Fix an S9 Touch Screen Not Working Without Losing Your Data (6 Methods)

Has the touchscreen on your Samsung Galaxy S9 suddenly stopped responding? Don’t panic – in most cases, you can revive your S9’s unresponsive screen with some DIY troubleshooting.

This guide will outline the common causes of an S9 touch screen not working and walk through solutions to try before taking it in for repair.

Why is My S9 Touch Screen Not Working?

There are a few likely explanations for a Galaxy S9 touchscreen that’s unresponsive:

Software crash or glitch
Broken/cracked screen
Faulty digitizer
Disconnected screen connectors
Accumulated dirt/debris
Overheating issues
Defective power button

Attempting a few quick fixes at home can determine if it’s a hardware or software issue before you pay for pricey repairs.

How to Fix an Unresponsive Touch Screen on the S9

Here are the best troubleshooting steps to take when the touchscreen on your Galaxy S9 stops working:

1. Force Restart the S9

If your Samsung Galaxy S9 touch screen is not working, you can try force restarting it. This will not erase any of your data, but it will power cycle the device and may resolve the issue.

Press and hold the Volume Down button first and don’t release it.
While holding it down, press and hold the Power key.
Keep both keys held down for 10 seconds or more.

2. Boot in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that allows you to start your phone up with only the essential apps and services running. This can be helpful for troubleshooting problems with your phone, such as a touch screen that is not working.

Turn the device off.
Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen appearing on the screen.
When SAMSUNG appears on the screen, release the Power key.
Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
When Safe mode appears in the bottom left corner of the screen, release the Volume down key.
While in Safe mode, you can now uninstall apps that are causing a problem.

3. Check for Physical Damage

Thoroughly inspect the S9’s screen and body for cracks, water damage or anything obstructing the touch sensors that could cause it to malfunction.

4. Update Software

Keeping your Samsung Galaxy S9’s software up to date is important for both security and performance. Software updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements, as well as new features.

Go to Settings.
Tap Software Update and install any available updates.

5. Factory Reset the S9

If you’ve tried all of the above troubleshooting methods and your Samsung Galaxy S9 touch screen is still not working, you may need to perform a factory reset. This will erase all of the data on your phone, including your apps, settings, and files, so be sure to back up everything important before proceeding.

From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
Tap Settings > Cloud and accounts > Backup and restore.
Tap the following sliders to desired setting: Back up my data, Automatic restore.
Tap the Back key (bottom right) until you reach the main Settings menu.
Tap General Management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen, then tap RESET > DELETE ALL.
If you have screen lock turned on, enter your credentials.
If prompted to verify your Samsung account, enter the password, then tap CONFIRM.
Wait for the device to finish the reset sequence.

6. Get Professional Repair

For any hardware failure like a faulty digitizer, take your S9 to a qualified repair technician for proper diagnosis and replacement of damaged components.

Following these steps should get your Galaxy S9’s unresponsive touchscreen working again. But if you’ve tried everything and it still won’t respond, then a phone repair expert likely needs to replace any faulty internal hardware causing the issue.