New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Working on Fix for Bug Causing iPhone X Display to Become Temporarily Unresponsive in Cold Weather

Thursday November 9, 2017 2:50 pm PST by Juli Clover
Over the course of the last week, there have been a growing number of complaints from users who have discovered that the display of the iPhone X becomes unresponsive in the cold.

Users on both reddit and the MacRumors forums have noticed that their iPhones immediately refuse to recognize some touch input when exposed to cool outdoor temperatures. As it turns out, there is a software bug causing the issue, which Apple says will be addressed in an upcoming update. From a statement to The Loop:

"We are aware of instances where the iPhone X screen will become temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid change to a cold environment. After several seconds the screen will become fully responsive again. This will be addressed in an upcoming software update."
Apple says its iOS devices operate best between temperatures of 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F), but some of the people who are experiencing issues have seen display problems within these temperature parameters. Reddit user darus214, for example, had his iPhone X act up when it was 45 to 50ºF outside.
I've noticed that my iPhone X screen becomes very unresponsive as soon as I step outside. It literally takes 2 seconds from going inside to the cold outdoors and my screen stops being very responsive. I try swiping on websites and it doesn't register my finger. It's very noticeable. Is anyone else having this problem?
Not all iPhone X users are experiencing problems with the display in cold weather, and those that are see the problem occur as soon as cold exposure happens rather than after a period of time, which does indeed suggest a software issue. Most affected users have said that the problem clears up after a few minutes. From the MacRumors forums:
I have a space gray 256gb iPhone X and I really like the phone, except...

I live in Finland and here is cold (-30-5°C) about 6 to 7 months in a year. Yesterday I noticed that when I'm outside and temperature hits about -1°C (~30°F) my iPhone X's display becomes working incorrectly. Some touches aren't recognized and some are not accurate at all. Problem solves itself after about 3-5 minutes of use, or when I go back indoors.

This is driving me crazy. Anyone else having this kind of problem with the phone?
It's not clear when Apple will fix the cold weather bug, but a fix could come in iOS 11.2, which is currently in beta testing. Apple this morning released iOS 11.1.1, an update that addresses an autocorrect bug that caused "i" to correct to "A[?]" on some devices.
[ 295 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
asdavis10
11 months ago
How big is Apple's QA department? Must be 5 guys playing rock paper scissors over the best view at the spaceship.
Rating: 49 Votes
Avatar
jezbd1997
11 months ago

Please, no coldgate posts.. New hardware, you have to expect bugs..

For a $1,579 device over here in Aus, no you should not expect bugs!!
Rating: 37 Votes
Avatar
Plett
11 months ago
You're doing it wrong, move south.
Rating: 34 Votes
Avatar
serialiphoneuser
11 months ago
Coldgate. Winter breath.
Rating: 21 Votes
Avatar
namenotfound
11 months ago
Designed in California. Known for brisk weather.
Rating: 20 Votes
Avatar
jezbd1997
11 months ago

I can't wait to hear how this is a software issue. (seriously the phone doesn't have a temperature sensor so how does it know?)

All iOS devices have temperature sensors.
Rating: 20 Votes
Avatar
Chazzle
11 months ago

I can't wait to hear how this is a software issue. (seriously the phone doesn't have a temperature sensor so how does it know?)

So when your phone overheats, displays a warning, and even shuts down, it’s just guessing?
[doublepost=1510272582][/doublepost]

yes, but a sensor that tells the screen to misbehave when it gets too cold?

Yes, it has to do with the capacitive touch controller which recognizes the electrical current in your finger as a touch. The threshold changes based on temperature. Just needs proper calibrating.
Rating: 19 Votes
Avatar
neutralguy
11 months ago

Please, no coldgate posts.. New hardware, you have to expect bugs..

Even after paying 1000$?? Would you tolerate that if you new TV did that or Playstation/Xbox did that?
Rating: 19 Votes
Avatar
Scottsoapbox
11 months ago
I can't wait to hear how this is a software issue.

Seriously the phone doesn't have a true temperature sensor (not counting the CPU thermal sensor) so how does it know?
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
temna
11 months ago

I can't wait to hear how this is a software issue. (seriously the phone doesn't have a temperature sensor so how does it know?)


Probably touch sensor calibration.. So yes, software fix..
Rating: 12 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]