Everything You Need to Know About Screen Repair: From Crack to Image
Whether it's a spiderweb crack in the corner or a completely black screen; screen damage is by far the most common complaint with modern electronics. But not every crack is the same and repair options vary greatly. In this article, we dive into the details.
Which products does this apply to?
Before we begin, it's good to frame what we are talking about. Screen repairs are relevant for any device that visibly displays information via an integrated display.
Applicable: Smartphones, tablets (iPad, Galaxy Tab), laptops (MacBook, Windows laptops), smartwatches (Apple Watch, Garmin), handheld game consoles (Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck), GPS systems, and camera displays.
Not applicable: Desktop computers (the "tower" itself has no screen), peripherals without display (mice, keyboards), and audio equipment like speakers (unless they have a smart display).
What is the definition of a screen repair?
A screen repair is the replacement or restoration of the visual interface of your device. It is important to make a crucial distinction here that consumers often confuse: Glass-only repair vs. Full display module replacement.
A modern screen consists of layers: the glass (outside), the digitizer (touch sensitivity), and the LCD/OLED panel (the image).
Glass-only repair: Here, only the top cracked glass layer is replaced. This is cheaper in parts, but technically very complex because the glass is often glued to the expensive display screen.
Full module replacement: Here, the repairer replaces the entire unit (glass + touch layer + display screen). This is the standard in 90% of quality repairs because the result is more reliable and faster to execute.
What could be the reasons a screen repair is needed?
The causes are often physical, but sometimes also internal:
Drop or impact damage: The classic. The device falls on the ground or bumps into something.
Pressure damage: Sitting with a phone in the back pocket, or a heavy object in a backpack pushing against a laptop.
Swollen battery: Sometimes an expanding battery pushes the screen up from the inside, causing it to crack or come loose.
Wear: "Burn-in" (burned-in pixels) on older OLED screens.
In which case can a screen repair help?
A repair is the solution if:
The glass is cracked (cosmetic or sharp to the fingers).
The touchscreen no longer reacts to touch or taps things by itself ("Ghost touch").
There are spots (ink spots), lines, or dead pixels in the image.
The screen stays completely black, but the device still vibrates or makes sound (indicating a working motherboard).
When is a screen repair unnecessary?
Sometimes the screen seems broken, but the problem lies deeper. If your device does nothing at all (no sound, no vibration, no LED light), it is often a defective motherboard or battery problem. A new screen won't solve this. Also with severe water damage, just replacing a screen is often mopping up with the tap open, because corrosion will attack other parts later.
Do you need a screen repair yourself?
Does your device have a cracked screen or lines in the image, but you don't know where to start?
Check and compare our independent repairers in our marketplace. They can advise you whether a glass replacement is possible, or if a new module is the safest option.