How to Change Touch Screen Sensitivity on Android and iPhone

With only two to three physical buttons on your smartphone, touch is the main way to interact with the screen. But what if you’re not happy with the touch feedback? Maybe you’re experiencing lag or want it to slow down. In this article, we’ll show you how to change touch screen sensitivity on iPhone and Android devices.

Your smartphone has settings to adjust touch screen sensitivity. On Android, you can change the touch and hold delay, pointer speed, and enable screen protector mode. On iPhone, you can adjust the touch and hold delay and enable Touch Accommodations for accessibility. We’ll cover all of these features in the following sections.

3 Ways to Adjust Touch Sensitivity on Android

There are three ways to decrease or increase touch sensitivity on your Android device. Let’s start with changing the touch and hold delay.

1. Change Touch and Hold Delay

Many parts in the user interface offer additional options when tapped and held. However, if you find yourself waiting too long for the option to appear or if the options appear too quickly, you can adjust the tap and hold duration.

We will use a OnePlus device to demonstrate the process, but the steps are similar for other devices.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap Additional Settings.

Step 3: Tap on Accessibility.

Step 4: Go to the Interaction tab and select ‘Touch & hold delay’.

Step 5: Select the option. Short is the lowest delay, and medium and long increase the delay by a few levels.

2. Change Touch Sensitivity Using Screen Protector Mode

Most of us have a screen protector on our devices. However, if you are using one that is too thick, it might decrease the touch screen sensitivity. Few Android devices, like the Google Pixel, have the option to adjust the touchscreen sensitivity when using a screen protector. Here’s how to enable that option.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap Display.

Step 3: Turn on the Screen protector mode toggle.

3. Change Pointer Speed on Android

Changing the pointer speed adjusts the touchscreen sensitivity on your Android device. It determines how quickly you can move across the screen with your fingers. Increasing the pointer speed allows for greater distance covered with the same movement and vice versa.

To adjust the pointer speed, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap on Additional Settings.

Step 3: Tap ‘Keyboard & input method’.

Step 4: Adjust pointer speed to your preferences.

We will now explain how to change the touch screen sensitivity on your iPhone by adjusting the haptic touch delay.

Change Haptic Touch Sensitivity on iPhone

Haptic Touch allows you to trigger actions, menus, and content previews on your iPhone by tapping and holding an icon or button. There are two sensitivity modes to choose from: Fast and Slow. These modes determine the speed at which the touch is registered and the corresponding action, menu, or content preview is displayed.

To enable Haptic Touch, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Go to Accessibility.

Step 2: Select Touch followed by Haptic Touch.

Step 3: Choose between Fast and Slow haptic sensitivity.

Long-press the image thumbnail in the Touch Duration Test section to compare the sensitivity between the two modes.

2. Use Touch Accommodations on iPhone

The iPhone is a device with accessibility settings. Touch Accommodations on your iPhone helps people with motor challenges use the touchscreen. Here’s how to enable it on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open Settings and go to Accessibility.

Step 2: Tap on Touch, then Touch Accommodations.

Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Touch Accommodations.

Here are the options under Touch Accommodations and how to use them. You can adjust the touch and hold duration using the Hold Duration toggle. You can increase the duration needed to register your touch. With the Ignore Repeat toggle, multiple involuntary taps will be registered as a single tap on your iPhone. You can also set the time under which multiple taps are considered a single tap.



Tap Assistance is a feature that allows you to tap a button on your touchscreen without having to swipe across the screen to reach it. With this feature, you can register either the initial touch or the final touch as the tap.

FAQs on Touch Screen Sensitivity

1. Are there any third-party apps to increase touchscreen sensitivity on Android?

There are a few apps that claim to increase touchscreen sensitivity on Android, but we do not recommend these apps since they aren’t reliable.

2. Is there a screen protector mode on iPhone?

No, there is no screen protector mode on iPhone.

3. Does an in-display fingerprint scanner work with a screen protector?

Yes, if you are using a good-quality screen protector, the fingerprint scanner should work without any issues.

Improve Touch Sensitivity

This article provides a guide to changing touchscreen sensitivity on Android and iPhone devices. To reset or disable these settings, access the same menu where you enabled them. If you encounter any problems, you can easily reset your device’s settings.

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Supreeth Koundinya is a technology enthusiast who is dedicated to helping people navigate the digital landscape. With an engineering background, he brings a deep understanding of how devices work, enabling him to provide valuable assistance, tips, and recommendations. When he’s not behind a desk, Supreeth enjoys traveling, playing FIFA, and watching movies.