Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until you feel a vibration or see the screen go black. This force restart is the quickest way to fix a temporary software glitch that's freezing the touchscreen. I'd start with this one, as it works for most unresponsive screen issues without affecting your data.
Clean the Screen and Remove Any Protector
Turn the phone off and give the screen a thorough wipe with a soft, slightly damp microfiber cloth. Make sure there's no oil, dirt, or moisture interfering with the touch sensors. If you're using a screen protector, especially a cheap or old one, try peeling it off completely.
Some thick or poorly applied protectors can severely degrade touch sensitivity. Test the bare screen to see if the problem goes away. This is a surprisingly common fix for the Phone (2), as its touchscreen can be particular about what's on top of it.
Check for Software Updates
If you can still navigate using the physical buttons, go to Settings > System > System update to check for any available updates. Nothing frequently releases patches for Nothing OS that can resolve touchscreen bugs and improve system stability.
Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and has at least 50% battery, then install any pending updates. I've seen updates specifically address touch responsiveness, so this is a crucial step if your phone recently started acting up.
Boot Into Safe Mode
This will temporarily disable all third-party apps. To enter Safe Mode, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears, then tap and hold the "Power off" option on your screen. A prompt will ask if you want to reboot to Safe Mode.
If the touchscreen works perfectly in Safe Mode, a recently installed app is likely the culprit. You'll need to uninstall apps one by one, starting with the most recent downloads, to find the offender. This helps isolate conflicts caused by buggy apps.
Calibrate the Touchscreen
While Nothing OS doesn't have a built-in public calibration tool, you can use a hidden diagnostic menu. Open your phone app and dial *#*#6484#*#* to enter the Nothing engineering test menu. Be careful not to change settings you don't understand.
Look for a "Touchscreen" or "TP" test option. Running this diagnostic can sometimes reset the touchscreen drivers. If the diagnostic fails or shows errors, it points to a deeper software or hardware issue.
Check for Physical or Moisture Damage
Inspect the screen closely for any new cracks, even hairline ones, especially around the edges. Damage to the digitizer layer underneath the glass can cause dead zones. Also, check the USB-C port for any lint, debris, or signs of moisture corrosion.
Even a small amount of liquid exposure can short-circuit the touch controller. If your phone has been near water, power it off immediately and leave it in a dry, warm place for at least 48 hours before trying to use it again.
Perform a Factory Reset
This erases all data, so it's a last resort. If you can't use the touchscreen at all, you can initiate it with the hardware buttons. First, power the phone off completely. Then, press and hold the Volume Up button and the Power button together until the Nothing logo appears.
Use the volume buttons to navigate to "Wipe data/factory reset" and select it with the power button. Confirm your choice. This will return the phone to its original software state, eliminating any deep-seated software corruption causing the touch failure.
Consider a Display Hardware Issue
If the screen remains completely unresponsive through all software fixes, including a factory reset, the problem is likely hardware. The digitizer, which is the layer responsible for touch, may be faulty or disconnected. This can happen from a drop, pressure, or a manufacturing defect.
Since the Phone (2) uses a unified display assembly, repair involves replacing the entire screen module. At this point, contacting Nothing support or a reputable repair shop for a diagnosis is the next step.
