How to fix a cracked phone screen: to DIY or not to DIY?​

There's nothing that can ruin your day quite like cracking your smartphone screen. Whether it was a fall, a throw, or just cosmic misfortune, you're going to want it fixed fast. But you have a decision to make: Should you do it yourself or turn to a repair professional?

Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about fixing a cracked phone screen so that you can make an informed decision.

Why do phone screens break so easily?

Ever wonder why your phone screen seems to have the survival skills of a water balloon at a dart party? It’s because most smartphone screens are made from glass, and despite technological advances like Gorilla Glass, they still have a breaking point. We carry our phones everywhere, from the depths of a handbag to the precarious edges of a coffee table, often with only a thin case for protection. All it takes is one unfortunate drop, and bam—your digital window to the world becomes a spiderweb of despair.

Ways to fix a cracked phone screen

If you're dealing with a broken screen, there are a handful of options for fixing it:

• Use a manufacturer or extended warranty to get the device screen replaced
• Ask your mobile carrier to repair it
• Bring it to the nearest phone repair shop
• Trade-in your phone (if due for an upgrade)
• Repair it yourself

Can you fix a cracked phone screen at home?

Believe it or not, everything you need to replace your cracked phone screen is available online, but it's not as easy as it sounds. Before you head to eBay® for a replacement screen, ask yourself these questions to make sure you're ready to take on this challenge:

• Do you have any electronics repair experience? If your only electronics repair experience is changing the batteries on the remote, then you probably aren't qualified to take a screwdriver to a smartphone. Smartphones are complicated machines, and one teeny-tiny misplaced screw or damaged flex wire could cause the device to no longer work. If you do have some electronics repair experience, a phone screen replacement is among the simpler smartphone repairs to complete.
• Do you have a safe workspace available? Professional repair experts have workspaces set up with everything they need to complete broken screen repairs safely. This usually includes helpful items like a magnetic work mat, suction cups, and an antistatic wrist strap that keeps repair experts grounded so they don't accidentally zap the electronics they're working on with electrostatic discharge, or ESD. Without these workspace essentials, it's difficult to complete a safe cracked iPhone screen repair or Samsung cracked screen repair that will hold up over time.
• Are you worried about voiding your warranty? Before starting a DIY cracked screen repair, it's important to check the device's warranty. If it's a relatively new device, it may still be under warranty, and you might be eligible for a free or low-cost repair or replacement. Once a device is worked on by anyone other than a certified repair provider, the warranty on that device is void and the manufacturer will not be able to help if there are any other problems with it.
• Do you want to risk the device's water resistance? Certified repair providers are given specialized tools and equipment so that their repairs meet the high standards of big manufacturers like Apple®, Google®, and Samsung®. One of those tools is a special sealer that allows a device to retain its water-resistance after a repair. Without this machine, a device will no longer be resistant to water damage and the chances of inflicting further damage are much higher.

Cracked screen? Don’t panic

We can provide cracked screen repairs for as low as $79. Visit a store or schedule an appointment to get started.

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Cracked phone screen DIY repair myths to avoid

The internet is a strange place, and you shouldn't trust everything you read when searching for how to fix a cracked phone screen. This especially applies to DIY fixes related to electronics. We've seen some funny ones, but these are mostly tips that will do more damage to your device than help. Here are some of our favorites and why they're false.

Can you fix a cracked phone screen with toothpaste?

While cracks in a screen could be equated to cavities, toothpaste will do nothing but create a giant minty mess on your screen. Some types of toothpaste are grainy and could be considered mildly abrasive. The thought is that rubbing this abrasive into the screen will buff the cracks out, but the screen is too thick, the cracks are too deep, and most kinds of toothpaste aren't abrasive enough for this hack to work.

Can you fix a cracked phone screen with an eraser?

The thought behind using an eraser is similar to the toothpaste hack. The thought is that the eraser can buff out the cracks. While it's true that an eraser will have more buffing power than toothpaste, the screens on electronics are just too thick and most cracks and scratches are too deep for this to have any effect.

Can you fix a cracked phone screen with clear nail polish?

Nail polish is great for fixing runs in pantyhose, but it won't do the same for your phone screen. Please avoid using it or any other beauty products on your broken phone screen.

Will liquid glass fix a cracked screen?

No. While using a liquid glass screen protector could potentially help to prevent screen breaks, it will not help much if the screen is already cracked. It could make a tiny, hairline crack less visible, but it will not fix it and will likely just make matters worse. If the liquid glass were to seep into the already present screen crack or the surrounding housing and touch any of the internal components, your phone could stop working altogether.

Does baking soda fix a cracked screen?

No. It may help to make your phone clean look really clean, but that's about it. You should always avoid using abrasives and liquid on your device—if any were to get into the speakers or the ports of the device, you'd have a much bigger problem on your hands.

How much does it cost to fix a broken phone screen?

Repair cost is always an important factor when deciding whether to do something yourself or go to a professional. When it comes to repairing phone screens, there are two main components that can affect the price:

Phone age and brand

The age and brand of the broken device have the most impact on what the price will be. Parts for older devices will be cheaper than newer devices, but the parts for older phone models might be more difficult to find. Professional repair shops often have deals with companies like Samsung and Google to receive parts directly from their manufacturer, a perk not available to a person buying a part online.

Extent of damage

A device with extensive damage is more likely to have collateral damage to other parts that may need to also be repaired. The more that needs to be replaced, the more expensive a repair would be.

The only way to know for certain the cost of fixing your broken phone is to price out the parts, or to bring your device to a repair expert for a diagnostic test.

Want help with your cracked screen repair?

Now you have the information you need about repairing your broken phone screen. If you decide that a DIY replacement is not the route you want to take, we're here to help. Stop by the nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for fast, affordable cracked screen repair.

Ways to protect your phone screen

Whether you decide on a DIY fix for your cracked phone screen or to bring it to a repair professional, be sure to take steps to prevent another mishap in the future. Here are some great ways to prevent a cracked screen from ruining your plans.

• Get a protective phone case. A case that protects every edge of a device and has a lip over the screen is the best tool in protecting your device from damage. They're so widely available and can be customized in any way imaginable. This one feels like a no-brainer!
• Use a screen protector. A protective accessory for your smartphone that might not be so obvious is a screen protector. The best and most resilient are made of tempered glass, but other more affordable materials will also provide protection against scratches and cracks.
• Protect your device with phone insurance. Drops, spills, and breaks happen to all of us. Phone insurance from Asurion provides coverage not only for a cracked screen but also other common mishaps like water damage, loss, and theft. Learn more about Asurion phone insurance plans today.