Only the glass of your iPhone screen broken? Here's how to know for sure

Your iPhone has fallen and the screen is damaged. Still, not every crack means a new screen module: sometimes only the glass is broken and the rest of the display still works fine. Here's how to tell the difference.

Lines and black spots: what they tell you about your screen

On iPhone Pro models, we often see white or green lines across the screen. These appear when the contact between the flex cable and the OLED matrix comes loose, usually after a drop. In that case the damage runs deeper than the glass, and the whole module needs to be replaced.

The same applies to a screen that stays black while your device still makes sound and responds to touch. That points to a faulty display module, not cracked glass. This is typical for OLED screens after a drop, sometimes with black spots on the image as well.

Don't see any of that, and is the glass simply cracked, with no lines or spots on the image? Then there's a good chance the module is still fine and only the glass needs replacing.

What you can check yourself

1. Look at the image, not the glass. Does the crack just sit on top, or does the damage run through the image itself?
2. Watch for lines or spots. Green or white lines, or a section of the screen that stays black, point to more than cracked glass.
3. Test the touch response. Does the screen respond normally to taps and swipes, even at the spot of the crack? That's a good sign.

Still not sure?

At FIXNOW, there's a fixed price per model, whether it's just the glass or the full module. That way you know where you stand in advance. Not sure which of the two it is? No need to guess: bring your iPhone in to Antwerp or Wolvertem and we'll take a look right away.

Can you keep making calls with cracked glass?

Usually yes, but not without risk. Glass splinters can come loose and end up inside the housing, and sharp edges aren't pleasant during calls. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that moisture or dust gets in through the crack.

Why do lines sometimes only appear days after the drop?

A flex cable that came loose from the drop can still make contact at first and only fully disconnect later. That's why lines sometimes only show up afterward. The problem was there from the moment of the drop, even if you didn't see it yet.

Can the glass always be replaced separately?

On most iPhone Pro models, the glass is fused to the OLED module. So it's a specialised repair, not a simple sticker swap. Whether it's possible depends on your model and the condition of the underlying module.

Don't wait too long with a cracked screen: the sooner you have it looked at, the smaller the chance that simple glass damage grows into damage to the module itself.