Chosen Solution
Okay, well… I had a iPad 2 come into the shop I work at with a digitizer problem, the iPad would open apps by itself and type by itself obnoxiously, not recognizing anywhere I touched the digitizer. So naturally, I replaced the digitizer thinking that would fix it. And because of my luck, it didn’t. It still had the same issue, so I replaced it with another touchscreen, and the issue was still present! Eventually after a bit of research online I decided to do a hard reset, which was futile. And furthermore a complete factory restore on the iPad, which was as useful as the hard reset… it wasn’t. So after multiple digitizers and restores and resets, i cannot do this on my own. I need the help of IFIXIT users. BTW: The local private school near the shop I work for all of their students are required to have iPads. The shop I work at has a deal with the school that we have to fix all of their iPads. This is one of those iPads. I’m not sure yet as to whether go to Apple is an option right now as it’s a school owned iPad. So ANY input on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
OK - So we know the iOS is clean and the digitizer it’s self must be OK as you replaced it with the same reaction. So, the next area to check is the connector its self could be damaged? It’s also possible you have a bad contact, try cleaning the ribbon cable using a pencil eraser by wiping carefully with the grain of the contacts. Then use a damp stick sponge with isopropyl alcohol to clean the eraser residue off. As far as the connector its self you might try flushing it with some alcohol and using a dental vacuum to suck up the waste (or have it drip away from the rest of the internals). If these don’t improve anything you have a bad logic board (cold solder joint).
This problem happens due to aftermarket digitisers grounding with the aluminium body on the inside edges. Before you install a new digitiser, put electric tape on the inside where you see the ribbon cable. Do it all around the digitiser hiding the end of the glass bit to the digitiser bit. Then apply your sealing tapes and install. I have fixed many a problems with this solution. Same goes to iPad mini 1,2,3,4. Most of these issues are grounding.
Ok I know this is a bit late to respond since the OP probably did something about that iPad, but in anycase, I sort of found the solution! I believe it is something to do with the actual connector on the logic board that the digitizer plugs into. What the OP described is exactly how this iPad that I just received works. First thing I did was test it out and restore it to iOS 7, still acting crazy, some zoom option trying to prompt me to enable it, but the touch is unresponsive. So I turned it off (power plus home buttons together for 10 seconds), got my handy blow dryer, suction cup from the shower hanger, lol, a tiny philips screwdriver, 12 pack of soft nylon guitar picks, rubber gloves, plastic wrap, and a can of compressed air. So I fired up the blow dryer on highest setting, ran it around the digitizer’s frame, popped on a suction cup on the right side, lifted up the glass a bit to insert the first guitar pick, and swayed it a bit to place 2 more around it, slowly making my way around the digitizer and popping it off. Unscrewed and disconnected the LCD, wrapped it in plastic wrap to keep any dust particles off, wrapped the digitizer and unplugged it. Cleaned the digitizer contacts, replugged and turned back on, same story, tried unplugging and replugging again, same story again, eventually I lost hope and thought of either bringing it to Apple Store or if not then reselling it on ebay (boy do these sell in the worst possible conditions). Anyway, upon assempling it back together, I applied some heat to the digitizer again while putting pressure around the frame of the digitizer. Once finished, I let the iPad cool off, then turned it back on and to my surprise it started working again, startled I continued to set it up, but after a few minutes of use, the ghost touch came back and the screen would be rendered useless pretty fast, so thinking the heat may have something to do with it, I used the hairdryer on it again, and then pressed on the glued parts to ensure a tight bond. The iPad again started working smoothly with no glitch effects. after another 10 minutes the thing started hiccuping with the dreaded ghost again, so I picked it up and tried applying pressure asymetrically holding diagonal corners and trying to give them a slight twist in opposing directions, it seems to work now, hasn’t glitched for a while, but my guess is this has to do with the digitizer connector on the logic board itself. I’ll open it up if it starts glitching again and try the alcohol/dusting method to the digitizer plug. Maybe a bit pressure to the plug is necessary, some of these plugs are actually metal framed so if the contacts aren’t fully touching the flex cable of the digitizer, the ghost touch will happen. I’ve had another iPad 2 that I bought off ebay which had cracked digitizer and dented corners. It had the same phantom/ghost touch thing, but not as severe, I do remember seeing the chassis a bit bent out of shape, so while bending/applying pressure at diagonal corners, I was able to allow proper electrical flow at the digitizer plug, which resulted in a fully functional digitizer. Honestly I don’t understand why Apple chooses to build iPads with slide-in flex cables rather than clip on plug-in like on the iPhones and iPods, this eliminates the guesswork of whether the digitizer plug is bent or not, or if all the parts of the plug are touching onto the inside of the socket. Well hope this helps any of you. If my problem persists, I’ll do a test on the digitizer socket, seems like it’s the culprit of the whole thing.
