Multi-Touch Test

What the multi-touch test checks

Pinch to zoom, two-finger rotation, fast typing and most mobile games need the screen to follow several fingers at the same time. This test draws a circle under every finger that touches the pad and counts them. If circles disappear while a finger is still down, jump to a different finger, or the count never goes past one or two, the touch layer (digitizer) or its controller has a problem.

How to run the test

1. Remove gloves and wipe the screen, since grease and water cause false touches.
2. Place two fingers on the pad, then add fingers one at a time up to five or ten.
3. Slide all fingers around slowly. Each circle should follow its finger smoothly without flickering.
4. Repeat near each edge and corner, where damaged digitizers usually fail first.

How many touch points is normal?

• iPhone and iPad: 5 simultaneous touches reported to the browser (iPad hardware tracks up to 11).
• Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and most Android phones: 10 touch points.
• Budget phones and older tablets: sometimes 5.

The "Screen supports" number comes from your browser. If your fingers reach that number and every circle tracks cleanly, multi-touch works.

Multi-touch not working? Try this first

• Take off thick or badly fitted screen protectors, and turn on Touch sensitivity (Samsung: Settings › Display) if you use one.
• Unplug cheap chargers. Electrical noise from a poor charger is a common cause of jumping or phantom touches.
• Restart the phone and install software updates.
• If touches still drop out in one area, run the touch screen dead zone test to map exactly where. A cracked or aftermarket screen usually needs replacing.