Lines on iPhone Screen? Green, White & Black Lines Explained (and Fixed)

Key takeaways

• Take a screenshot. If the lines are not in the screenshot, the problem is in the screen hardware, not iOS.
• A single green line on an iPhone 12 or newer is an OLED panel fault. It does not go away with an update.
• Black lines on an iPhone 11 or XR usually mean the LCD is cracked internally or the display cable is damaged.
• Lines that spread, flicker or come with touch problems can turn into a black screen. Back up your iPhone today.
• Screen replacement at our Eagan shop runs from about $120 (iPhone 11) to $365 (iPhone 17 Pro Max), with a 90-day warranty.

What Each Type of Line Means

The color, direction and behavior of the lines tell you a lot about the cause. Use this table to narrow it down before you spend money:

6 Causes of Lines on an iPhone Screen

1. A drop or pressure damaged the screen panel

This is the most common cause we see. The glass can look perfect while the panel under it is damaged. On OLED iPhones, the pixels are arranged in columns. When a column’s wiring breaks, you get one thin vertical line, usually green or pink, from top to bottom. On LCD iPhones, pressure damage often shows as black or white lines or a dark bleed spreading from the impact point. If the phone was dropped recently, read our guide on what to do in the first hour after a drop.

2. A loose or damaged display connector

The screen plugs into the logic board with a small flex cable and connector. A hard knock can shift that connector just enough to scramble the signal, which shows up as multicolored lines, flicker or static. The good news: if the connector just needs reseating, the repair is quick and inexpensive. If the flex cable itself is torn or creased, the screen has to be replaced.

3. Liquid damage

Water or other liquid that reaches the display connector or the panel causes corrosion. Lines from liquid damage often start small and spread over days, sometimes with a flickering or dim screen. Check the liquid contact indicator inside the SIM tray slot with a flashlight: red or pink means liquid got in. See our iPhone water damage repair in Eagan page for what to do next.

4. A faulty screen from a previous repair

If lines appeared soon after a screen replacement, the connector may not be fully seated, or the replacement screen may be a low-grade part. A good shop will fix this under warranty. Every repair at Helpertech carries a 90-day warranty.

5. A logic board problem

Less often, the fault is on the phone’s main board: a damaged display connector on the board side, or a failed component that powers the screen. A new screen will not fix this. It needs board-level repair, which we do in-house with micro-soldering in Eagan.

6. A software glitch

Rarely, lines appear only in one app, only after an update, or also show up in screenshots. That points to software. A restart, the latest iOS update or updating the app usually clears it.

Black Lines on an iPhone 11 or XR

The iPhone 11 and iPhone XR use LCD screens, and black lines on these models are one of the most searched iPhone screen problems. In our experience they usually come from one of three things: an internal crack in the LCD after a drop (the lines often start near the impact point), a pinched or damaged display cable, or liquid damage. Because the iPhone 11 is an older, lower-cost model, the fix is also affordable: screen replacement for an iPhone 11 at our Eagan shop is $120 to $140. If the lines came with a bright spot, see our guide to the bright spot on an iPhone screen, which is a related LCD problem.

Green Line on an iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17

Every iPhone from the iPhone 12 onward uses an OLED screen. A single, thin green (or pink or purple) vertical line that stays in the same place is one of the most common OLED faults. It happens when one column of pixels loses its connection inside the panel, usually after a drop, a squeeze or flexing the phone in a tight pocket. Some owners also report green lines appearing after an iOS update. A restart or update is worth a try, but if the line is also missing from screenshots, it is a hardware fault in the panel and will not go away on its own.

If your iPhone is still under Apple’s one-year limited warranty and has no drop or liquid damage, ask Apple to inspect it first, because a panel defect may be covered. Out of warranty, a replacement OLED screen is the fix. Newer models cost more because their screens are more advanced; see our iPhone 17 repair cost guide for the latest models.

7 Checks to Try Before You Pay for a Repair

1. Take a screenshot. Press Side button + Volume Up and view the screenshot on another device. Lines missing from the screenshot mean a hardware problem.
2. Force restart. Press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
3. Update iOS. Settings > General > Software Update.
4. Try different apps and brightness levels. Lines that appear only in one app point to that app.
5. Turn off True Tone and Night Shift (Settings > Display & Brightness) to rule out color settings.
6. Check for liquid. Look at the liquid contact indicator in the SIM tray slot with a flashlight.
7. Back up now. If the lines are spreading, back up to iCloud or a computer before the screen stops working completely.

Please do not tap, twist or press the screen to “fix” the lines. Sometimes pressing makes lines disappear briefly because it pushes a loose connector back into contact, but it can also crack the panel further. A technician can reseat the connector properly in a few minutes.

Will the Lines Spread?

A single green line on an OLED screen often stays the same for weeks or months. Lines from an internal crack or liquid damage usually spread, sometimes quickly, and can end with a black screen or a screen that no longer responds to touch. If you also notice touch problems, read our guide on iPhone touch screen not working. Whatever the cause, back up your data now. If the screen has already gone black, our iPhone data recovery in Eagan service can often still get your photos off.

How Lines on an iPhone Screen Are Repaired (and What It Costs in Eagan)

At our Eagan shop, we first open the phone and inspect the display connector and cable. If the connector is loose or dirty, we clean and reseat it and test the screen. If the panel or cable is damaged, the fix is a new screen. If the screen tests fine but the lines remain, we check the logic board. You always get a clear quote before any work.

Prices come from our repair pricing page. For iPhones, the lower price is an LCD replacement screen and the higher price is an OLED screen. Every screen replacement includes a 90-day warranty. Most iPhone screen replacements in Eagan are done the same day. For a full comparison with Apple’s prices and AppleCare+, read our iPhone screen repair cost guide or Apple Store vs. local iPhone repair near Eagan.

How to Prevent Lines on Your iPhone Screen

• Use a case with raised edges and a good screen protector. Most line damage starts with a drop.
• Keep the phone out of back pockets. Bending and squeezing damage OLED panels.
• Keep it away from water, and dry it right away if it gets wet. Do not charge a wet phone.
• Use a reputable repair shop. Poorly seated connectors and low-grade screens are a common cause of lines after a repair.

Frequently Asked Questions