How to Fix Haptic Feedback on an iPhone or iPad

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

The Taptic Engine is Apple's haptic feedback mechanism within their devices. A combination of "tap" and "haptic feedback," the "Taptic Engine" is a name that Apple created for its technology that provides tactile sensations in the form of vibrations to the user.

Deconstructed iPhone showing the taptic engine of the device.

At times, the Taptic Engine can fail, causing haptic feedback to not take place as it should be. This guide is aimed at helping you resolve issues with this system.

The Taptic Engine is only present within the iPhone 6S and newer devices.

2. Restart

To restart your device:

iOS devices with side buttons pointed out

Restart your iPhone X

Press and hold the Side button and either volume button until the slider appears.
Drag the slider to turn your iPhone X completely off.
After your iPhone X turns off, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

Restart your iPhone 8 or earlier, iPad, or iPod touch

Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the slider appears.
Drag the slider to turn your device completely off.
After the device turns off, press and hold the Top (or Side) button again until you see the Apple logo.

With iOS 11 or later, you can also turn off your device by going to Settings, then General, then Shut Down.

3. Enable Haptic Feedback

Select Settings.

Select Sound and Haptics.

iOS Settings menu highlighting sounds and haptics.

Switch the System Haptics toggle on.

iOS Sounds and haptics menu highlighting the system haptics toggle switch.

4. Reset Your Settings

The following steps will reset your iOS preferences to defaults. Your applications and data will not be removed.

Select Settings.

Select General.

Select Reset.

General settings with Reset highlighted.

Select Reset All Settings.

Reset settings with Reset All Settings highlighted.

Enter your iPhone's passcode (if prompted), and on the following confirmation screen, select Reset All Settings.

Reset all settings prompt with Reset All Settings highlighted.

5. Update

To check and see if updates are available for your iOS device:

Select Settings.

Select General.

iOS Settings highlighting the general option.

Select Software Update.

iOS general settings menu highlighting software update.

Your iOS device will perform a search for available iOS updates.
If no update is available, it will display your current version of iOS and inform you that your software is up to date.

iOS Software update menu displaying update status.

If an update is available, it will be displayed.

iOS Software update menu displaying an available update, highlighting download and install.

Select Download and Install to begin the update process.
If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.

6. Factory Reset

Select Settings.

Select General.

Select Reset.

Select Erase All Content and Settings, and enter your iPhone's passcode (if prompted).

iOS Reset menu highlighting erase all content and settings.

You will receive a confirmation prompt offering to Backup Then Erase or Erase Now. If you would like to back up your device's information before erasing, select Backup Then Erase. Otherwise, select Erase Now.

iOS Erase all content and settings confirmation prompt.

Your iPhone will now wipe all data and reset back to factory defaults. When completed, you will be presented with the Welcome screen you saw when you took your iPhone out of the box for the first time.