Perhaps the strangest problem you can have with an iPad is the device typing on its own or randomly launching apps. This phenomenon is often referred to as ghost writing or false touch because the iPad appears to touch itself or write letters when not touched. But don’t worry, your iPad probably isn’t possessed by a poltergeist and the problem is easily exorcised with a few quick troubleshooting steps in most cases. Unfortunately, ghost writing can also be an indicator of a hardware problem, but before we get Apple involved, we can try a few solutions.
Is your iPad hacked?
The first thing many people think when their iPad starts typing on its own or interacting with an app on its own is that someone has somehow taken control of the device. Do not worry. It’s extremely rare for something like this to happen, especially if the iPad hasn’t been in jail. Apple checks all apps submitted to the App Store for the presence of malware, and while it’s possible that one might go unnoticed, it’s rare.
Step one: Shut down the iPad that behaves erratically
The first step in fixing almost any problem is to restart your device. This works with anything from a DVD player to a PC, from a smartphone to a tablet suffering from ghost writing. The problem with electronics is that they are still designed by humans, so they are prone to going berserk from time to time.
However, in this case, we will not reboot the iPad immediately after it turns off. Instead, we will take this opportunity to clean the screen.
- First, turn off the iPad by holding down the Sleep/Wake button until your iPad asks you to slide a button to turn it off. The Sleep/Wake button is the button located on the top of the iPad.
- The screen will go dark and prompt you to slide an on-screen button to turn off iPad. After sliding the button, you may see the busy indicator spin for a few moments before the screen goes completely dark.
Step two: Clean the screen
The screen may have something on it that is causing the iPad’s touch sensors to activate. The screen is designed to ignore certain touches it detects as non-human, so your fingernails don’t register on the screen, but there may be something it ‘s doing on the screen.
- It’s best to use the same type of microfiber cloth you would use to clean glasses, but any lint-free cloth is fine. It should dampen the cloth, but it should not be “wet”. A slightly damp, non-abrasive cloth is all you need.
- You should not spray anything directly on the iPad screen.
- Gently rub the cloth over the entire screen in left-to-right and right-to-left motions, starting at the top of the screen and moving to the bottom of the screen.
Step three: Turn on the iPad
Turn the iPad back on by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo on the screen. This means the iPad is booting up again and should be ready in a few seconds.
Step four: Only if the problem persists….
For most people, simply restarting the iPad and wiping the screen clean will do the trick. But if you are one of the unlucky few who still experiences this erratic behavior even after restart, you can try to restore iPad to factory default settings.
This isn’t as scary as it sounds, but it does mean that you’ll have to delete all data and apps from the iPad. Therefore, your next step is to back up your iPad to make sure that you will be able to restore all your data.
- First, launch the iPad’s Settings app.
- Tap your account at the top of the menu on the left.
- On the next screen, select iCloud .
- Scroll down and select iCloud Backup .
- Your iPad should be set to automatically back up when you recharge it, but to be sure, hit the Back Up Now button .
Next, you need to reset the iPad to its factory default state. When the iPad finishes restarting, it will be in an “as new” state. This is the exact same step with the “Hello” message that the iPad was on when you first took it out of the box.
- Open the iPad’s Settings app, or if you’re still in the backup settings, go back to the main menu by pressing the » » button in the upper left corner of the screen until you’re in the main Settings menu.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to the bottom of general settings and select Reset.
- 2. Touch Erase all content and settings. You will be prompted to verify this choice.
The reset process may take several minutes to complete. Once finished, you can follow the steps to set it up, which should be the same as when you first opened the iPad. One of these steps allows you to restore iPad from the backup you created.
Still having problems?
Resetting your iPad to factory defaults will resolve the vast majority of software issues, but if that doesn’t resolve the issue, you may have a faulty touchscreen or sensors on your iPad. You can contact Apple Support or take your iPad to the nearest Apple Store for further assistance.