Lines on phone screen
Vertical or horizontal lines on a phone screen are almost always the panel or its connector, not software.
Test it now
Run every colour. Panel lines stay identical on all of them. Lines that change when you gently press the frame beside them are the connector or flex cable. A screenshot never shows a hardware line — take one: if the line is in the screenshot, it is software.
What it is
Vertical or horizontal lines on a phone screen are almost always the panel or its connector, not software. A single thin coloured line (green, pink, white) the full height of the screen on an OLED phone is a failed connection between the panel and its driver — it can appear after a drop, after the phone gets hot, or on its own; Samsung and OnePlus have run free-repair campaigns for it on some models. Multiple lines, or lines with a black patch, are a cracked panel. Lines that flicker or change when you press near the edge are the display flex cable.
Can it be fixed?
Panel line: no — display replacement. Flex cable: a small repair. Software (line appears in a screenshot): yes, an update or a reset.
What to do
- Take a screenshot; if the line is in it, it is software — update or reset.
- Run the colour test and the gentle-press test.
- Check your model for a free green-line repair campaign before paying.
- Display replacement quote from the brand and from an independent shop.
What a repair costs
| United States | $80–200 for a display on most Android phones; $200–380 at Apple for an iPhone screen out of warranty ($29–99 with AppleCare+) |
|---|---|
| India | ₹2,000–6,000 for a display on budget and mid-range Android phones at an independent shop, ₹6,000–20,000 for flagship OLED screens at the brand service centre; iPhone screens ₹12,000–35,000 at Apple-authorised service |
Typical ranges from repair-shop and manufacturer price lists, 2026-09-06. Get two quotes; prices vary by model and city.
Warranty
Most makers replace a panel under warranty for physical panel faults that are not accidental damage; pressure marks, cracks and liquid damage are treated as accidental and are not covered. For dead pixels, each brand has a threshold (typically 3–5 bright or 5–8 dark pixels on a laptop; Dell's premium-panel guarantee replaces at one bright pixel).