Cracked Phone Screen? Repair or Replace Your Phone

A cracked screen leaves you with two questions: is it safe to keep using, and is it worth repairing or time to replace the phone? Here is what is at risk if you wait, how to protect the phone in the meantime, and how to decide between repair and replacement.

The short answer

A small hairline crack that does not affect the touch can be used for a short time, but it will usually get worse. A crack that cuts your finger, makes the screen unresponsive or shows lines and dark patches should be repaired as soon as you can.

The risks of waiting

• Cuts and glass splinters. Sharp edges can cut fingers and the face.
• Water and dust getting in. A crack can break the seal around the display, so rain, spills and humidity reach the inside, and that can lead to water damage.
• The crack spreads. Pocket pressure or a small knock turns one crack into a web.
• Touch problems. Ghost touches, dead zones and flickering are common once the display layers are damaged.
• Higher cost later. If the damage reaches the frame or the display fails completely, the repair can become bigger.

How to protect it until it is repaired

1. Put a clear screen protector or strong clear tape over the crack. This holds the glass in place and protects your fingers.
2. Use a case. It protects the corners, which is where most cracks spread.
3. Back up your phone. A cracked screen can fail without warning, so back up your photos and messages while it still responds.
4. Keep it away from water. Avoid using it in the rain and do not take it into the bathroom.

Is it the glass or the display?

Sometimes only the top glass is cracked and the picture is fine. More often, on modern phones, the glass and display are one part, so the whole screen is replaced. A technician can tell you at once which one you have. We will give you a straight answer on the repair that is needed.

Repair or replace your phone?

For most people a screen repair is the better choice. It costs far less than a new phone, keeps your data and settings exactly as they are, and a phone with a healthy battery and a new screen will often last for years. Repair is usually the right answer when:

• the phone is otherwise working well, with a decent battery and enough storage;
• it still receives software updates;
• the damage is the screen only, or the screen and one other part.

Replacing the phone can make more sense when it is several years old and no longer gets updates, when it has multiple faults at once (for example a failing battery, water damage and a bent frame), or when you already wanted to upgrade. If you do decide to replace it, see our tested and graded phones on the Phones for sale page, and ask about trading in the old one. If you are unsure, tell us the model and what is wrong and we will give you an honest opinion.

What happens at the repair

A normal screen replacement takes about 45 minutes on average, and your data stays on the phone. We give a lifetime warranty on screen repairs, and you only pay if we can fix it: “No fix, no fee”. Pick your model on our repair price card to see the price first.

Doorstep repair is available across Brighton and Sussex, with booking slots from 10:00 to 18:00 and emergency call-outs available. Elsewhere in the UK, free mail-in repair has free labels both ways and £10 off.

Does insurance cover it?

Some home contents and phone insurance policies include accidental damage, but many have an excess that is close to the cost of a repair. Check your policy, and compare the excess with the repair price before you claim, as a claim can also affect your premium.

Common questions

Can I use a cracked iPhone or Samsung screen if the touch still works?

For a short time, with a protector on it. But the damage tends to spread, so do not leave it for months.

Will a cracked screen drain my battery faster?

Not directly, but a damaged display can cause odd behaviour such as flickering and ghost touches, and a phone left to deteriorate can lead to other faults.

Is it worth repairing an older phone?

Usually, yes, if the phone is otherwise in good working order. See our iPhone screen repair and Samsung screen repair pages.