When buying a long-awaited smartphone, you always want it to last as long as possible. However, sometimes annoying troubles happen - for example, the screen can break. What to do in this case? Will repairs really cost more than buying a new phone? Or will your favorite device still be saved? The answers to these questions depend on the nature of the damage.
Why does the screen break, and how to avoid it?
Most often, cracks on a smartphone screen occur due to mechanical impact. For example, during an impact with the Earth. But, the phone may also break down or overheat. Due to the high temperature, the battery swells and begins to press on the screen on the other side. The display cannot withstand such a load and begins to crack.
In addition, the phone may break due to temperature changes. For example, a smartphone was left in the cold for a long time. After that, the owner brought it home and quickly connected it to the charger. After this, the battery began to heat up and cracks appeared on the display. To prevent cracks from appearing on the screen after frost, it is advisable to simply put the phone down and wait until its temperature is equal to room temperature. And only then can the smartphone be connected to charging.
Since the most common reason for a broken smartphone display is a fall, you need to protect your phone as best as possible with special protection. I'm talking about shockproof glass and a case. Of course, the glass and case must be selected specifically for the phone model you purchased.
If the glass is good, it is simply not visible on the phone. It is advisable to buy a case that is not only shockproof, but also beautiful. For example, similar to a notebook.
In addition, cracks can occur when your device hits the edge of the case on the ground, or anything else. Hence, it is advisable to have each edge of the display covered. Of course, the smartphone has the greatest chance of remaining intact when it has two protections at once: shockproof glass and a case. The film protects against scratches, but not against broken screens.
No. 2 Screen protector or film
If the screen is cracked and you cannot immediately fix the broken smartphone screen in the service. There are some steps you can take to temporarily fix an iPhone or Android with a broken screen. Assuming it's just the glass that's broken, meaning the screen is still displaying an image and responding to touch, you can use the phone temporarily and very carefully until you get home, where you can grab the tools and replace the broken screen yourself.
Use a temporary solution if you want to save on repairs or you don’t have the money yet
Clean any dust from the screen, and then place a wide piece of packing tape over the screen. Trim off any excess edges and you can continue to use your phone. This will prevent cracks from growing on the glass when your fingers touch the screen.
You can also buy a screen protector and apply it over the cracked glass. A glass protector or good plastic will at least keep the screen in its current condition.
What can you do if your phone screen is broken?
You should not try to repair the phone yourself. If you install a new display on your phone incorrectly, the best thing that can happen to it is that the smartphone will simply stop functioning.
Since if you install a new screen, then in this case you will also have to remove the module. And this is fraught with damage to other parts of this device. In this case, you will need to replace all parts that are damaged. Accordingly, the cost of repairs will increase sharply.
No. 4 Out of warranty repair
If you can't take the time or don't have the experience needed to repair your cracked iPhone or Android screen yourself. There are other solutions if your phone screen is cracked.
Make sure the warranty has actually expired
Explore the possibility of warranty repair for your device. Apple offers a one-time iPhone screen repair option that is cheaper than buying parts and doing the repair yourself, although in some cases it will still be cheaper to do it yourself.
- iPhone 5 Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $129
- IPhone 5s / Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $129
- IPhone 6 Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $109
- IPhone 6 Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $129
- iPhone SE Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $129
- IPhone 6s Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $129
- IPhone 6s Plus Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $149
- IPhone 7 Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $129
- iPhone 7 Plus Out of Warranty - Screen Replacement - $149
For other manufacturers, you will need to contact Samsung, HTC or other manufacturers to get a quote for fixing your faulty Android screen.
What to do if your smartphone is broken? Let's look at two methods
- Take the broken smartphone to a service center from its brand. For example, the Xiaomi company tries to monitor the condition of its products. When the phone is repaired, the owner of the smartphone will receive a guarantee for new parts. The price for installing a new screen in this service may be higher than in a regular workshop. But, on the other hand, the specialists from the center will definitely install the screen from the phone brand. Even if the smartphone has a warranty, despite this, the screen replacement will be carried out for a fee. The owner of the phone is still to blame for a mechanical breakdown;
- We take the phone to a workshop that is closer to home. Many users will find this option logical and convenient. But, in fact, it may turn out to be unprofitable. First: it is not a fact that the technician in such a case will install the original smartphone. Secondly, in such workshops the specialists are often inexperienced. Because of this, other parts of the smartphone may be damaged.
