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Repair information, troubleshooting tips, and guides for the sixth iteration of Apple iPhone, announced on September 12, 2012. Model: A1428, A1429

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Digitizer (touch) not working after dropped

Well, the title is pretty self explanatory but I am going to expand a bit more to provide context.

My phone dropped (in its cover) flat on the ground (tiles). As soon as I picked it up, I noticed the phone restarted and I could see vertical strips in which the lcd was not working (all of it on the right hand side of the screen) and once it fully booted the digitizer was completely unresponsive. This was a massive problem as I couldn't back up my device

Ordered online a new lcd+digitizer to repair it myself and followed the steps provided here.

Once the panel was in place and the phone was closed, turned it on and tried to enter my pin. Digitizer is unresponsive... but for a moment it flicked... something was recognised as a swipe as it went from "locked screen" to "enter your pin". Noticed after a while that moving or squeezing the phone before pressing certain areas made it respond at times.

Did different orientations, squeezes and gentle taps and I managed to unlock the phone with extreme patience (so now I can backup my phone on my computer).

Disassembled the phone to tried the new panel on a working phone and it works without hassles.

What can be wrong with my phone? Has anybody had a problem like this?

EDIT 1: playing with the device I can notice corners react without issues so I can swipe up or down within certain range.

EDIT 2: if I use the middle of my thumb or two fingers it recognises swipe without issues and I can type with enough patience using the center of my thumb. I am starting to think the screen is dodgy. Anybody? comments?

Answer this question I have this problem too

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no issue with hardware/software and i check from the nearest center. Its remains useless at the end. Can you share any guide for this option :/

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yes, my mom recently gave me her old iphone 4. she had dropped it the night before her and my stepfather got married but now part of the screen is unresponsive.

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If your replacement lcd-digitizer assembly was refurbished, the digitizer could have been stressed to make it failure prone. LCD's are easily damaged, depending on the refurb and bonding process. Liquid (LOCA) glue residue found near/on flex cables is often a hint.

Also, another good possibility involves the flex cable connectors themselves. Did the replacement LCD-digitizer cables have foam pads on the back side of the connectors or just shiny metal? If those foam pads aren't there, when you go to place the connector's cover with the 3 screws, any one of cables have room to pop off when positioning the display.

When you press down on the display, it may be enough to flex the display and temporarily or partially make a connection at the cable ends (upper right corner of screen) underneath and/or nudge a defect (crack) present in the digitizer panel, which is just below the glass surface.

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Hi recellvalue, my connectors are just the metal bit. I tried pressing (gently) the display at the right hand top corner (where cables should be located) but no response.

I'm going to be cleaning the connectors in case there is some glue or something and give it a try again. Contacted the seller as well to get some extra info and their response was roughly what you mention. Thanks! Will try to update this if my issue is resolved!

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If the display works on another phone it isn't the display. In which case you should take a good look at your connectors on the board. Check your connectors for damage ,(bent pins, debris), and do the same for the flex cables. Try to find something non conductive, preferably foam produced for this purpose, to replace the foam that should be there. It may not seem important but not having it can cause problems like this. Also i assume you know but when you say you are going to clean the connectors, please take care as they are easily damaged and you most definitely will not be getting a refund. And if you can use isopropyl and a soft toothbrush if possible. Unless you get lucky of course.

Report back for further troubleshooting.

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When I'm in a pinch and I need to replace those foam pads with something I just use a sheet of "3M 300LSE" adhesive to cut a few rectangles. Then I just peel off the yellow side and stick. I found it works quite well!

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Hey guys, sorry for the super late response... returned the defective panel and got a new one. The new one does work but when the phone heats up the display starts showing some weird color aberration until it goes all grey.

A little bit of research with the local repairman uncovered that some chip on the motherboard has cracked as result of the fall, the problem isn't obvious when the phone first boot, but becomes worst when the cpu and gpu heats up. Basically my phone is no good to use.

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Is there like a grey bar at the top of the LCD being displayed? If yes then the touch IC is at fault.

http://www.mendonipadrehab.com/entries/g...

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Hey, there, I am having the same problem with my iphone 5s as you described. I dropped the phone on a tile with its cover, and it is not responding to anything. I can only turn it on or off using the home&lock button. Should I follow what you have done on your phone? I'm so embarrassed now, but somewhat relieved to know that this sometimes happens.

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Hi SY,

Giving you the short version:

I sent back the panel I bought initially, it was defective. Got a different one that worked perfectly fine but when the phone heats up the colours go crazy and it becomes effectively useless (pretty hard to use a phone that has distorted colours).

Decided to take it to a repair shop to get their expertise just to find out that either the GPU or one of the display chips on the motherboard cracked (micro fracture) which will only give me problems when the phone heats up (basically every 5 minutes). Sadly replacing this part is replacing the entire phone as the motherboard has every single component that makes the phone work.

Hopefully this is not your problem and the screen digitizer has stopped working, meaning replacing the lcd+digitizer would fix your problem. Want a word of advise, buy a replacement that includes the camera and everything else so you only need to unscrew, remove the panel and place the new one in.

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Many thanks, Rod, for your kind explanation and advice on how you got on with your problem. Unfortunately, I cannot follow your helpful advice, as I have already ordered 'LCD touch screen & Digitiser' from eBay. Honestly I am almost illiterate in technology, so I asked a friend to help me out this afternoon. We are planning to follow every single step from the video clip on Youtube that shows replacing that part. I am hoping that it solves my problem, but even if it does not, I will not be very disappointed thanks to your early warnings! Many thanks, indeed, anyway!

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Hi,

I have a similar problem with my iPhone 5. I squeeze it from my wife's hand and the digitizer cracked. So I don't know if I can get the digitizer alone or it comes together with the lcd

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Hi,

You can't just replace the digitizer by yourself, replace digitizer alone have to use the machine, difficult job. so I am really suggest you replace the screen(digitizer with lcd assembly)

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Thank you Alanfixit, I think that's the best option. I will let you know when it's done

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Hi Friends!

My Mother just dropped her 5s (a1457) and now the touchscreen is unresponsive.

I am following the Guide from Apple about restoring the Phone via iTunes since the Home and other buttons do work …

But I noticed that there is some kind of purple hue on the otherwise white Background. I took a photo of it and hope somebody can tell me if this is something known …

Block Image

Well anyhow - the upgrade via iTunes didn’t help. No suprise there but - before I give my 6s to Mama I wanted to try this.

I guess repairing an 5s is not a good idea.

Cheers mates! :)

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Any solutions about your case?

I've dropped my SE and my display is okay but is unresponsive too

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I have dropped my iphone 5s on the tiles and it wont turn on but when I plug in the apple logo appears and again it going off and its repeating again and again until the charger is plug out...What do you think it is?

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@lgs7_

Sorry ...

I just put it aside for replacement parts. No Solution to my problem!

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@nautkookie07

Sorry ...

I just put it aside for replacement parts. No Solution to my problem!

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Rod Landaeta will be eternally grateful.
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