Some iPhone users report that the iPhone keyboard is not working and they can’t seem to fix it. The depth of the problem can vary, starting with a temporary software glitch and leading all the way to major hardware issues. We did our best to provide some applicable solutions below. Make sure to check them out and tell us if they helped you in the comments below.
Table of contents:
- Restart your iPhone
- Update your device
- Remove a screen protector
- Try with an alternative keyboard
- Reset All Settings
How do I fix an unresponsive keyboard on my iPhone?
There are a couple of reasons for an unresponsive keyboard on your iPhone:
- A software bug that affects only the keyboard (in some instances, the keyboard won’t work only in some apps).
- Hardware failure that affects touch responsiveness.
- The screen protector or heat is causing the touch issues.
1. Restart your iPhone
Unless your display is damaged and we’re looking at a temporary glitch, a simple restart can take you a long way. After you restart your iPhone, test the keyboard again.
If your iPhone keyboard is still not working, make sure that your device is up to date. Also, on the hardware side, ensure that your screen is clean and not damaged. The display with even the slightest crack might lose its touch capabilities completely or partially.
2. Update your device
While we’re on the subject of temporary glitches and bugs, you should keep your device up to date to avoid those. We read reports about temporary keyboard issues in first-party apps like Messages. Apparently, an update fixed those, and everything was in order after the patch.
To check for updates on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Software update.
- Download and install available software updates.
If that doesn’t help and the iPhone keyboard is still not working, try removing the screen protector.
3. Remove a screen protector
If you use a screen protector and notice touch responsiveness issues, we suggest removing it. This is a long-shot solution but it’s worth a try. Also, some users suggested firmly pressing on the display above the logic board. The positioning of the motherboard (Logic board is Apple’s term) is different on different iPhone versions.
It’s suggested to do this because there’s a slight chance that a fall caused the wiring that connects the display and the logic board to disconnect. Another long shot try but you can give it a go before taking your device for a repair.
4. Try with an alternative keyboard
On the other hand, if you don’t have touchscreen issues and the iPhone Keyboard is basically the only app that doesn’t work, you can switch to Gboard for the time being.
You can download Gboard from App Store. After the problem is dealt with, you can switch back to iPhone Keyboard.
Here’s how to change the default keyboard on your iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Tap Keyboard.
- Open Keyboards.
- Tap Edit.
- Drag the preferred keyboard to the top. You can also delete other keyboards in the same Edit menu.
5. Reset All Settings
Finally, you can try and reset all settings or even use the DFU mode and iTunes to completely wipe your device and start from scratch. We can’t guarantee that this will work and removing and restoring everything can take some time. Resetting All Settings is a safer approach.
Here’s how to Reset All Settings on your iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Reset All Settings.
- Enter your PIN or Password and tap Reset All Settings.
Basically, if the issue is software-related one of the aforementioned solutions should deal with it. On the other hand, if your device sustained physical damage or the display failed on its own, there’s not much you can do on your own. We’re afraid that taking it for repair is your only option.
On that note, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.
