Cracked phone screen: what to do until it's repaired

A drop, a sharp crack… and a spider's web across your screen. Don't panic: a few simple steps are enough to limit the damage and protect your data until the repair.

1. Back up your data right away

This is the priority. A cracked screen can work normally for days… then stop responding overnight. While the touchscreen still works, start a backup:

• iPhone: Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup.
• Android: Settings › Google › Backup (the path varies by brand).

Also check that your photos are synced. If the screen has already stopped responding, don't worry: in the vast majority of cases your data is intact and is still there after the screen is replaced.

2. Protect your fingers and the glass

Glass splinters can cut, and a crack spreads a little more with every press. To hold out until the repair:

• apply a screen protector or, failing that, a piece of clear tape over the cracked areas;
• avoid sliding your finger over the splinters;
• put the phone in a case so another drop doesn't make things worse.

3. Glass or display: work out the damage

A smartphone screen is made of several layers. Depending on the symptoms, the damage isn't the same:

• Only the glass is cracked, the picture is perfect and touch works: the damage is mostly on the surface.
• Black spots, coloured lines, areas that no longer respond: the display panel itself is damaged.
• Black screen but the phone still vibrates or rings: the display is dead, but the phone still works.

On most recent smartphones, the glass and the display are bonded together, so the whole screen assembly is replaced.

4. Keep it away from water and heat

A crack is an open door for moisture and dust. Until the repair, avoid the bathroom, the beach and the rain. Even a phone sold as "water-resistant" no longer is once the glass is cracked.

Mistakes to avoid

• "Screen repair resin" kits: they can hide a light scratch, but they don't fix a real crack.
• Taking it apart yourself without the right tools: you risk damaging the ribbon cables, or even puncturing the battery.
• Waiting too long: cracks spread, splinters can come loose and the touchscreen can start "pressing by itself".

How long does a screen replacement take?

For most models, the screen is replaced on the spot, during the appointment. With ReparAzur, we come to your home or office in Nice and the surrounding area, with the right part for your model: your phone never leaves your hands.