Are you one of the many people who is having problems with your touchscreen on the iPhone? Hack you hacked your iPhone, unlocked your iPhone, or a non AT&T customer? Now that Apple’s warranty requires you to have an AT&T phone number to get your iPhone replaced or repaired, how do you fix your touchscreen problem?
There are a few options for you at the moment. You can purchase replacement parts, virginize your iPhone and try to return it, or modify your phone even more to try and fix the problem.If you are experiencing a touchscreen issue you can edit the sensitivity of your touch screen to make your iPhone more responsive. You simply need to replace your general.plist file with a modified version found here:
UPDATED:
Modified General.plist and Touch.plist,
updated for FW3.0, tested and working on 2G iPhone.
http://www.zshare.net/download/61836600ca79e240/
http://www.zshare.net/download/618365907ed6a23c/
Placed under:
/var/stash/Applications/Preferences.app/
You will need to overwrite your general.plist located in Applications/preferences.app
The default sensitivity on the iPhone’s touchscreen is 3.5. You have the option to set it from 0-16, where 0 is the most sensitive. Recently I have had a few issues with my touchscreen and applied this modification and everything is working 10x better.
This hack may work for the majority of iPhone users, but there may be a few that will need to replace their LCD completely.
You add the code below to the General.plist:
<dict>
<key>cell</key>
<string>PSLinkCell</string>
<key>label</key>
<string>Touch</string>
</dict>
Yost edited the General.plist file, for people who have a dead strip on the top of the screen, so that the touch option is now on the bottom right under “reset” under pref>general>touch.
(take out the “.” in the link in “rapid”)
heres the link to download it if you have a upper dead strip:
http://ra.pidshare.com/files/7620461…ral.plist.html
1.0.2 firmware General.plist for low dead strip:
http://ra.pidshare.com/files/6058341…ral.plist.html
1.1.1 firmware General.plist for low dead strip:
Thank you for post #272. I followed the instructions and now my iphone is working perfectly. Thank you again!!!!
my upper part of my touchscreen isn´t working anmore.
could someone edit the general.plist and upload it to me?
Hi Alex, use veency software and try to do the setting using supreme preference… I’ve tried but not succeed : ( can you please try and confirm whether you got bingo ……..
chauhanpn@yahoo.com
Hi Tina,
How much setting you’ve put in touch….
Is your upper strip is not working???
So, this post, starting with the OP is quite an abomination. Lots of hard work went into it, but in the end, nobody has really explained anything except what has worked for them (and they don’t know why or aren’t telling).
That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the effort, and I have benefited from some info here. I have read most of these 500+ comments (thanks for the update OP! ).
Anyway, in the hope of saving some folks some time, here is what I’ve found useful:
Most helpful tutorial posts:
post#160
post#272
post#393
files: from post#404 work with iPhoneOS v2.2 (not sure about 2.2.1)
A physical approach to “fixing” an insensitive screen is detailed in post#450 (by LeeH, who has other posts you should read with more info)
Post#526 is also helpful.
All in all, it would be great if someone would show what each alteration is actually doing (the “why”), so people can understand wtf is going on.
Hi COLDBREW,
You are absolutely correct, that within blog no success method shown yet, and really thanks for the summarization all the peaces, but post # files downlinks are incorrect…
Well my upper screen have dead strip and wont able to use it… I’ve tried to change touch sensitivity via supreme preference by using veency (as touch slider is into upper part in supreme preference and my upper screen not working) but not get succeed yet… I’ve changed setting from 0 to 16 various mode but no success….
Can you help…. or suggest…
one line on the top of my screen isnt working how do you fix that?
Hi Chris, I am having similar problem what you’ve stat… read all my comments in this blog for the efforts I’ve put to resolve the dead strip problem… I’ve not get success yet !!!
Still crossing the finger and hoping for d best !!!
Can someone reupload or post the files from Post number 404..there no longer available through those links
Hi, Angie
which kind of prob you are facing with ur iPhone ?:??
I have an iphone 2g 2.2.1 ….bottom of the screen doesnt work…cant use the space bar..numbers…only when in landscape does it work…Ive researched this forum and others and have tried many different replacements for the general.plist and even tried to add a touch.plist so far none are working. or even bringing up a touch sense bar in settings…
Mine is upper part not working and I am also waiting for resolution …
Anybody has solved the problem with plist files?
Links from doesnt work, Can anyone send us new links?
Those links are not working.
http://www.4shared.com/file/81441798/28933439/Touch_by_markor.html
http://www.4shared.com/file/81441800/fcd6407f/General_by_markor.html
Hi Alcumar,
I’ve uploaded files into my mobile but its not wrking…
Well if u want to try it use below link :
http://rapidshare.com/files/235475216/Touch_Plist.zip
let me know whether it works for u….
Thanks Prakash Chauhan for files.
I have just tested and the touch continue wihout work. My fault is low dead strip and I have tested at least 3 o 4 different files.
Today I have tested the heat methode from post#450 by LeeH, and I have tested 4 times with a hug heat gun and doesn’t work too.
Any other idea about how to solve the low dead strip problem?
