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220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their Android tablet's…
A user complains that their Android tablet's touchscreen is unresponsive in a vertical strip down the middle of the screen, but the rest of the screen works fine. They have restarted the device and removed the screen protector. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the distinction between digitizer (touch input) and LCD (visual output) failures — candidates who confuse the two pick 'LCD panel is failing' for a touch-only symptom.
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.
A dead or unresponsive vertical strip on a touchscreen, with the rest of the screen working and after restarting and removing the screen protector, points to physical damage to the digitizer — the transparent layer that senses touch. The digitizer has a grid of sensors; damage to a specific region (often from a drop or pressure) creates a dead zone that no software fix can resolve. Replacing the digitizer (or the display assembly) is the correct repair.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A software glitch in the touchscreen driver.
Why it's wrong here
A software driver issue typically manifests as system-wide unresponsiveness, erratic input across the entire screen, or complete failure of touch functionality. A localized, perfectly vertical "dead strip" is highly indicative of a physical defect in the touch-sensitive hardware, as software issues rarely produce such precise, geometrically defined failures. Therefore, a driver glitch is an unlikely cause for this specific symptom.
- ✗
The screen protector is causing interference.
Why it's wrong here
While a poorly applied or damaged screen protector can cause general unresponsiveness or reduced sensitivity, it would not typically create a perfectly vertical, non-responsive strip. Furthermore, the problem persists even after the user has removed the screen protector, directly ruling out this external accessory as the cause of the localized touch failure.
- ✗
The LCD panel is failing.
Why it's wrong here
The LCD panel is responsible solely for displaying images and colors; it does not process touch input. A failing LCD would present visual symptoms such as dead pixels, discoloration, flickering, or a black line on the display itself. Since the display is visually working correctly and the issue is specifically about touch input, the LCD panel is not the component at fault.
- ✓
The digitizer is damaged.
Why this is correct
The digitizer is the transparent, touch-sensitive layer that registers user input on a touchscreen device. Physical trauma, such as a drop or localized pressure, can damage the delicate conductive grid or sensor array within the digitizer. This damage frequently results in a specific "dead zone" or unresponsive strip, precisely matching the symptom of a perfectly vertical non-responsive area on the tablet's screen.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: Display and Video Issues
Key term
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is a display that can detect and respond to the touch of a finger or stylus, allowing you to interact directly with what is shown on the screen.
Key term
Android
Android is an open-source operating system used primarily on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, developed by Google.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
easy- A.The LCD panel is damaged
- ✓ B.The digitizer is damaged
- C.The battery is swollen
- D.The operating system is corrupted
Why B: 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.
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.