iPhone 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max Touch Suddenly Stopped Working

 Here are a few common causes based on our repair diagnostics:

1. Screen or Digitizer Damage

• Issue: The iPhone 14 Pro’s screen or digitizer (the layer that detects touch) may be damaged, either due to physical impact or internal defects.
• Repair Solution: This would require screen replacement. Typically, the entire front panel, including the OLED display and digitizer, is replaced.
• Costs:  iPhone 14 Proscreen replacement costs R6600  for an original screen and R5500 for a soft oled screen which is similar to the original screen in terms of thickness, functionality an make.iPhone 14 Pro original screen costs R6800 and R5500 for a soft oled screen.

2. Loose or Damaged Display Connector

• Issue: Sometimes, the internal display connector can become loose, particularly after a drop or repair. This can cause intermittent touch problems or a completely unresponsive screen.
• Repair Solution: A technician would need to open the device and reconnect or replace the cable.
• DIY Tip: For experienced DIYers, opening the phone and reseating the display connector might resolve this issue, though it’s risky without proper tools as iPhone 14 screens are thin, fragile and hard to remove.

3. Liquid Damage

• Issue: Despite water resistance, water or other liquids can still get inside, especially through cracks. This can cause touch issues due to short-circuiting the digitizer or components on the touch circuit.
• Repair Solution: Liquid damage repair can be tricky and may involve component-level repairs or replacing the display or other parts.

4. Software Malfunctions Due to Corruption

• Issue: Occasionally, the touch issues stem from software corruption during updates or app installations.
• Repair Solution: Restoring the device via DFU (Device Firmware Update) using softwares like iTunes or 3u tools can often resolve deep software issues.
  • Steps for DFU: Connect the iPhone to a computer, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), press the Volume Up, Volume Down, and hold the Side button until the screen goes black. Then, release the Side button while continuing to hold the Volume Down button. The process may differ on the older models.

5. Faulty IC Chip (Touch Controller)

• Issue: The Touch IC chip, which is responsible for interpreting touch signals, might be malfunctioning.
• Repair Solution: Replacing the touch controller IC chip requires microsoldering skills. This repair is more complex and is typically performed by specialized repair shops like Apple Repair South Africa.

6. Third-Party Screen Issues

• Issue: If the iPhone was previously repaired using non-genuine parts, the touch functionality might degrade over time, or iOS updates could cause compatibility issues with the third-party screen.
• Repair Solution: Replacing the screen with a certified or original Apple part is the best fix.