No. 1 Contact the manufacturer
Before attempting any screen repairs, you should contact the company that made your phone to replace your broken screen with a new one.
See if you can get your screen repaired or replaced for free.
Apple offers AppleCare+ if you make the purchase within 60 days of purchasing the smartphone. For amounts starting at $99, depending on your iPhone, you receive a deductible for accidental damage. If you have AppleCare+, you'll need to pay $29 for screen repair at a company or partner store, and technicians will replace the screen on-site while you wait, or by shipping it in, send your smartphone in for warranty repair.
HTC offers a Uh-Oh protection plan that covers screen replacement if the HTC One M9 breaks within the first year. This is a free replacement and you will have to mail the phone back. But don't worry about the time - HTC is fast.
Samsung sells warranty plans with the Galaxy S7 for other Samsung phones, similar to AppleCare+. If you buy the seven before damage occurs, you will be protected.
In what situations should the display be replaced?
If the crack is small, then you can ignore it. It is also better to replace this module, but most likely there is no need to go to a workshop. Modern phones in most cases have “Multi-layer” displays. For example: the layer that displays the picture and the touch screen are glued together. If this is so, then such a smartphone can be used for quite a long time.
It is unlikely that there is another glass at the top of the module. If a phone's cracked glass does not break off and has virtually no effect on its functionality, there is no particular need to take the phone to a repair shop.
What to do right now
Screen damage varies in severity, from light scratches to spiderweb-like patterns to completely missing glass shards.
First, you should assess the damage, which means placing the phone on a hard surface and inspecting it in good light before putting it back in your pocket. By applying gentle pressure, you can determine whether fragments will fall out. In many cases they will stay in place and the screen will continue to work.
The display does not respond to touch
A cracked smartphone display can start to glitch and stop functioning at any moment. Since the sensor is installed on the top of the smartphone, it may be the first to suffer. The module will stop responding to pressure if it is damaged. In this case, it cannot be repaired. You can only replace it.
When the glass of a smartphone is broken, the sensor may sometimes stop working. If you use such a smartphone, parts may wear out. From here, you won’t have to change the screen, but buy a brand new smartphone.
Self-replacement of the module on iPhone
The replacement rules are similar to the previous cases discussed. Only in this case you need to be extremely careful with the bolts. One incorrectly installed screw can lead to a complex restoration of multi-layer traces on the motherboard. Therefore, when disassembling, it is important to arrange all the bolts in the order of disassembly. If they are mixed, you will have to look for a detailed disassembly video.
Do not forget about your fingerprint, it can be damaged due to the included battery and static electricity.
Therefore, all manipulations with the board must be carried out only with the battery turned off.
Glass can damage the internal parts of the phone
It is not recommended to use a smartphone when its front part is broken, and some of the fragments got inside the phone. Behind the screen are miniature-sized parts with microcircuits. Most likely, replacing them will be equal to the cost of a brand new smartphone. Not everyone knows what to do with a broken smartphone.
These people will for the most part continue to use the phone, and at this time the fragments inside the phone will continue to damage other parts. It is advisable to take this phone to a service center as soon as it crashes or stop using it until the user takes it for repair.
Module repair: replacement of glass or touchscreen assembly
The most difficult thing to restore is a modular screen. In such screens, the adhesive covers the entire area of the module, and it is very difficult to peel off the protective glass (this design is usually used by Apple and Samsung manufacturers) or the touchscreen (Xiaomi, Lenovo). The sensors and glass themselves are not expensive; their cost can be around 500 rubles, with the price of the original module being 5,000 rubles. For modules of top Samsung models, the price for original Amoled can reach 23,500 rubles.
During module repair, any error can lead to complete loss of display functionality.
The smartphone is disassembled in the same way as when replacing the module, but now this will have to be done extremely carefully so as not to damage the working display. It also peels off from the frame of the device.
There are three methods for posting a module:
- Manually using isopropanol and hot air. The longest method, but the most gentle. The broken glass is periodically heated and, using a thin plastic mediator coated with isopropyl alcohol, the glass fragments are removed from the glue. With this method, it is important not to put pressure on the display and avoid sudden movements. Any minor scratch can lead to complete loss of functionality of the restored module.
