Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button together for about 10 seconds. Keep holding until you feel the device vibrate and the screen goes black. This force restart is the fastest way to clear a temporary software glitch that's freezing your touchscreen.
I'd start with this one every time. It works for most unresponsive screen issues and doesn't delete any of your data. Once the OnePlus logo appears, you can release the buttons and let the phone boot normally.
Clean the Screen and Remove Any Protector
A dirty screen or a poorly applied screen protector can cause major touch issues. Power the phone off and give the display a thorough clean with a soft, lint-free cloth. Make sure there's no moisture, grease, or debris on the surface.
If you're using a tempered glass or plastic screen protector, try carefully removing it. Sometimes air bubbles, thickness, or low-quality materials can interfere with the touch sensors. Test the screen's responsiveness without it to see if that was the culprit.
Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode temporarily disables all third-party apps. If your touchscreen works perfectly in Safe Mode, you know a recently downloaded app is causing the conflict. 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 appear asking if you want to reboot to Safe Mode. Tap "OK" to confirm. Your phone will restart with "Safe Mode" visible in the bottom corner.
Navigate around in this mode. If the touchscreen is responsive, you'll need to uninstall apps one by one, starting with the most recent, to find the offender.
Check for Software Updates
Outdated software can have bugs that affect touchscreen performance. Plug your phone into a charger to ensure it has enough power, then try to navigate to Settings > About device > OxygenOS version to check for updates.
If the screen is completely unresponsive, you can sometimes use the volume buttons to navigate if you have accessibility features enabled. Otherwise, you may need to use the force restart method first to get the screen working just long enough to check. Keeping your OnePlus 13 Pro updated is one of the best ways to maintain performance.
Calibrate the Touchscreen
OxygenOS has a built-in diagnostic tool that can help. Open your phone dialer and enter *#808# to launch the engineering mode test menu. This is a hidden feature for testing hardware.
Look for an option like "Touchscreen test" or "Touch panel test." Follow the on-screen instructions, which usually involve tracing patterns or tapping specific areas. This process can help recalibrate the touch sensors.
If the test fails or shows dead zones, it points more strongly toward a hardware problem. The test menu itself is a good way to see exactly where the screen might not be registering input.
Consider a Factory Reset
This erases all data on your phone, so it's a significant step. Back up everything important first if you can. If the screen is unresponsive, you can initiate a reset through the recovery menu.
Power the phone off completely. Then, press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons until the OnePlus logo appears, then release. Use the volume buttons to navigate to "Wipe data and cache" and the power button to select it. Choose "Erase everything" to perform the factory reset.
This will return the software to its original state, eliminating any deep-seated software corruption. After the reset, set up the phone as new before restoring your backup to see if the issue is gone.
Inspect for Physical or Liquid Damage
Look closely at the screen for any new cracks, even hairline ones, that weren't there before. Damage to the digitiser layer underneath the glass can cause touch failure. Also, check the edges of the phone for any signs of bending or impact.
While the OnePlus 13 Pro has some water resistance, it's not immune to liquid damage. Look for moisture under the screen or in the USB-C port. Exposure to liquids can corrode internal connections to the touchscreen.
If you've dropped the phone recently or it's been exposed to moisture, the unresponsive screen is likely a hardware issue that will require professional repair. The internal ribbon cable connecting the screen to the motherboard can also become loose from an impact.
