Cracked phone screen? What to do before you get it repaired

A cracked screen is one of the most common repairs we see, and in most cases the phone underneath is perfectly fine. Here is what to do in the first few hours, and how to decide what happens next.

1. Protect your fingers and the glass

Small shards of glass can cut. Put a clear screen protector or a piece of clear packing tape over the crack. It keeps the glass together and stops dust getting in.

2. Back up your phone straight away

A cracked screen can stop responding to touch without warning. While it still works, back up your photos, contacts and chats. On iPhone use iCloud Backup. On Android use Google One backup, and back up WhatsApp from Settings, Chats, Chat backup.

3. Check what still works

• Does touch work across the whole screen?
• Are there lines, black patches or flickering?
• Do Face ID, the front camera and the earpiece still work?
• Does it charge normally?

Write down what you notice. It helps the technician find any damage beyond the glass.

4. Do not leave it too long

Cracks spread, and moisture and dust get in through broken glass. A phone with a cracked screen that gets wet is a much bigger repair than the screen alone.

Repair or replace?

For most phones under four or five years old, a screen repair is far cheaper than a new phone and you keep everything just as it was. If your phone is older, the battery is weak or it no longer gets updates, an upgrade can make more sense. We are happy to talk you through both.

Send us the make and model on WhatsApp, or bring it into our Ennis or Ennistymon store for a free assessment.