My iphone is 2G and I am not sure if it is profitable to change the LCD. It is really expensive.
Any new idea or suggestion will be really appreciated.
There is something wrong with some of those files in the zipped folder you posted…the touch.plist and the general.plist are empty…they have a few text in them but its not like its suppose to be…
Hi Alcuemar,I dont think so there will be any alternate method to resolve this prob… I am also suffering since long and tried many files for my upper layer dead strip.. well i cant live without iPhone and as screen replacement is so expensive I am waiting for the new iPhone release to buy…
Here i dont know how ppl had solved d problem by using this files… in some post they have mentioned this is working but dont know how…
Angie… files are working for other guys.. pls download one more time… I have again downloaded and updated into iPhone… its working normally… let me know still u r facing any challenges….
Anyone with Iphone repaired can send us the files used?
Thank in advance.
This is whats in the touch.plist file and is similar to whats in general.plist
bplist00Ó”#UitemsRidUtitle¨
!Ò TcellUlabel[PSGroupCell^Touch Settings×
SmaxWdefaultSminXdefaultsSkeyYshowValue#@0 ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿñÿÿÿÿÿÿÿâ_com.apple.springboard_SBFingerProjection\PSSliderCellÕ _ShowTouchPointsZShow Touch\PSSwitchCellÃ’ YTest AreaÑÑÑÑ_com.apple.preferences.touchUTouch ‘ , 1 7 C R a e m q z ~ ˆ ‘ Å¡ £ » à à ß ê ü#&),/M $ S
_____________
thats inaccurate compared to the original files..the touch file doesnt even have were you can edit sensitivity…..losing hope lol
Angie, You need a .Plist editor to view and edit the files correctly. If you want I can edit and email you the new touch plist at whatever setting you want, Just let me know how you want it and an email addy. Also please don’t get your hopes up because all this does is expand the current working sensor area over the non working section so the screen is not anywhere close to being in sync with the icons. There is a way to recal the sensor area but I can’t find the system files responsible for the default screen calibration, It is going to be in a BIOS for you PC people or an Open Firmware for us Mac users type of program but to this point I have almost 3 months playing with it off and on and still no luck.
Lee
Thanks Lee, I thought it was ok to edit them in notepad..I know in other plist files I could open them in notepad and change the sensitivity from 0 to negative 15 or such…but I could be so wrong..also Im using Iphonebrowser to change replace the files…
I use a PC..have an Iphone 2g 2.2.1
my email is: yungabeats@gmail.com
Thanks again
Hello LeeH,
I was yesterday trying to heat the LCD to fix It but doesn’t work. 🙁 Its a pity.
Your idea was very good, and thought he was a good solution to fix It.
The heat gun has turn on the fire system of the office. It was funny, I had the detector close to me.
Leeh, Any last idea to fix the low dead strip of my iphone 2G?
Did you post any video link for the heat system?
alcuemar, LOL
I like the post on the fire system going off. 😉
I have still been playing with the heating method, It worked great on the first few but then I had several it didn’t work on. When I set up to film it is when I started having the issues with it not working but I was able to fix one by heating it and using packing tape to lift the screen. I heated the screen until it was hot to the touch and then layed a piece of tape the full width and length of the screen and continually peeled the tape off and reapplied then started over until it had cooled off. The touch screen consists of a heat sensitive chemical that is monitored via electrical feedback to the logic board, I am still convinced the chemical used in the screen is compressed enough that voids form and cause areas to become unresponsive. There are numerous touch screens that use this tech and the fix is to reheat and allow the shielding to expand enough that the chemical is let to become uniform again.
I’m really tired with this subject.
I’m thinking in to buy a new LCD+digitizer and to change the wroken one.
It is expensive and very difficult to replace, but i will take this task like a hobby.
Anyone one know a cheaper seller of iphone 2G LCD+digitilizer?
Okay is there a general.plist file that I can add to my iphone 2g that goes past o sensitivity like -5 or -10 to make it even more sensitive or no?
Someone contact me if they have a file like this and it works because i have a tiny dead strip on my iphone I can only not play some apps :/ so it sucks but thank you if you can figure this out. 🙂
Btw I need to know how to add it too. thanks-
I have an Iphone 2G First Generation 8GB Jailbroken and Unlocked 2.2.1 Firmware.
Bought it used from Craigslist with no box, documentation, or accessories.
After dropping the phone in the rain on the wet concrete (no water damage indication) I had an unresponsive upper stripe and a small dent near the silencing switch.
Followed the Increased Sensitivity Fix with general.plist suggestions: Worked, but did not exactly return my Iphone back to normal
Followed the Setting up an Appointment with an Apple Genius suggestions: Received a New Refurbished Iphone (New Outer Shell) – Better condition than what I previously had.
i have an iphone 2g running 2.2.1 it is unlocked and jailbroken. i am trying to add the general.plist but it doesn’t seem to be doing anything, do i have to get a earlier version then 2.2.1 for this to work? because nothing appears. i was in another forum and this guy was talking about how he did it running 2.2.1. but it wasnt descriptive enough. where do i put general.plist i have been using cyberduck to ssh and in my preferences i just added it and it did nothing. i need help please i bought this phone from someone not knowing anything was wrong with it but i am hoping that this will help.
