easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: That their Android smartphone's touchscreen is…
A user reports that their Android smartphone's touchscreen is unresponsive after they dropped it. The screen is not cracked, and the device powers on normally. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the touchscreen issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the difference between the LCD (image output) and the digitizer (touch input) — candidates who see 'screen not cracked' may wrongly assume the display is fine and jump to software or battery causes instead of isolating the touch layer.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The digitizer is damaged
The digitizer is the transparent layer that converts physical touch into electrical signals the device interprets as input. A drop can damage the digitizer's conductive grid even when the outer glass and LCD remain intact, producing an unresponsive touchscreen on a device that still powers on and displays images. Because the LCD is separate and the screen is not cracked, the digitizer is the most likely failed component.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The LCD panel is damaged
Why it's wrong here
Damage to the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel primarily affects the visual output of the device. This typically manifests as discolored areas, dead pixels, black spots, or a completely blank screen, even if the backlight is operational. Since the user reports that the screen powers on normally and the issue is unresponsive touch, the display component itself is likely functioning correctly, making LCD damage an incorrect diagnosis for this specific symptom.
- ✓
The digitizer is damaged
Why this is correct
The digitizer is the crucial touch-sensitive layer, often integrated into the display assembly, responsible for detecting user input via touch. A physical impact, such as dropping the smartphone, can cause this layer to crack, delaminate, or suffer internal electrical damage, even if the outer glass appears intact. This damage directly prevents the screen from registering touch gestures, resulting in unresponsiveness despite the underlying display panel continuing to function and show images normally.
- ✗
The battery is swollen
Why it's wrong here
A swollen battery, typically a lithium-ion battery, expands due to internal gas buildup, which exerts physical pressure on the device's internal components and casing. This condition usually causes visible physical bulging of the phone's back cover or screen assembly, potentially separating components. While extreme swelling could indirectly affect internal connections, the primary symptom is physical deformation, not isolated touchscreen unresponsiveness when the device otherwise powers on and functions without visible distortion.
- ✗
The operating system is corrupted
Why it's wrong here
Operating system corruption involves software-level issues that interfere with the device's core functions, often leading to boot loops, frequent crashes, application errors, or general system instability. While software can sometimes affect input, a sudden and specific loss of touchscreen functionality immediately following a physical drop is a strong indicator of hardware damage. If the device powers on and displays content normally, but simply doesn't respond to touch, a hardware fault is far more probable than OS corruption.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.