What Should You Do If Your iPhone Screen Is Broken? How to Decide Whether to Replace the Phone or the Screen

September 29, 2026

First, Check Whether the Screen Is Damaged

After an iPhone is dropped, you can first turn it on normally and check whether the phone is still working properly.

Focus on testing:

Whether the phone can turn on normally
Whether Wi-Fi works properly
Whether the cellular network works properly
Whether the camera works properly
Whether the speaker and microphone work properly
Whether charging works properly
Whether Face ID works properly
Whether the phone restarts frequently
Whether the battery becomes unusually hot
Whether the phone body is severely bent

If all of these functions are working normally and the main problem is limited to the screen, there is no need to replace the entire iPhone just because the screen is broken.

In this situation, replacing the screen assembly is usually the most direct solution.

When Do You Only Need to Replace the iPhone Screen?

If the other functions are working normally, you can judge mainly by how badly the screen is cracked or damaged. The following situations are listed from mild to more serious:

The Screen Glass Is Cracked, but the Display Still Works Normally

This is a relatively minor situation.

Even though the screen has cracks:

The display works normally
Colors look normal
Touch works normally
There are no black spots
There are no colored lines

If there are only minor cracks, there is usually no need to replace the screen or the entire phone.

Black or Purple Spots Appear on the Screen

If black, purple, or blue areas that look like spreading ink appear after the phone is dropped, this usually means the internal display layer has been damaged.

This type of damage usually cannot be fixed by restarting the phone or updating the system.

If the phone’s other hardware is still working normally, replacing the screen assembly can usually solve the display problem.

Green, White, or Black Lines Appear on the Screen

Fixed vertical or horizontal lines are also common after a drop.

If the lines remain after restarting the phone, the display panel itself is more likely to be damaged internally.

This does not mean the entire phone is unusable. Replacing the screen assembly is usually enough to restore the display.

The Touchscreen Stops Working

The screen may still display an image, but certain areas may no longer respond to touch, or the entire screen may stop responding.

If the problem started after the phone was dropped, the touch layer or screen flex cable may have been damaged.

As long as the motherboard and other functions are still working normally, replacing the screen is much more cost-effective than replacing the entire phone.

If the Screen Is Completely Black, Does That Mean the Phone Is Broken?

Not necessarily.

After the screen goes black, you can first try calling the phone.

If the phone still:

Rings
Vibrates
Receives notifications
Responds when connected to a charger
Can be recognized by a computer

then the phone may still be running normally—you just cannot see anything on the display.

In this situation, the display portion of the screen is likely damaged.

Note: A black screen does not mean the entire iPhone is broken.

Replacing the damaged screen assembly with a working one can restore the display.

When Is It Better to Replace the Phone Instead?

Not every broken iPhone is worth repairing.

The Phone Is Already Very Old

If the phone has been used for many years, frequently lags, and no longer runs smoothly, then a broken screen may not be worth replacing. In this situation, buying a new phone may be the more cost-effective choice.

The Motherboard Also Has Problems

If the phone was dropped and the damage is not limited to the screen, but also causes problems such as:

The phone will not turn on
It keeps restarting
It will not charge
There is no network connection
The camera does not work properly
The phone cannot be recognized by a computer

then it may be time to consider buying a new phone.

The Phone Body Is Severely Deformed

If the phone frame is clearly bent, a new screen may not fit properly.

Even if it is forced into place, the bent frame may put pressure on the new screen again.

iPhone Screen Broken? Don’t Rush to Replace the Phone

If your iPhone can still turn on normally, charge, and connect to the network, while the main problems are limited to a cracked screen, black spots, lines, screen flickering, or touch failure, replacing the screen assembly can often get the phone working normally again.

Before buying, make sure you confirm your exact iPhone model and choose a screen assembly that matches your device. XinWangLCD offers a range of iPhone replacement screens, and each screen is checked before shipping for display performance, touch response, brightness, dead pixels, and flex cables.

Find the screen assembly that fits your iPhone model and start repairing your phone.

A&Q

Will Replacing an iPhone Screen Delete Your Data?

Normally, no.

Your photos, videos, contacts, apps, and files are stored in the phone’s internal storage, not in the screen.

Therefore, simply replacing the iPhone screen assembly generally will not delete your data.

However, if the phone is still usable, it is still recommended to back up important data before the repair.

This is especially important if the phone has suffered a severe drop or water damage.

Should You Replace the Screen Yourself or Go to a Repair Shop?

If you have experience repairing phones, you can buy a screen assembly that matches your exact iPhone model and install it yourself.

However, if you have never taken a phone apart before, it is better to have the screen installed by an experienced repair technician.

For users without repair experience, buying the correct screen for the phone model and then having a local repair technician install it is often the simpler option.

What Should You Check After Replacing the Screen?

After the installation is complete, do not only check whether the screen turns on.

At a minimum, test the following areas.

Display

Check for:

Black spots
Bright spots
Color spots
Lines
Screen flickering
Abnormal colors

Touchscreen

Open the Notes app and draw continuous lines across the entire screen.

Pay special attention to all four corners and the edges of the screen.

Keyboard

Open the keyboard and test every letter and number.

If a certain row or area frequently does not respond, the screen should be checked again.

Brightness

Test the screen at both low and high brightness levels and observe whether the display remains stable.

Can You Keep Using a Phone With a Cracked Screen?

If the screen only has minor cracks and both the display and touch function are still working normally, continuing to use the phone for a short period usually will not cause much of a problem.

However, cracked glass will not repair itself.

The cracks may also spread as you continue using the phone.

If you are already seeing: