Hold down the power button for about 10 seconds. Keep holding it until you feel the device vibrate or see the screen go black and then restart. This force restart is the quickest way to clear a temporary software glitch that's locking up the touchscreen.
I'd start with this one, as it works for most random touchscreen freezes. The Fairphone 5 should power back on normally once you release the button.
Remove and Reinsert the Battery
One of the unique advantages of the Fairphone 5 is its user-replaceable battery. If the force restart didn't work, power the phone off completely. Then, pop off the back cover and carefully take the battery out.
Wait for about 30 seconds before putting the battery back in and snapping the cover on. This performs a deeper power cycle than a standard restart, cutting all power to the mainboard and touchscreen controller.
It's a good idea to keep a spare battery on hand for extended use, and this is one of the troubleshooting scenarios where it really comes in handy.
Check for a Software Update
Go to Settings > System > System update. Fairphone is committed to 8+ years of software support, and updates often include bug fixes for hardware interaction issues like touchscreen responsiveness.
Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and has at least a 50% charge before starting an update. If an update is available, install it and see if the touch issue is resolved after the phone reboots.
Sometimes, a pending update or a recent app installation can cause conflicts that affect the touchscreen driver.
Boot into Safe Mode
Safe mode temporarily disables all third-party apps. To enter it, press and hold the power button until the power off menu appears. Then, press and hold the "Power off" option on your screen.
A prompt will appear asking if you want to reboot into safe mode. Tap "OK". If your touchscreen works perfectly in safe mode, you know a recently installed app is the culprit.
You can then restart normally and begin uninstalling apps one by one, starting with the most recent, to find the offender.
Clean the Screen and Check for Damage
Turn the phone off and give the screen a thorough clean with a microfiber cloth. Sometimes, oil, lotion, or a screen protector that's lifting at the edges can create false touches or dead zones.
Inspect the screen closely for any new cracks or impact points, even small ones. Physical damage to the digitizer layer underneath the glass can cause localized or complete touch failure.
If you see damage, this points to a hardware repair. Given the Fairphone's modular design, replacing the screen yourself is a more viable option than with most phones.
Calibrate the Touchscreen
While Android doesn't have a built-in calibration tool in settings, you can use a hidden diagnostic menu. Open your phone app and dial *#*#2664#*#*. This should launch a touchscreen test.
Follow the on-screen instructions, which usually involve tracing patterns or tapping specific points. This can help recalibrate the touch sensor.
If the diagnostic code doesn't work, try searching for "Touchscreen calibration" in the Settings search bar, as some Android skins offer this option.
Check for Charging Interference
Unplug your phone from any charger or computer. A faulty charger, a dirty USB-C port, or even certain wireless chargers can introduce electrical noise that interferes with the capacitive touchscreen.
Try cleaning out the USB-C port gently with a wooden toothpick or a can of compressed air. For the fastest, cleanest charge on the Fairphone 5, use a 30W USB-PD charger.
If the touchscreen only acts up while charging, the issue is almost certainly related to your power source or cable. Try a different charging brick and cable.
Perform a Factory Reset
This erases all your personal data, so it's a last resort. First, ensure your data is backed up. Then, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
Follow the prompts to confirm. The phone will reboot and return to its out-of-the-box state. If the touchscreen works perfectly after the reset, a deep software corruption was the cause.
You can then restore your data from your backup during the initial setup process. If the problem persists even after a factory reset, the issue is almost certainly hardware-based.