A cracked iPhone screen is the single most common repair people call about. The good news: if the glass is cracked but the display still shows a clear picture and touch still works everywhere, you have time and options. The bad news: cracks let in dust and moisture and can spread, and a hairline in the wrong spot can kill the touch layer. Here's how to decide between a DIY kit, a local pro, or trading it in.
How to handle it, step by step
- Check what's actually broken: is it just the top glass, or is the display also bleeding color, flickering, or dead to touch in spots? Glass-only is cheaper; a dead LCD/OLED costs more.
- Back up to iCloud or a computer before doing anything — a screen can fail completely mid-repair.
- If you DIY: buy a screen assembly that matches your exact model, plus a precision toolkit and a heat source to soften the adhesive. Work slowly; the display cables tear easily.
- Disconnect the battery first, then the display flex cables in order. Mis-ordering or yanking a cable is how a fixable phone becomes a dead one.
- Transfer any brackets and the original sensors/Face ID flex to the new screen — Face ID and True Tone can stop working if you skip this.
- If any of that sounds like a bad afternoon, a local pro does it in under an hour with the right tools and a warranty.
Fixing it yourself? Get the right parts
The repair-specific kits and tools that make this job go smoothly:
- Step-by-step iPhone repair guides & kitsiFixit
- iPhone screen replacement kit (with tools)Amazon
- Precision phone repair toolkitAmazon
- Tempered-glass screen protectorAmazon
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Call NowCommon questions
Is it worth fixing a cracked iPhone screen?
Usually yes if the phone is otherwise healthy and a model from the last few years — a screen is cheap relative to a new phone. For very old models, or if the phone also has battery/water issues, selling it as-is and upgrading often makes more sense.
Will a cracked iPhone screen get worse?
Often, yes. Cracks spread with temperature changes and pressure, and they let in dust and moisture that can reach the display and digitizer. A protector over the crack slows it down but isn't a fix.
Does a cracked screen ruin Face ID?
Cracked glass alone usually doesn't, but a careless repair can — the Face ID dot-projector flex must be preserved and transferred. That's the #1 reason a DIY screen swap breaks Face ID.