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Are you tired of unintentionally making calls, sending texts, or launching apps on your iPhone because of accidental touches on the screen? Well, you are not alone. Many iPhone users face this issue and wish to disable the touchscreen input on their iPhones.
There could be different reasons why someone would want to do this. For instance, it’s common for people with physical disabilities to struggle with using touchscreen devices. Moreover, some users may prefer to control their iPhones through buttons rather than touch gestures. Additionally, if you are planning to watch a video or read a book on your iPhone, disabling the touchscreen can prevent you from accidentally pausing or skipping to the next chapter.
Whatever your reason may be, in this post, we will guide you through several methods to disable your iPhone’s touchscreen input. Let’s dive in.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed?
To perform the methods we will discuss in this post, you need to have the following items:
1. An iPhone (duh!)
2. A computer (Windows or macOS)
3. An official or third-party lightning cable to connect your iPhone to the computer
4. An active Internet connection
5. Your iPhone’s passcode
What Requires Your Focus?
Before we begin, it’s essential to understand that the methods listed below are not Apple-sanctioned and involve tinkering with your iPhone’s settings. Therefore, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the steps and ensure that you perform each one accurately. Skipping a step or performing it incorrectly could cause problems with your iPhone’s functionality.
Method 1: Guided Access
Guided Access is an iPhone feature that restricts access to specific areas of the screen. By enabling Guided Access, you can choose which areas of your iPhone’s screen you want to disable. Enabling Guided Access might sound complicated, but it’s relatively easy. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to "Accessibility" > "Guided Access."
3. Turn on Guided Access by tapping the switch at the top.
4. Set a passcode to end Guided Access by tapping "Set Passcode."
5. Open the app you want to use without touch input.
6. Triple-click the "Side Button" to enable Guided Access.
7. Choose which areas of the screen you want to disable by drawing a circle or rectangle around them.
8. Click on "Start" to begin Guided Access.
Pros:
1. Allows you to choose exactly which areas of the screen you want to disable.
2. You can set a passcode to end Guided Access, preventing unwanted access to your iPhone.
3. Guided Access can be helpful for people with disabilities or people who want to limit the use of certain apps on their iPhone.
Cons:
1. Enabling Guided Access can be time-consuming.
2. Disabling Guided Access requires you to enter the passcode, which might be inconvenient in some situations.
3. Guided Access might not work as intended if you accidentally exit the app.
Method 2: AssistiveTouch
AssistiveTouch is another iPhone feature that can be useful for people with disabilities. When enabled, AssistiveTouch adds a virtual button on the screen that allows you to control various iPhone functions without using touch gestures. Here’s how to enable AssistiveTouch:
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to "Accessibility" > "Touch" > "AssistiveTouch."
3. Toggle on AssistiveTouch.
4. A virtual button will appear on the screen. Tap on it.
5. Tap on "Device."
6. Toggle on "Lock Screen."
7. Now, whenever you press and hold the virtual button, your iPhone’s touchscreen input will be disabled.
Pros:
1. AssistiveTouch is easy to enable and disable.
2. The virtual button can be moved to anywhere on the screen, making it convenient for users to access.
3. AssistiveTouch can be useful for people with disabilities or people who prefer to use buttons instead of touch gestures.
Cons:
1. AssistiveTouch may not be useful for users who don’t have disabilities or special needs.
2. Enabling AssistiveTouch may lead to the virtual button accidentally being pressed, causing screen disruptions and hindering usability.
3. AssistiveTouch may consume extra battery life.
Method 3: Jailbreak
Jailbreaking an iPhone is a popular way to gain complete control over the device and access features that are otherwise restricted by iOS. A jailbroken iPhone can do many things that a non-jailbroken iPhone cannot do, including disabling touchscreen input. However, it’s important to note that jailbreaking can void your iPhone’s warranty and introduce security risks. Moreover, jailbreaking is a complicated process, and it might not be suitable for everyone. Here’s how to disable touchscreen input using a jailbreak tweak called "HandsFree":
1. Download and install the "HandsFree" tweak from the Cydia repository.
2. After installation, open the tweak.
3. Toggle on "Disable Touch Input."
4. Reboot your iPhone.
Pros:
1. Jailbreaking an iPhone can give you full access to the device’s features and settings.
2. There are many jailbreak tweaks available that can be used to customize various parts of the iPhone’s functionality.
3. HandsFree is a quick and straightforward way to disable touchscreen input on a jailbroken iPhone.
Cons:
1. Jailbreaking an iPhone can introduce security risks and may void the device’s warranty.
2. HandsFree is a jailbreak tweak and might not work as intended on all iPhones.
3. Disabling touchscreen input might not be reversible without undoing the jailbreak itself.
Why Can’t I Disable Touchscreen Input on iPhone?
There are several reasons why you might not be able to disable touchscreen input on your iPhone, including:
1. Running outdated iOS: If your iPhone is running outdated iOS, it might not support the features needed to disable touchscreen input. Consider updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS to unlock these features.
2. Hardware limitations: Some older iPhone models might not be able to disable the touchscreen input due to hardware limitations.
3. Broken screen: If your iPhone’s screen is physically damaged, it might register accidental touches even if you disable touchscreen input.
Fixes:
1. Update iOS: Check if there’s a newer version of iOS available for your iPhone and update if necessary.
2. Upgrade your iPhone: If your iPhone is too old to support the required features, consider upgrading to a newer model that can.
3. Repair or replace the screen: If your iPhone’s screen is broken or damaged, consider getting it repaired or replaced by an authorized service center.
Implications and Recommendations
Disabling touchscreen input can have both positive and negative implications on your iPhone’s functionality. On the one hand, it can prevent accidental touches and make it easier for people with disabilities to operate the device. On the other hand, disabling touchscreen input can hinder usability, reduce battery life, and introduce additional security risks.
Therefore, it’s recommended to use the methods discussed in this post only when necessary. Moreover, before performing any of these methods, ensure that you have full knowledge of what you’re doing and proceed with caution.
FAQs
Q1. Is it safe to disable touchscreen input on the iPhone?
A1. Disabling touchscreen input is safe as long as you follow the methods we have discussed in this post. However, it’s important to note that tinkering with your iPhone’s settings carries a risk, and you should proceed with caution.
Q2. Will disabling touch input conserve my iPhone battery?
A2. Yes. Disabling touchscreen input can help conserve your iPhone’s battery life. When the iPhone’s touchscreen is disabled, it consumes less power as it isn’t registering accidental touches.
Q3. Can I disable touchscreen input on my iPhone temporarily?
A3. Yes, you can disable touchscreen input temporarily using the Guided Access or AssistiveTouch method. Once you’re done, you can easily turn off the feature.
Q4. Will disabling touchscreen input affect my iPhone’s accessibility features?
A4. Disabling touchscreen input might affect some of your iPhone’s accessibility features that rely on touch gestures. Therefore, before disabling touchscreen input, ensure that you’re aware of what features might be affected.
Q5. Can I re-enable touchscreen input after disabling it?
A5. Yes, you can re-enable touchscreen input by reversing the method that you used to disable it.
In Conclusion
Disabling touchscreen input is a useful feature that can prevent accidental touches and help people with disabilities use their iPhones. In this post, we have discussed three methods that can be used to disable touchscreen input on your iPhone: Guided Access, AssistiveTouch, and jailbreaking. However, it’s important to remember that each method carries a risk and should be performed with caution. We hope that this post has provided you with valuable information on how to disable touchscreen input on your iPhone.