videos that you can watch online to get help if needed- or simply have a professional do it for you!

5. Your Phone Is “Butt Dialing”

“Butt dialing” occurs when your touch screen comes in contact with a part of your body, which then has a subsequent effect of accidentally opening up an app or dialing a contact’s phone number.

In most cases, this will typically happen when you hold your smartphone absentmindedly,  or when you keep your device in your pocket.

After a while you might look at your screen, only to discover to your great horror that your phone has dialed a number (or five) or sent a few hundred text messages!

If this is the case, the problem can be solved quite quickly.

You simply need to go to your phone settings and ensure that you set the screen timeout to one or two minutes.

This means that when you’re not actively using your smartphone, it will automatically shut down your screen after that set period!

However, if you realize that your screen timeout feature is not working, then you should have an expert look at your phone to fix it.

6. The Phone Is Too Hot (Or Too Cold)

Did you know that environmental temperature can affect your smartphone’s normal functionality?

Sometimes, ghost touches can occur when your phone is overheating, or when it is in a low-temperature environment (…like a freezer).

You can prevent this from happening by keeping your phone away from wet or cold areas, as well as by not using your phone too much when you are outdoors under the sun (or in a sauna)!

7. Faulty Charger

Faulty Charger

Finally, your phone may start to exhibit signs of ghost touches if you’ve been using a bad-quality charger over a prolonged period.

Make sure you use the correct charger- ideally the one that came with your phone!

If you have misplaced it, try your best to buy an original or high-quality charger, and avoid using cheap products that can cause permanent damage to your device.

In Conclusion

In this article, we’ve taken a close look at both the possible reasons and the quick-fix solutions surrounding the issue of a phone that’s clicking things on its own!

Whatever you do, you definitely shouldn’t ignore a ghost touch issue as it can cause many problems with unwanted messages and functions and can become an increasingly frustrating problem.

Thankfully, most of the tips discussed above can be carried out without professional knowledge on your part.

For example, if you think that the ghost touch issue may be resulting from moisture or stains on the screen, simply clean the surface with a soft dry cloth or tissue paper!

If it looks more like a software issue, you might need to reset the phone’s system, restore the factory settings, or consult an expert phone technician.

If none of the above solutions work to solve the problem for you, the next step would be to send your phone to a trusted repair technician for further evaluation!

What are some of the other Most Common Smartphone Issues that you might encounter on a day-to-day basis? FIND OUT HERE!

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