Intended touches being ignored in some cases, iPhone 16 Pro users report

If you’re rocking the latest iPhone 16 Pro, you might have noticed something more annoying than a slow Wi-Fi connection: your phone seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to responding to taps and swipes. Several users are reporting that their iPhone 16 Pro touchscreen is intermittently ignoring commands, leading to unresponsive scrolling, missed virtual keyboard presses, and even the occasional failed attempt to open an app.

Based on user feedback, testing, and a growing number of complaints online, the culprit seems to be a software issue rather than a hardware defect. Specifically, iOS’s accidental touch rejection algorithm appears to be overly sensitive. Designed to prevent unintentional screen touches, this algorithm is actually blocking legitimate interactions. If your finger so much as brushes the screen edge, your next tap or swipe could get lost in the void. This problem seems especially prominent around the edges of the screen, including areas near the camera controls, but it’s not limited to one part of the display — it’s happening all around the phone’s borders.

Adding fuel to the fire are the iPhone 16 Pro’s slimmer-than-ever bezels. These ultra-thin edges mean even the slightest contact with your skin can trigger touch rejection, whether you’re gripping the phone or navigating through apps. Users have noticed that the problem is worse when the phone is used without a case, as cases provide a small buffer zone that minimizes unintended touches. Even so, some users with cases are still reporting issues, proving this isn’t just a no-case problem.

A software bug with a possible fix

Interestingly, the touchscreen tantrums only seem to occur when the phone is unlocked and in use. Everything’s fine on the lock screen, suggesting this is likely a software glitch tied to the phone’s operating system. The problem has been reported on devices running iOS 18 and the iOS 18.1 beta, hinting that the issue isn’t tied to one specific software version but might be lurking across the iPhone’s latest updates.

For now, the best guess is that Apple can tackle this bug with a future software update. There’s hope that a patch could fine-tune the touch rejection settings, allowing the screen to distinguish between accidental and intentional touches more accurately.

Many iPhone 16 Pro owners are venting their frustrations online, describing everything from missed keyboard inputs to apps ignoring touch altogether. Some users initially blamed screen protectors, but removing them didn’t solve the issue. Others have experienced problems while mirroring their iPhone screens to Macs, suggesting this isn’t just about multitouch detection — it’s a deeper software flaw.

And it’s not just the iPhone 16 Pro that’s impacted; users of older models, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, are also reporting similar issues after upgrading to iOS 18. A few users have found temporary relief by restarting their phones, but this is far from a permanent solution.

While this isn’t Apple’s first brush with touchscreen woes, the company has a pretty good track record of squashing bugs with software updates. For now, affected users might want to keep their fingers away from the screen edges, try using a case, and stay tuned for the next iOS update that might just bring some relief.

If you’re among those dealing with a finicky iPhone, you’re not alone — and you’ve got a whole community of users waiting (not so) patiently for Apple to work its magic. So hang tight, and let’s hope the next tap or swipe doesn’t get lost in translation.