Touchscreen Gloves
Do Leather Gloves Work on Touchscreens? Why Most Don't, and the Exceptions
Most leather gloves don't work on touch screens because leather blocks the contact a phone needs. See why, the thin-glove exceptions and how to fix it.
Most leather gloves do not work on touchscreens, because leather blocks the small electrical contact a phone's screen needs to sense your finger. Leather gloves that do work have conductive fingertips, or have had conductive thread, liquid or a sticker added.
This answer is part of our touchscreen motorcycle gloves hub.
Why leather blocks the screen
Phones and tablets use capacitive screens. Your finger conducts electricity, and touching the glass changes the screen's electrostatic field, which the phone reads as a touch.
Leather and glove linings act as an insulating layer, so some screens cannot sense a finger through them. Glove thickness and material both play a big part.
Can thin leather gloves work?
Sometimes. Some screens can sense a finger through light gloves, and thin gloves such as medical gloves are thin enough to use. The thicker the glove, the less likely a touch gets through, so a lined or padded leather glove is a poor bet.
Phone settings can help at the margin. Samsung Galaxy phones have a Touch sensitivity switch for gloves, though not on every Galaxy model. Apple's screen help page does not mention a glove mode for iPhone.
What makes a leather glove touchscreen compatible
Our step-by-step guide shows how to make gloves work on a touchscreen. If you would rather buy a pair with tips built in, compare touchscreen motorcycle gloves first.
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Conductive leather fingertips | A conductive finish on the fingertip leather |
| Sewn conductive thread | Thread links your fingertip to the screen |
| Conductive liquid | Soaks in to form a conductive path; the maker of AnyGlove sells a leather formula but says results vary by leather type and finish |
| Conductive sticker | A thin adhesive pad on the fingertip |
Do our store partner's leather gloves work?
None of the store's glove pages state touchscreen fingertips. Its Leather Collection men's leather gloves include thin lambskin pairs; one page says its 0.8-0.9 mm lambskin is thin enough to feel keys or a phone, but makes no touchscreen claim.
Related guides
- Some riders skip the problem with fingerless gloves; see what fingerless gloves are for and what they leave bare.
FAQ
What material can touch a touch screen?
Conductive materials, such as your skin, conductive thread or a capacitive stylus.
Are nitrile gloves touchscreen compatible?
Wikipedia's touchscreen entry says thin gloves such as medical gloves are thin enough to use on touchscreens. It does not name nitrile.
What are the best gloves for using touch screens?
Gloves with conductive tips on the index finger and thumb and a snug, thin fingertip. Riders can see how they compare in what to look for in touchscreen glove fingertips.
Motorcycle Leather Gloves Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.