- Using a string and a separator. The module is fixed on the separator and heated to 100 °C. A string is used to pry the space between the glass (or touchscreen) and the display. And then, with smooth movements and slight tension, the string cuts off the heated glue. This is a fast but very dangerous method. You can cut off part of the display, cut off the polarizer, display protective films, etc.
- Freeze screen. With the help of freezers, the screen freezes and the glue begins to lose its properties. Using a mediator, the fragments are removed from the display. Expensive and specific method. The cable and microcircuits can be damaged.
Some displays are so thin that repair requires a specially designed machine. Even laser machines have been adapted to replace back covers with glue.
After removing the broken glass, you need to remove the old glue from the module. Special cleaning products are available on the market. Isopropyl alcohol will also work.
Now all that remains is to glue the glass or sensor onto the module. Of course, before this, the screen needs to be checked for functionality by connecting it to a smartphone.
If you do not fill the space between the glass and the module, colors may change, glare will appear, strength will decrease and there will be a high risk of glass peeling off.
The main methods of filling the space between glass and display are OCA film and LOCA glue.
LOCA glue dries when exposed to ultraviolet light. It is applied to the screen, then placed against the glass and pressed using small clamps. Next, this entire structure is placed in an ultraviolet lamp for ten minutes. The glue hardens and the module is ready for use. There are some problems with this method. For example, bubbles may appear during gluing, which will need to be removed with tweezers or the whole thing will need to be re-glued.
OCA film is applied to the module. And for this you need a vacuum separator. Without it, it will not be possible to remove air bubbles.
Next, after all the procedures, the repaired module is sealed in exactly the same way as a new part.
Repairing a display module yourself at home is a very difficult task. It requires a lot of experience, effort, patience and equipment. But that doesn't mean it can't be done.
Water may get into a broken phone
When a phone's display is broken, its case is no longer sealed. Moisture gets into the phone not only when it falls into water. It may get inside the phone along with a few drops of rain that fall on the front wall of the phone.
When a smartphone is outdoors, it becomes vulnerable due to its leakage. Moisture can get onto the front of the phone, and from there into the inside of the case. After this, its mechanism may wear out. Also, in such cases, a short circuit is possible. If this happens, the technician will not be able to repair the smartphone after that.
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Why can't you walk around with a broken screen?
A broken screen also puts other components at risk. They begin to move, rub and hit each other. Every touch to the gadget can be fatal both for the entire motherboard and for individual components on it.
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What should you do when it is not possible to install another glass?
This directly depends on how affected the screen is. If it has small cracks, they can be hidden under shockproof glass. A protective film will not help with this. The shockproof glass will not be able to install itself in an even layer on the display of a broken smartphone and will begin to peel off.
There must be strong glue between the glass and the screen. Only with its help it will not come off. Before this process, you need to degrease the front part of the cracked screen. It is not advisable to use a spray in this case: since the phone case is not sealed, water can penetrate into the internal parts of the phone.
When there are fragments on the screen, the sensor does not function and the matrix does not work, there is no need to use the phone. To keep your phone safe, you need to leave it on the shelf until you can give it to a technician.
Necessary tools and consumables
The bare minimum is a plastic pick. Why plastic? It leaves fewer marks on the body, reduces the risk of damage to cables, and is more resilient than a metal pick. A plastic pick can be made from an ordinary plastic bottle; just cut out a small piece and level it.
For a better replacement, you need to heat the smartphone screen. There are two heating options:
- Separator. This is a stove that heats up to the desired temperature; the smartphone is placed face down and heated evenly over the entire area. Such devices are used in workshops and service centers.
- Warm air. You can use a soldering hair dryer, or you can use a regular hair dryer to dry your hair. Its temperature is enough for the glue to begin to peel off the surface.
Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) or Galosh gasoline will also come in handy. Using these products you can remove old glue and speed up the process of peeling off parts.
For gluing you will need B7000 glue. This is a universal glue, it is great for gluing touchscreens or screen modules to the frame of a smartphone and tablet. There are different types of such glue. T7000, B7000, E8000, etc. They differ in color, adhesion, price and other characteristics. For most repairs the B7000 will be suitable.
