Why does my iPhone screen have ghost touches?

iPhone ghost touches are commonly caused by moisture on or under the screen, a non-Apple or damaged charging cable, a low-quality screen protector, or physical damage to the digitiser. Disconnect the charger, remove the screen protector, clean and dry the screen and retest. If ghost touches persist, the screen or digitiser needs replacement.

Does this test work on all iPhones?

Yes. The tests use standard browser APIs supported in Mobile Safari on iOS 14 and later, which covers iPhone 6s and all newer models. Touch and display tests work on all screen types including the LCD screens on older iPhones, OLED on iPhone X and later, and Super Retina XDR on iPhone 12 and later.

iPhone Screen Test

Q: Is there a secret code to test an iPhone screen?

No. Unlike Android, iPhone does not have a secret dialer code for hardware diagnostics. The *#0*# code that works on Samsung phones does not work on iOS. The closest equivalent is Apple Diagnostics, accessible via an Apple Store or via the Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics section. For screen-specific tests, browser tools like ScreenTester.uk are the most accessible option.

Q: How do I check if my iPhone screen is genuine?

Apple added genuine screen detection from iOS 11.3 onwards. If a non-genuine or third-party screen is fitted, iOS will show a notification in Settings > General > About saying 'Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display.' On iPhone 12 and later, non-genuine screens also lose True Tone functionality.

There is no secret dialer code for iPhone like there is on Samsung — Apple doesn't expose a hardware test menu to users. Instead, all of ScreenTester.uk's tests run in Mobile Safari using standard browser APIs, and they work on every iPhone from the 6s onwards. Run the tests in order for a full display check, or jump straight to whichever symptom you're investigating.

Before you start: Remove the screen protector and case, disconnect the charger, clean and dry the screen, then disable True Tone and Night Shift in Settings → Display & Brightness. These all affect what you see and will produce false results if left on.

iPhone screen tests

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1. Ghost Touch Test

Start it then put the phone flat without touching it. Stray marks = ghost inputs. Then draw slowly across all edges and corners.

Start →

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2. Touchscreen Accuracy

Draw across every screen region. Focus on top corners near Face ID, bottom swipe area, and screen edges — common dead-zone locations after a repair.

Start →

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3. Dead Pixel Test

Cycle solid colours to spot any pixel stuck on black, stuck on white, or fixed at the wrong colour. Inspect the full screen up close on each slide.

Start →

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4. Display Colour Test

Check pure colours are vibrant and white looks neutral. OLED iPhones may show a slight colour shift at sharp angles — this is normal.

Start →

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5. Screen Uniformity

50% grey reveals pressure damage and LCD layer issues. Dark patches fixed to a screen region after a drop = physical damage.

Start →

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6. OLED Burn-in Check

Solid grey reveals burn-in from persistent UI elements (keyboard, status bar). Most visible on older iPhone X, XS, 11 Pro OLED panels.

Open Uniformity →

Is my iPhone screen genuine?

From iOS 11.3, iPhones flag non-genuine screens automatically. After a repair, check Settings → General → About. If the screen was replaced with a non-Apple part, you'll see: "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display."

On iPhone 12 and later, non-genuine screens also lose:

True Tone — adaptive white point based on ambient light
Face ID functionality on some third-party screens (varies)
Apple's ProMotion adaptive refresh rate on iPhone 13 Pro and later

Test compatibility by iPhone model

iPhone models	Screen type	Ghost Touch	Dead Pixel	Colour Test
iPhone 6s – 8 Plus	LCD (Retina)	✓	✓	✓
iPhone X, XS, XS Max	OLED (Super Retina)	✓	✓	✓
iPhone XR, 11	LCD (Liquid Retina)	✓	✓	✓
iPhone 11 Pro / Max	OLED (Super Retina XDR)	✓	✓	✓
iPhone 12 – 15 series	OLED (Super Retina XDR)	✓	✓	✓
iPhone 15 Pro / Max	OLED ProMotion (1–120Hz)	✓	✓	✓
iPhone SE (all generations)	LCD / OLED	✓	✓	✓

All tests run in Mobile Safari. iOS 14+ recommended for best pointer event support.

iPhone Screen Test — FAQ

Is there a secret code to test an iPhone screen?

No — iPhone has no dialer code equivalent to Samsung's *#0*#. Apple doesn't expose a hardware test menu to users. Browser tools like ScreenTester.uk are the accessible alternative. Official diagnostics are available at Apple Stores and via Apple's self-repair programme.

How do I check if my iPhone screen is genuine Apple?

Go to Settings → General → About. If it shows "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display", the screen was replaced with a non-Apple part. iPhone 12 and later also lose True Tone on non-genuine screens.

Why does my iPhone have ghost touches?

Common causes: moisture on the digitiser, a cheap/faulty charger, a lifting screen protector, or physical damage. Disconnect the charger, remove the protector, clean the screen and retest. Persistent ghost touches after these steps usually mean the digitiser needs replacement.

Does this work on all iPhones?

Yes — all tests work in Mobile Safari on iOS 14 and later, covering iPhone 6s and all subsequent models including the SE range, mini, Pro and Pro Max variants.

My OLED iPhone screen looks different at an angle — is this normal?

Yes. OLED panels show a slight colour shift (typically warmer) at wide viewing angles. This is a characteristic of the panel technology and is not a defect. Apple's True Tone helps compensate under ambient light. The colour shift should be minor when viewing straight on.