Why Is There a Line on My Phone Screen? How to Tell If It Can Be Fixed

A line on your phone screen means one of two things. Either the phone's software is drawing the picture wrong, or the screen hardware is failing. The fastest way to tell is to take a screenshot. If the line shows up in the screenshot, the phone is drawing it. If it does not, the screen itself is the problem.

That one test saves a lot of wasted time. Software lines can often be fixed for free at home. Hardware lines almost never go away on their own, and no setting will clear them.

The Short Answer

Take a screenshot first. Line in the picture means software. No line in the picture means hardware.
Restart the phone. A glitch in the display software can clear with a fresh start.
Update the software. A bad update can cause lines, and a newer one can fix them.
Try safe mode on Android. If the line goes away, an app is the cause.
Look for damage. A drop, pressure or water usually means the screen or its cable.
Check your coverage. A warranty, AppleCare or a maker's repair program can cover the fix.

The Ten Second Test

Repair guide site iFixit gives the simplest test there is. Take a screenshot and compare it to what you see on the screen.

The line is in the screenshot. The phone is creating it. That points to software, an app or the chip that draws the picture.
The line is not in the screenshot. The phone is sending a clean picture and the screen is showing it wrong. That points to the panel, the display cable or damage you cannot see.

To check the screenshot properly, send it to another phone or a computer and open it there. Looking at it on the same screen will show you the same line either way.

iFixit also suggests checking whether the line is still there when the screen is off. If you can see a line on a black, powered off screen, it may be a scratch, a crack or dirt trapped under a screen protector. Peel the protector back and look.

What the Color of the Line Tells You

Lines come in a few common colors, and Asurion's guide lists pink, green, black and blue among them. The color is a clue, not a diagnosis.

Green or purple. iFixit says these colors suggest an electrical fault in the screen.
Green on an OLED phone. Phone Max, a repair shop, says OLED screens are more prone to green lines than LCD screens.
Any color that never moves. A line that sits in the same spot on every app, every screen and in the screenshot test is a hardware line.

Vertical or horizontal does not change the plan. What matters is whether the line shows up in the screenshot and whether it survives a restart.

Free Fixes to Try First

Do these in order. Each one rules out a cause, and none of them costs anything.

Restart the Phone

A plain restart clears most display glitches. If the screen is frozen or the line is so bad you cannot use it, force a restart.

iPhone. Apple's steps are to press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Android. Asurion says to hold the power and volume down buttons together until the phone restarts. For a frozen Pixel, iFixit says to hold the power button for about 30 seconds.

Install Any Software Update

A display bug in one software version can be fixed in the next. Check for an update in Settings on any phone. iFixit adds a smart step here. If the line only shows up in one app, update that app first.

Start an Android Phone in Safe Mode

Safe mode turns off every app you installed yourself. If the line goes away in safe mode, one of your apps is the cause. Samsung's own steps for a Galaxy are below.

Press and hold the Side and Volume down buttons together, or swipe down from the top and tap the Power icon.
Touch and hold Power off.
Tap Safe mode.

Samsung says to look for Safe mode in the bottom left corner, then remove apps that were installed or updated around the time the problem started. Restart the phone to leave safe mode. Samsung notes that your wallpaper and theme may reset when you do.

Run the Galaxy Screen Test

Phone Max, a repair shop, lists a display test for Galaxy phones. Open the Phone app and dial star, pound, zero, star, pound. Then tap through the solid color tests. If the line shows on every color in the same place, that is the panel.

Leave the Factory Reset for Last

Several top guides push a factory reset early. We would not. A factory reset erases everything on the phone, and iFixit calls it a last resort that is unlikely to fix a line. If a restart, an update and safe mode did nothing, the cause is almost always hardware, and a reset just costs you your data.

When the Line Is Hardware

If the line is not in your screenshot and it survived a restart, the screen needs work. iFixit lists the usual causes.

