Why can’t I swipe up on my iPhone?

If you’ve recently applied a screen protector, it might interfere with touch sensitivity. Check that the screen protector is correctly applied without any air bubbles or dirt trapped underneath. If you suspect the screen protector is the culprit, consider trying the swipe function without it to see if there’s any improvement.

There might be a software glitch causing the swipe-up feature to malfunction. Try restarting your iPhone. Press and hold the power button along with either volume button until the slider appears. Drag the slider to power off your iPhone. Once it’s completely off, press the power button again to turn it back on. This simple reset might resolve the issue.

Background app interference could be causing the problem. Close all open apps by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and pausing in the middle to open the app switcher, then swipe all the apps up and out of the way. Check if the swipe-up gesture works once all background apps are closed.

One potential reason could be the screen orientation lock. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner. If the orientation lock icon (a lock with a circular arrow surrounding it) is visible, tap it to unlock the orientation. Now try swiping up again and see if it works.

Have you checked for iOS updates? Regular updates often fix bugs and other issues. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check if there’s an update available. If there is, download and install it. Frequent software updates usually include fixes for such problems.

Dirt or oil on your iPhone screen may obstruct touch functions. Clean your screen with a soft, lint-free cloth. Sometimes grime can affect how your phone detects contact. Using a proper screen cleaning solution may help improve touch response.

AssistiveTouch could be interfering with your usual swipe gestures. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and ensure that this feature is turned off. AssistiveTouch can sometimes conflict with normal touch gestures, so turning it off may help.

In my experience, sometimes adjusting the touch sensitivity settings helps. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then check if ‘3D & Haptic Touch’ is enabled. You can adjust the touch duration and sensitivity here as well. Making these adjustments can sometimes fix issues with touch responsiveness.

As a last resort, you might want to consider a factory reset. This step can resolve many persistent software issues but will erase all your data and settings. Ensure your important data is backed up before proceeding. To perform the reset, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings and follow the prompts.

If your phone has had any recent physical impacts or damage, it could be a hardware issue. Even minor screen damage can affect touch functions. Try using a different part of your finger or even a different finger to see if it makes a difference. If it doesn’t, it may be time to contact Apple Support for a hardware diagnostic.