White Dot on iPhone Screen? Here's How to Fix It

Seeing a persistent white dot on your iPhone screen? White spots don't just appear randomly, and having one on your phone's display can be a panicking situation. It could be anything from an accessibility feature to a major display problem that needs immediate attention. If you are facing such an issue, then keep reading this guide to find out how to fix the white dot on the iPhone screen issue. 

Why Is There a White Dot on My iPhone Screen?

White dots don't just randomly pop up on the screen. They might be software-related or hint at a hardware problem. No matter the case, once you spot one, it is quite difficult to unsee it again. Some people accidentally turn on Assistive Touch, which also looks like a white dot to the unaware. 

Meanwhile, others who have been using their iPhones for a long period or recently had their screens replaced might see white dots due to screen burn-in or pressure marks. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of a white dot appearing on the screen of your iPhone. 

Common Causes of White Spots or Dots on iPhone Screen

I checked throughout Reddit posts and Apple Forums, browsing multiple incidents to learn what leads to such white dots on an iPhone screen. Based on my findings, here are the common causes: 

• AssistiveTouch: Accidentally enabled Assistive Touch in accessibility settings. It adds a floating button to your screen to control your iPhone.
• Vehicle Motion Cues: This is another accessibility feature that many iPhone users don't know about. It displays multiple white dots on the screen to reduce motion sickness.
• Software glitch or UI bug: Sometimes, after an iOS update or app crash, elements can get stuck on screen and appear like a white dot.
• OLED issue: A dead pixel, OLED burn-in, or any other type of screen damage can also cause a white dot to appear on the screen that does not go away whatsoever.
• Pressure Marks on LCDs: Older iPhone models with LCD screens may develop white patches due to continuous pressure on the screen backlighting.
• Hardware damage: White spots can also appear after intense damage to the screen due to a sudden fall, manufacturing defects or a low-quality screen replacement.

Which iPhone Models Are Affected by White Spot Issue? 

Unlike the purple line issue, white dots can appear on almost all Apple iPhones. It has affected devices with LCD screens, like the iPhone 11 and older models as well as the ones with OLED displays like the iPhone 12 and newer models. Here is a list of the most commonly affected iPhones with the white dots issue: 

• iPhones with LCD screens: iPhone 11, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 8, and older models
• iPhones with OLED screens: iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15

How to Fix White Dot on iPhone Screen

Based on all my research and findings, I have been able to do some troubleshooting methods on how to fix the white dots on the iPhone screen and get rid of them as soon as possible. If you are facing the same problem on your device, then try these out to see if any of them help.

Turn Off AssistiveTouch 

This is the most common fix. If the white dot moves around the screen and expands upon tap, then it is certainly the AssistiveTouch feature. You can hide it by disabling the option in Accessibility settings. 

1. Open iPhone Settings and navigate to Accessibility > Touch.

2. Select AssistiveTouch and turn off the AssistiveTouch toggle at the top.

Once you turn it off, the white dot should disappear instantly. If it does, you’re done. While this may be common knowledge to most users, it is worth pointing it out since some people are still unaware of it.

Disable Vehicle Motion Cues 

If you’re seeing multiple white dots around the edges of the screen, this is likely caused by Vehicle Motion cues. The good thing is that it can also be disabled from the Accessibility settings as well. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Accessibility > Motion.

2. Here, select Vehicle Motion Cues and select Off on the next screen.

The dots on the side of your iPhone should disappear immediately once you have disabled it. 

Restart Your iPhone

In case the white dot on the screen of your iPhone doesn't behave like a feature, it could also be a software bug or a temporary glitch. Restarting your iPhone can fix such minor issues. 

1. Press and hold the Side + Volume Up button till the power menu appears.
2. Now, drag the slider at the top towards the right to power off your iPhone.
3. Wait a few seconds and turn your iPhone back on by long-pressing the Side button.

After the restart, unlock your iPhone and see if the white dot is still visible. 

Reset All Settings on iPhone 

The next action you can take is to reset all settings on your iPhone. This will change all iPhone settings back to the default state, ensuring that no other accidentally enabled setting is behind the white spot.

Note: This action won't delete any of your saved app or system data on your iPhone. 

1.  Launch the Settings app and select General.
2. Here, scroll down to the bottom, select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

3. On the next screen, tap on Reset and then select Reset All Settings from the list of options.

Reset Your iPhone 

As a final step to rule out any possible software related causes, you can attempt to reset your iPhone. This will erase all your saved files and photos, and make sure that no third party app is showing the white spot on the screen of your iPhone. But be sure to backup all your data before resetting your device. 

Note: This will erase all your saved files and photos. A backup is mandatory. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General.
2. Here, select Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom.

3. Now, select Erase All Content and Settings and tap on Continue on the "Erase This iPhone" screen.
4. Lastly, select Erase iPhone from the dialog box to confirm this action.

If you are not comfortable resetting your iPhone, you can jump over to the next method. 

Take Your iPhone to the Apple Service Centre

If the white dot stays fixed in one spot on the screen, does not respond or appears in the screenshot. There, it is a hardware-related damage. In this case, you should take your iPhone to the nearest Apple authorised service centre and get it fixed by their experts. 

In case you have an AppleCare subscription for your iPhone or it is under warranty, then most hardware-related issues, including dust and water damage, will be repaired at a discounted fee. In most cases, the white dot on the screen of the iPhone is just AssistiveTouch or Motion Cues doing their thing. Once you turn them off, the problem disappears. If it doesn’t, then now you know what steps to take next.