How can i do this on a windows platform?
i have a dead 1st row and my warranty has expired.
Can someone advise pls?
thanks
Well, I have tried some, my thing is in negative 20, and now second row wokrs, guess what. Third dont. And If I click the numbers presses the number below that, like it needs calibrate.
PLEASE, new links and instructions
How am i supposed to slide the sensitivty bar when my top part of the iphone doesnt respond?
I have the lower dead strip on my G2 v2.2.1. with jail break.
I would like to change the general.plist file, but
I can´t find a applications-folder in the root of my phone. I use iBrickr 0.91 to browse the folders in my phone.
Can anybody help me ?
Hello everybody
I finally fixed my lower dead stribe-problem.
I used Iphone tunnel suite 2.7 to browse the iphone without wifi. It seems to me that the “aplications” in the root is not a folder, but a shortcut to another path where the generalplist could be found.
I could not activate this shortcut with iBrickr, but with IP tunnel suite 2.7 it was possible.
After replacing the general plist and restarting the phone i could adjust the sensitivity, and now the phone is OK!!
Hi Allan,
What level of sensitivity u’ve configured on your iPhone….
I believe this dead strip problem is hardware problem and it cant be resolved…. let me know if you’ve got ur iphone working normally….
Hello i just got my handas on a iphone 2g 8GB
and it have a problem whit the screan the lower part dosent want to work on the tutch my eng sux so i honer if maby som one can help me if i dont get it fixt i will ned to sel it agen i rly want one =/ send me a email at made_in_sweden_@hotmail.com
Jake–that’s terrific. Did you virginize or restore your iphone to factory settings?
I got the dead strip and I went to the Apple Store in CA near me and the genius bar guy said my iPhone was out of warranty and that I was to pay $200 for a new replacement 2G. I don’t know how all these other people just walk in and get it replaced with no questions asked. Luck?
Thankfully I used the Touch method to adjust the sensitivity so for now I’m safe but I’d still like to know how I got screwed by Apple haha
Hey Shaun,
Did u fix the problem of dead strip??? if yes which value you;ve set for sensitivity !!!
Hi everybody!
I have modified the sensitivity of my iPhone (2g) with the slider of Supreme Preferences.
The basic iPhone applications (like sms, safari, ipod) work great. I have some problems with some 3rd part applications (the ones from appstore or cydia).
Is the sensitivity “global” for all the applications or the 3d part application developer can overwrite it?
I replaced the digitizer/screen on my 2g phone as the lower strip was dead.
The phone worked well for about a month then the same problem resurfaced, which would suggest to me that maybe there a more serious problem some where in the depths of the rotten apple’s hardware!
I tried the take it to the Apple Store and they said for $199 they’ll give me a refurbished out of warranty replacement.
I would try following some of the suggestions above if 1. I knew how to get into my phone without being able to slide the slider on the bottom to do any of the adjustments. Do I understand that it’s possible to control my iphone from the computer even if I can’t slide to open? Please help me!! I kind of get a kick out of problem solving these tech things but I have no idea what to do and what a lot of the words and terms being thrown about refer to. Help!
ffmusicdj @526 : I found this comment very useful, had a problem of low dead strip, was able to fix it through the suggested method. Thanks.
Touch Screen Fix? - Hackint0sh // Jun 17, 2009 at 10:41 PM
[…] on bottom touch pad. Ever since 2.0, I have been able to apply the following patches to fix it: iPhone Touchscreen Fix: Increase Sensitivity Is there any possibility I will be able to reupload these patches once 3.0 is jailbroken? I […]
Hi: i have an iphone 2g running 2.2.1 it is unlocked and jailbroken. The problem is that the bottom of my iPhone touchscreen doesn’t work and i can’t select numbers, space or done on my keyboard. I’ve tried replacing General.plist as Allan explain in 578, but it doesn’t resolve my problem. Would be sufficient for me if I could change the location of the upper status bar (battery status, time and operator), moving it from the top of the screen to the bottom. Does anyone know if this is possible? Thanks.
Hi javier, I believe it wont be possible… to move dead strip… or else it will resolve problem on full screen…
Anyone tried this fix on a iPhone (1st gen) running the 3.0 firmware? I am scared seeing as I have it working now.
Really… you have it working Jay? How… send me your file.
I just got this problem…dead bottom strip. Upgraded to 3.0, tried most solutions, and I’m wondering if dicking around with the plist actually does anything before I try it.
if anything … let me know J-Slaw.
2G iphone updated, confirmed that both the modified general.plist and touch plist files works on fw3.0.
google for diskaid, to port the two files over.
p.s. latest version of diskaid is no longer free, trial for only 14 days.
Coolness, so I had everything set up on fw 2.1.x somthing… anyway created a backup with Itunes…
Then I updated to a “custom” ipsw. 3.0 but dead strip at bottom.
Then restored the 2.1 backup. It retained all my touch settings after the restore!!!!
Read up, this a great wealth of info everyone has put together here. PC – iphonebrowser is how I did it.