Freeze Dryer Touchscreen Not Working?

Here’s What to Do

If your Harvest Right freeze dryer touchscreen isn’t responding, responds when you touch the wrong location, or won’t let you navigate through the menus, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try.

The most important thing to determine first is which type of touchscreen your freeze dryer has.

Your software version will tell you.

Quick Answer: What Should I Do?

Start by checking the software version on your freeze dryer.

Important: Capacitive touchscreens cannot be recalibrated. If your freeze dryer has a capacitive screen, use the software-update troubleshooting process instead.

Common Signs of a Touchscreen Problem

You may have a touchscreen issue if:

• Nothing happens when you touch the screen.

• The screen responds, but selects the wrong button or location.

• The display looks normal, but touch accuracy seems off.

• You cannot move through menus or change settings.

• Touch calibration seems inaccurate or changes over time.

Before attempting to recalibrate the screen, determine which type you have.

Step 1: Find Your Software Version

Your freeze dryer's software version determines which touchscreen troubleshooting process you should follow.

Check your freeze dryer's home screen or settings menu for the software version number.

Resistive Touchscreens

Harvest Right identifies software versions beginning with:

2, 3, 4, 5.0, or 5.2

as using resistive touchscreens.

These screens can be recalibrated.

Capacitive Touchscreens

Software versions beginning with:

5.1, 5.4, 5.5, or 6

use capacitive touchscreens.

These screens cannot be recalibrated. If you're experiencing touch problems with a capacitive screen, proceed to the software-update section below.

Step 2: Recalibrate a Resistive Touchscreen

If your freeze dryer has a resistive touchscreen, try recalibrating it.

How to Recalibrate the Screen

1. Turn off your freeze dryer.

2. Turn the freeze dryer back on.

3. As soon as the screen lights up, press and hold anywhere on the touchscreen.

4. Continue holding until you hear a beep or buzzing sound, then lift your finger.

5. Follow the instructions on the screen and tap the three blinking circles.

6. Allow the freeze dryer to finish starting up.

7. Test the touchscreen by moving through the menus and changing settings.

Complete the entire calibration process without stopping.

After calibration, test several different areas of the screen to make sure your touches are registering accurately.

Step 3: Troubleshoot a Capacitive Touchscreen

If your freeze dryer has a capacitive touchscreen, do not attempt to recalibrate it.

Capacitive screens cannot be manually recalibrated.

Instead, check whether your freeze dryer needs a software update.

Software Version 5.1

Use Harvest Right's software update instructions for machines running version 5.1.

Software Versions 5.4, 5.5, or 6

Use the current software update instructions appropriate for these versions.

Follow the update instructions completely, restart the machine as directed, and test the touchscreen again afterward.

Editor's note: I would place buttons linking directly to the appropriate Harvest Right software-update pages here rather than making customers search for them.

Step 4: Test the Touchscreen

After recalibrating a resistive screen or updating the software on a capacitive screen, check that the touchscreen is functioning normally.

Try:

• Selecting buttons in different parts of the screen

• Moving through several menus

• Changing a setting

• Returning to the previous screen

• Checking whether the location you touch matches what the machine selects

If the touchscreen responds accurately, the problem may be resolved.

If not, it's time to move to the next step.

When Should You Contact Harvest Right Support?

Contact Harvest Right Support if:

• The troubleshooting steps above don't fix the problem.

• A resistive screen continues losing calibration after being recalibrated.

• A software update doesn't resolve problems with a capacitive touchscreen.

• Your touchscreen doesn't respond at all.

• Touch problems continue or become worse.

• You're unsure which software version or touchscreen type your freeze dryer has.

At that point, additional diagnosis may be necessary.

Harvest Right Support can help determine the appropriate next step for your machine.

Quick Touchscreen Troubleshooting Checklist

Before contacting support, check:

• Software version: Do I know which version I'm running?

• Screen type: Is my touchscreen resistive or capacitive?

• Resistive screen: Did I complete the entire recalibration process?

• Capacitive screen: Did I check for the correct software update?

• Testing: Did I test several areas of the screen afterward?

• Still having problems: Contact Harvest Right Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Harvest Right touchscreen not responding?

Several issues can cause touchscreen problems. Start by determining your software version and touchscreen type. Resistive screens may need recalibration, while capacitive screens should be checked for appropriate software updates.

Why does my freeze dryer select the wrong button when I touch the screen?

If the location you touch doesn't match what the machine selects, a resistive touchscreen may need recalibration.

Follow the calibration procedure above.

If you have a capacitive touchscreen, don't attempt to recalibrate it. Check for the appropriate software update instead.

How do I recalibrate my Harvest Right touchscreen?

Recalibration is available for resistive touchscreens associated with software versions beginning with 2, 3, 4, 5.0, or 5.2.

Turn the freeze dryer off and back on, press and hold the screen as it lights up until you hear the calibration signal, then follow the on-screen prompts to select the three blinking circles.

Why won't my touchscreen recalibrate?

First, make sure you actually have a resistive touchscreen.

Harvest Right's capacitive touchscreens cannot be recalibrated. If your software version begins with 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, or 6, follow the appropriate software-update instructions instead.

How do I know which touchscreen my freeze dryer has?

Check your software version.

Resistive: 2, 3, 4, 5.0, 5.2
Capacitive: 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 6

If you're unsure, contact Harvest Right Support before attempting further troubleshooting.

Can a software update fix touchscreen problems?

For capacitive touchscreens, Harvest Right directs customers to the appropriate software update rather than recalibration. Follow the software instructions for your particular version.

What if none of these steps work?

Contact Harvest Right Support.

Tell the support team:

• Your freeze dryer model

• Your software version

• What the touchscreen is doing

• Which troubleshooting steps you've already tried

Providing that information can make it easier to diagnose the problem and determine the next step.

Get Your Freeze Dryer Back Up and Running

A touchscreen problem doesn't necessarily mean there's a major problem with your freeze dryer.

Start with the simplest step:

Check your software version.

That tells you which type of touchscreen you have and determines what you should do next.

For a resistive touchscreen, recalibration may resolve the issue.

For a capacitive touchscreen, check for the appropriate software update.

And if neither solves the problem, Harvest Right Support can help you determine what to do next.