Double-sided tape is also widely used when repairing smartphones and tablets. They allow you to create a gap between the sensor and the display. And when gluing a modular screen, they create additional space for the frame. Double-sided tapes also come in different sizes, colors and adhesion.
What to use again depends on the situation. For example, some parts contain factory glue; it is not always of good quality, or over time it loses its adhesive properties. Therefore, a new layer is applied on top of the old glue. And tape is used to hide gaps or in cases where there is no tape at all.
We fix the phone screen ourselves
You can only repair your phone yourself as a last resort. If you install the module incorrectly and disassemble the case incorrectly, the microcircuits may be damaged. In this case, you will pay more for repairs, so it will be difficult to fix the gadget, plus you still need to purchase new parts. If you decide to order a module, you also need to select spare parts of the same brand. If you install low-quality parts, the smartphone may overheat, and because of this, all internal parts of the phone will suffer.
Quite often, parts of models that will be released next year have the same names. At the same time, even one extra letter or number on the purchased part may indicate incompatibility with the phone. From here, you need to firmly make sure that this part is compatible with your smartphone model.
Complex equipment cannot be returned. If a serious breakdown occurs, such a device cannot be returned.
How not to glue smartphones
You cannot glue with superglue, PVA glue, sealants or simple double-sided tape.
Superglue ruins the frame and can damage the part. A quick chemical reaction occurs with such glue; it destroys the surface and eats into it. Moreover, with such glue there will be only one attempt at repair; the second time you will have to buy a new part and tear the old one off the frame with tweezers, sand the surface from superglue. It is 100% not suitable for gluing parts in phones.
Sealants are bad because over time they begin to let dust through and the gluing technology itself is not suitable for them. At first the part will stick, but over time it will begin to peel off. No automotive or construction sealants are suitable for repairing electronics.
Most often, special glue is used when assembling phones and tablets. It holds up to changes in temperature, moisture, and does not damage touch surfaces. An example of such an adhesive is B7000.
What needs to be done at the service center?
If your phone has a modular screen, it needs to be completely replaced. It is quite possible that the touchscreen and matrix were not secured with glue. Still, it is advisable to replace the parts completely, since the display is subject to wear and tear over time.
For example, when the glass is damaged and the sensor begins to function worse, but the image on the cracked display is almost the same, this does not mean that each of the pixels is still functioning. If one pixel is damaged, you won't notice it. But, over time, the matrix will begin to collapse. Then the image will begin to disappear. If the screen begins to deteriorate after you replaced the sensor, you will need to replace the entire unit.
If you want to protect the display, then you need to cover your smartphone with a protective case. The front of the phone must be covered with shockproof glass. Do not let children play with the phone. While playing, they may accidentally break your phone. In addition, you should not leave the phone in direct sunlight: under its influence, the battery sometimes swells and breaks the display.
Conclusion : as I mentioned, if you break your phone, then you will not get it back under the warranty card. You need to keep an eye on your phone. But, if the screen still breaks, it needs to be replaced. The case may then become leaky and water may enter the phone. Therefore, you need to be careful. Good luck!
Sincerely, Andrey Zimin 11/12/2020
Can I fix the screen myself?
With the right desire, you can do anything. But first you need to think about whether it is worth such efforts? To replace an OGS display, you will need a lot of tools, professionalism and self-confidence, since even experienced craftsmen do not always take on this task. To replace the modular screen, you may need tools such as: UV lamp, heating stand, stencils, clear resin, etc. Without such professional equipment, you may not even begin to get down to business.
As for simple touch glasses, you can try to replace them, but only if you are also sure that you can handle it, otherwise there is a risk that not only the screen will be broken in the phone. To replace the touch glass, you will need:
- a set of special screwdrivers;
- new touch glass;
- thin spatula.
How to replace broken glass with a new one:
- So, the first thing you need to do is buy glass that matches your phone model. You can purchase it both in specialized stores and on the Internet.
- Use small screwdrivers to remove the screws on your smartphone.
- Use a spatula to pry up the lid and remove it.
- Carefully remove the screen attached to the cable and replace it with a new one.
- Screw the screws back.
- Ready!