A damaged or loose display cable. Common after a drop. iFixit suggests a gentle, even press along the edges of the screen as a test. If the line reacts to that, the cable is a likely cause.
A damaged panel. Tilt the phone in the light and look for a hairline crack near where the line starts.
Water or heat. Asurion lists water damage and overheating as causes. Asurion says overheating can burn out parts inside the screen. If your phone often runs hot, read our guide on why your phone is so hot.
A board problem. Less common. iFixit says burned parts, corrosion or a bent board can also cause lines.

Opening the phone yourself is a real risk with modern sealed phones. Unless you have done screen repairs before, leave this one to a shop or the maker.

Back Up the Phone Now

Do this before anything else once you know it is hardware. A line can grow into a screen you cannot read at all. Save your photos and files while you still can. Our guide to back up photos and files walks through iCloud, Google and a computer.

When the Repair Can Be Free

Before you pay, check what you are owed. This is the part most guides skip.

Pixel 8 Owners

Google runs an Extended Repair Program for the Pixel 8. Google says a Pixel 8 may qualify if it shows a vertical line running from the bottom of the screen to the top, or a screen flicker. The program covers phones for three years after the original purchase date and gives one free display replacement.

To check, enter your IMEI at store.google.com/repair. Google says a cracked screen or water damage may disqualify the phone, and that the repair carries a 90 day warranty. If your Pixel does not qualify, Google says the standard warranty may still cover it.

iPhone Owners

Apple says its one year limited warranty covers manufacturing problems but not accidental damage. AppleCare plans cover unlimited repairs for drops and spills, for a service fee. Apple also says its repairs and parts are guaranteed for 90 days or the rest of your warranty, whichever is longer. You can check your coverage on Apple's site, then book a Genius Bar visit, use an Apple Authorized Service Provider or mail the phone in.

Galaxy and Other Android Owners

Start with the maker's warranty and your carrier's insurance plan, if you have one. A line that showed up with no drop, no water and no pressure is worth reporting as a defect. Take photos of the line on a white screen and a black screen before you go in.

Should You Fix It or Replace the Phone?

A line on a new phone is almost always worth fixing, especially when a warranty or program covers it. On an older phone, compare the repair quote to the value of the phone. If the battery is also worn and the phone is several years old, a new screen may not be money well spent. Our guide to when to replace your phone helps you weigh it.

The Bottom Line

Take a screenshot and look at it on another device. If the line is in the picture, restart, update and try safe mode. If the line is not in the picture, it is the screen or its cable, and a factory reset will not help. Back up your phone, then check your warranty, AppleCare or the Pixel 8 repair program before you pay for a new screen.

Keep Reading

Phone makers launch and end repair programs often. Follow the latest in our devices news, or browse more plain tech advice.

Questions Readers Ask

Why is there a line on my phone screen?

Either the software is drawing the screen wrong or the screen hardware is failing. A drop, pressure, water, heat or a loose display cable are the usual hardware causes. A bad update or an app can cause a software line. Take a screenshot to tell which one you have.

Why did a line suddenly appear on my screen?

Lines often show up after a drop or pressure you did not notice, like sitting on the phone. They can also appear after a software update or when the phone overheats. Think back to the last day or two. If nothing physical happened, try a restart and check for updates first.

How do I fix a line in my phone screen?

Restart the phone, install any software update, then start it in safe mode. If the line goes away in safe mode, an app is the cause, so remove the newest apps one at a time. If the line stays through all of that, the screen needs a repair or replacement.

Can a green line go away on its own?

A software line can go away after a restart or an update. A hardware line almost never does. Green and purple lines often point to an electrical fault in the screen, according to iFixit. If a green line survives a restart, plan on a repair.

Will a line on my phone screen spread?

Sometimes. A line from a cracked panel or a loose cable can turn into more lines or a dead patch over time, especially if the phone takes more knocks. Back up your phone now, while you can still read the screen.

Is a line on my phone screen covered by warranty?

It depends on the cause. Apple's one year warranty covers manufacturing problems but not accidental damage. AppleCare covers drops and spills. Google runs a repair program for Pixel 8 phones with a vertical line. Check your coverage before you pay.

Does a line on the screen mean my phone is broken?

Not always. The rest of the phone often works fine. You can usually still use it, take calls and back it up. The line is a screen problem, and the screen can be replaced.