Glass or display: what's actually broken?
A phone screen is two things stuck together: the cover glass you touch, and the display under it (OLED on most recent phones) with the touch layer.
- Only the glass is cracked if the picture looks perfect and touch works across the whole screen.
- The display is damaged too if you see lines, black or purple blotches, green or white patches, flicker, or areas that don't respond to touch.
On almost every modern phone, the glass and the display are laminated together at the factory, so a repair replaces the whole screen assembly either way. The difference matters for how urgent it is: damaged displays usually get worse.
When it can wait, and when it can't
| What you see | How urgent |
|---|---|
| A small crack at the edge, picture and touch fine | Can wait a little; cover it to stop it spreading |
| Cracks across the screen, picture and touch fine | Soon: cracks spread with every bump and temperature change |
| Loose, sharp or missing glass | Now: it can cut fingers and faces, and splinters can come off |
| Black spots or ink-like blotches growing | Soon: the OLED is damaged and usually spreads |
| Lines, flicker or green tint | Soon: the display or its connection is failing |
| Touch not working in places, or "ghost" taps | Now: the phone may type, call or unlock by itself |
| Any crack and the phone might get wet | Soon: a cracked screen is no longer sealed |
The risks of leaving it
- Cuts. Shattered glass can splinter, especially along the edges.
- Water and dust. A crack breaks the seal, so a splash that wouldn't have mattered can now reach the display and the board.
- Spreading damage. Pressure in your pocket, a small drop, or heat on a car seat makes cracks grow. A crack across the display can turn into a black screen.
- Ghost touches. A damaged touch layer can register taps you didn't make, opening apps or sending messages.
- Losing access to your data. If the screen stops working completely, getting into the phone to back it up becomes much harder.
Quick ways to protect it until the repair
- Back it up now, while you can still see the screen. Here's how to back up your phone.
- Put a screen protector or clear tape over the crack to hold loose glass in place. It's only a stopgap, but it stops splinters and slows the spread.
- Use a case with a raised edge, so the screen doesn't take the next fall.
- Keep it dry. Treat the phone as not water resistant until it's fixed.
What a screen replacement involves
The phone is opened, the broken screen assembly comes off, the parts that belong to your phone (such as the earpiece and sensors on many models) move across, and a new screen goes on with fresh adhesive. It's then tested: touch across the whole screen, brightness, cameras, Face ID or the fingerprint reader, speakers and calls.
Most screen replacements take 30 to 60 minutes. Your photos and apps stay on the phone, but a backup first is always wise.
What about the screen's quality? Replacement screens vary a lot. Here's how genuine and aftermarket screens differ, so you can ask the right questions wherever you get it fixed.
Is it worth fixing? For most phones from the last four or five years, yes. For an older phone, here's a simple way to decide.
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