It happen the same to my Ipad mini and I became crazy searching the answer. Annoying and frustrating! I allways thought it was a hacker, but it wasn’t. Somehow I realized that all the problem started when I put a screen protector anti scratches on it. Since I removed it, problem fixed!!! Incredible, isn’t it? It seems it affect the touch screen so it starts to type nonsense. No hardware problems, no Apple Stores visits: just remove the crap to protect it and it will work again.
My iPad has been having this issue also and if this happened to you after s repair that means whoever fixed didn’t put the 2 pieces of black tape back on the lcd which leaves 2 golden pieces in the open if u take the screen off and put them on this should fix the problem
my ipad comes on then goes off
Hi, I have an iPad Air, I’ve had it since March 2015 and almost 2 years later the ghost touch problem occurs. I have tried resetting the iPad with no success. Thankfully it wasn’t bad enough to put in my 5 digit+ Password and was also able to disable the password, So I can just press the home button to activate. I tried deleting some apps and updating the device to find it was updated to the most recent software. I went into Notes and it types by itself, Selects Apps by itself, Deletes Things and More. I just went on a holiday and dreams came true, All those moments are captured on the iPad and aren’t backed up to the iCloud or Google Drive. I tried connecting the iPad Charger/Connector to the LapTop to try and save the holiday photos with no luck. I have found some websites and have taken notes. I will try and do everything the notes tells me to do. If that fails, Could the iPad have a virus? Be getting old and on it’s way out (It’s Been Repaired Twice…) or just plain faulty and unexplained? Please someone, If you where in my situation you’d want someone to help you, I am hoping someone can be as of assistance to me as I know I would want others to do the same to me. Thank You & Good Day! :)
My problem is kinda similar but it’s not the exact same. I changed my screen over a month ago because I droped my Ipad mini on the floor and completely shatered the screen. Since I repaired it on my own there had been no problems but now that ghost thing happens. It stills picks up where I touch it but it mostly does what I assume is double taps at random since it keeps opening pictures and zooming on them. It also opens apps at random but it doesn’t do anything crazy like writing on its own. It mostly happens when I type on the keyboard but the ghost is now too annoying for me to ignore it. I’m slightly scared of reopening the screen like everyone else do because I don’t think I have the tools anymore and it’s too much of a presise job for me. I curently don’t have any protection on the screen but I think I droped a screw in when I changed my screen so that might be the cause of my trouble. Any help or tip is greatly appreciated.
I have an iPad Air. It does the same thing, but it happens 7/10 (10 being all the time). When it does happen though, it is severe. It constantly types on it’s own, zooms in and out, goes out of apps, and deletes apps. I have tried asking people about it, but they don’t ever know what i’m talking about. I’ve had this iPad since 2016, and I have had it get shattered, but repaired and a protective screen added on. It has only really happened this year (I got the protective screen last year). Maybe could someone tell me how I would explain my situation to a techy guy? I always thought it was a hacker, tbh. Thanks! Please give me help!
Changed screen five times. The ghosting always starts after a software update. Tried all fixes nothing works.
I don’t have an answer but possibly some insight. My iPad mini started doing this today when I started it up at lunch time to read my digital paper and the app just kept doing things on its own. Then I realized other apps were also behaving strangely. I tried switching it off (full power down) although it was difficult to do-it was like having a cranky kid saying, “no!”. It didn’t help. I tried to connect it to my laptop for a software update or possible a reset. There was a software update, but that hasn’t fixed it. What I did realize is that I dropped the iPad this morning, a spectacular, bellyflop of a drop that meant the iPad landed flat on the floor. The iPad does have a cover on it. I suspect that this loosened the connector many of you describe. I was able to do a backup but I think the iPad is toast. See? Not an answer but maybe more insight.
I have the same problem and i don’t know how to fix it can someone help me?
I fixed the ghosting an auto Ipad by removing the plastic screen protector on it after tried everything else. I remember there was some residual affects even after removal for a while, then It worked well again. Must be static electricity from srceen protector. I would not use anything to protect your screen other than glass. I hope this helps.
