To address iPhone screen lines due to a glitch, you can try waiting, resetting or restarting your phone, or switching to DFU mode to resolve software-related problems. Other than those, you might consider cleaning under your screen, replacing your screen protector, gently pressing your screen, or having a technician replace your screen.
We’ve all enjoyed our fair share of horror and thriller movies, right? But have you ever experienced a real-life jump scare? Picture this: You glance at your iPhone screen, and there they are—lines. It’s nothing short of a nightmare.
Now, you might be curious about what causes these lines. Well, there are various reasons behind them, like accidentally dropping your phone or other factors.
These lines can appear both horizontally and vertically. They may come in different colors, including green, pink, or even white. Typically, the pattern and colors of these lines don’t pinpoint a specific issue. They’re just a general occurrence that can happen for various reasons, no matter the cause.
However, if you notice white lines, it’s often a sign that the problem is related to software, which can be relatively easier to fix. Sometimes, these lines can appear seemingly out of nowhere, indicating a few things:
- Your phone might be aging.
- It could be an older iPhone model.
- The consequences of a past drop might be showing up late.
Here’s a crucial tip: as soon as you spot these lines on your screen, it’s a good idea to quickly back up all your data, just to be on the safe side.
What Causes The Lines That Appear on iPhone Screens?
You Dropped Your Phone On A Hard Surface
If your phone takes a tumble onto a tough surface like the floor or stones, you might encounter a common issue—lines on your screen. When your phone hits hard surfaces, it can cause damage to the LCD (the screen’s inner part).
Apart from visible cracks and damage, you might also find that the LCD cable, usually securely attached to the logic board beneath the screen, becomes loose.
In both of these situations, you’ll start seeing blurry lines on your screen. It’s important to note that in these cases, it’s a pretty serious problem.
You Dropped Your Phone In Water
These days, Apple has introduced new phones that can withstand being submerged in water. So, if one of these newer models takes an unexpected dive, you won’t have to worry about it.
However, when it comes to older phones that aren’t designed to be waterproof, you’ll need to exercise extra caution.
If, by any chance, your non-waterproof phone gets wet, it can lead to various issues with your device, including the appearance of those pesky lines.
Hardware Problems
Another hardware concern involves the flex cable and the logic board of your phone. It’s crucial for these components to be securely connected if you want your phone’s screen (LCD) to stay linked to the main motherboard.
If the flex cable and logic board come loose, that’s when you’ll start seeing those lines on your screen.
Software Problems
When we talk about software problems, we’re referring to various issues, including temporary hiccups that can pop up on your device. Diagnosing software problems can be a bit tricky because they don’t have clear signs.
The usual way to tackle them is by trying different fixes that you think might work. But don’t worry, these software issues are generally not as severe as hardware problems, and they can usually be resolved quite easily.
Screen Protector Is The Culprit
Occasionally, damage to your screen protector can make it appear as though there are lines on your screen. In some cases, the lines might genuinely be on the screen, but they are the result of a faulty screen protector.
What Can I Do To Address Lines On My iPhone Display?
Wait For A While
If you haven’t dropped your phone in water or on a hard surface and you’re facing these lines, it’s often a good idea to be patient. Waiting it out is a practical and cost-effective approach.
Sometimes, if the lines are caused by a temporary software issue, they might disappear on their own.
This waiting strategy can also be helpful if you don’t have enough money and can’t afford to take your phone to a technician.
Restart Your Phone
Here’s another method that can help resolve software problems and get your phone screen back to normal. You may need to restart your phone. To do this on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the power button until a slider appears on your screen.
- Slide it to power off your phone.
- Afterward, press the power button again until you spot the Apple logo, indicating that your phone is restarting.
However, there might be situations where the lines on your screen are so numerous and disruptive that you can’t use your screen normally. In such cases, you’ll need to perform a force restart.
But it’s important to note that the method for force restarting varies depending on your iPhone model. So, let’s take a closer look at that first:
| iPhone MODEL | METHOD |
| iPhone 6 Or Earlier | Press and hold both the home button and the power button at the same time until you see the Apple logo on the screen. |
| iPhone 7 Or 7 Plus | Press and hold both the volume down button and the power button simultaneously until the Apple logo shows up. |
| iPhone 8 Or Newer | Press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button, and finally, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears. |
In all these cases, it’ll take a few seconds for the Apple logo to appear, and then your phone will turn off and automatically turn back on again.
Reset Your Phone
I’m sorry to share this because not everyone is comfortable with the idea of resetting their phone. I understand that even though we can back up all our data and restore it after the reset, there’s still a slight risk of losing the backed-up data due to certain glitches. This uncertainty can make us hesitant about resetting our phones. However, it does the trick in resolving temporary software issues.
Nevertheless, here’s a proven fix that might help:
- Go to your phone’s settings.
- Then navigate to the “General” section.
- Click on “Reset.”
- Choose “Erase All Contents and Settings.”
- Next, click on “Backup and Erase.”
- Your phone will then ask you to confirm this action by entering your password.
- Once you’ve done that, click “Okay,” and your phone will be reset. Hopefully, after this, the lines will disappear.
Switch To DFU Mode
This is a critical type of restoration known as DFU, which stands for “Device Firmware Update.” It’s typically the final step taken to eliminate any software-related problems.
When you put your iPhone into DFU mode, it wipes out all your data, updates the firmware, and reinstalls all the necessary codes.
However, during this process, you’ll lose all your data, so it’s important to remember to back up your device before proceeding.
Clean The Area Underneath Your Screen
Before taking this step, it’s essential to be aware that sometimes there can be sudden electrical events known as ESD. These involve a quick surge of electricity.
To prevent this, you might need to use an anti-static mat or something similar to release any built-up static charge.
Once you’re sure about that, proceed to clean underneath your screen to get rid of any debris or dust that could be responsible for those lines appearing. You can use a lint-free cloth or a soft brush for this task.
Change Your Screen Protector
As I mentioned earlier, the screen protector can also be a sneaky cause of these issues. It’s quite unexpected for lines to appear because of the screen protector.
In such cases, it’s a good idea to replace your screen protector. Many people recommend using the “invisible shield” type for added protection.
Press Your Screen
As I mentioned earlier, sometimes the screen or logic cable might become loose. In such cases, you can firmly press down on the screen to ensure that all the pins, that were originally connected, are firmly back in place. Just be careful not to press too hard to avoid cracking the screen.
Get Your Screen Changed
If your screen is severely damaged from a significant impact or fall, it’s essential to visit a technician. They will replace your screen entirely and ensure it’s securely connected to the logic board.
This way, the lines will disappear, and your phone will be as good as new.
To Conclude
- The lines can run both vertically and horizontally on the screen.
- They may also come in a single color or multiple colors.
- However, the pattern and colors of these lines typically do not provide clear indications of a specific problem
- Lines on iPhone screens can appear due to various reasons, including dropping the phone on hard surfaces, water damage, screen protector issues, loose connections, or software glitches.
- To address these lines, you can try restarting or resetting your phone, use DFU mode as a last resort for software issues, clean under the screen to remove debris, consider changing your screen protector, etc.