How to Fix ‘Touch input blocked’ in Samsung Phones?

You may encounter a “touch input blocked” message on your Samsung device if the proximity sensor is covered by your protector, or if your proximity sensor is malfunctioning, which prevents you from using the touch features properly.

If you are unable to follow the steps below due to complete touch input failure, you have a few options. You can restart your device in safe mode or connect a USB mouse/keyboard using an OTG cable to complete the process. Additionally, if you have enabled voice commands on your Samsung device, you can use them to perform the steps mentioned below.

For some individuals, the “touch input blocked” message could be permanently displayed on the screen. To check, activate auto-rotate and turn your phone. If the message remains stationary, it means the popup is burned onto the screen. If this occurs, try cycling through different colors to remove the burn; otherwise, the damage might be irreversible, requiring a replacement.

1. Force restart the device.

Your Samsung device (phone, tablet, etc.) will display the ‘touch input blocked’ popup if the device’s input modules are in an error state and require a fresh start. Performing a restart of the device will do the trick.

1. Press and hold the following buttons on your Samsung device:

   Side
   
   Volume Down

   

2. Wait until the phone restarts and check if the touch functionality returns to normal.

2. Remove the case/protector and clean the proximity sensor.

If your device’s case, screen protector, or dust covers the proximity sensor, it may not work correctly and could cause touch input to be blocked. To resolve this issue, remove the case or protector and clean the sensor.

1. Remove the case or cover from your Samsung device and check if the touch input issue has been resolved.

   

2. If not, remove the glass protector from the device’s screen and check again after restarting.

   

3. If the issue persists, grab a soft lint-free cloth and clean the proximity sensor (near the top of the phone’s screen).

   

4. Once completed, check whether the touch input is functioning properly.
5. If the issue persists, ensure that your hand is not covering the phone’s proximity sensor while using it, and check if that resolves the problem.
6. If that does not work, charge your device with a genuine Samsung charger/cable, and check if the touch input is no longer blocked.

3. Update the device’s OS to the latest build.

An outdated OS on a Samsung device may lead to touch input problems if it is incompatible with updated apps. Updating the device’s OS can fix the issue and also address any bugs that may be causing it.

Before updating, make sure to back up the device’s data, connect the device to a Wi-Fi network, and fully charge it.

1. Launch the Settings on your Samsung TV and open the Software Update.

   

2. Tap on ‘Check for System Updates,’ and if an update is shown, install the update.

   

3. Once completed, restart the device and check whether the touch input is working properly.
4. If not, launch the Phone app and open the Dialer.
5. Dial the following code:

   *#2336#

   

6. Select Upgrade TSP Firmware and tap on Upgrade.
7. Once completed, restart your device and check if the touch input issue is resolved.

4. Disable the Easy Screen Turn On accessibility feature.

The “Easy Screen Turn On” feature allows you to activate the screen by waving your hand over the proximity sensor, eliminating the need to press any buttons. However, if enabled, sudden movements around the sensor may result in accidental touches, which can block touch input. To resolve this issue, disable the “Easy Screen Turn On” accessibility feature.

1. Launch the device Settings and open Accessibility.

   

2. Select Easy Screen Turn on and disable it.

   

3. Restart the device and check if the touch input blocked message is cleared.
4. If not, check whether disabling Bixby solves the problem.

5. Disable the ‘Block Accidental Touches’ feature.

Your Samsung device’s proximity sensor, located at the top of your phone, helps determine whether a touch is accidental. If something obstructs the sensor, touches may be treated as accidental, and touch input will be blocked. Disabling the device’s accidental touch feature can solve this problem.

Beware: disabling this feature can cause accidental dialing or operation of the phone, leading to issues.

1. Launch the Settings and open the Display.
2. Disable ‘Block Accidental Touches‘ and restart your device. Check if the ‘touch input blocked’ popup is cleared.

   

3. If not, navigate to Settings > Advanced Features > Touch Sensitivity.
4. Lower the sensitivity and check if the touch input is working correctly.
5. If the issuer persists and you cannot disable Accidental Touch because the input is not working, launch ADB and connect it to your device.
6. Execute the following:

   ./adb shell settings put global block_untrusted_touches 0

7. Disconnect the device from ADB and restart it. Check if the touch input issue has been resolved.

6. Reset Your Samsung Device to Factory Defaults.

If the input modules of your Samsung device become corrupted after a failed OS update, they may crash during execution and cause issues. Resetting your Samsung device to factory defaults can fix this problem.

Before resetting, back up your phone’s data and fully charge it.

1. Launch the device Settings and navigate to General Management > Reset.

   

2. Select Factory Data Reset and confirm to reset the device.

   

3. Once completed, set up the device as a new one (without restoring from a backup), and hopefully, its touch input will be functioning correctly.

If the issue persists, ensure that the phone’s proximity sensor is working properly. You can test it through the Samsung diagnostics menu by dialing *#0*# on the phone’s dialer. If the problem continues, have your phone examined for hardware issues, and if it is under warranty, consider getting it replaced.