Cracked Your Phone Screen? What to Do Right Now
That sinking feeling when your phone hits the floor face-down is familiar to most of us. Before you panic or start searching for a new phone, take a few minutes to do the right things. Some steps protect you, some protect your data, and some save you money.
Step 1: Check for injury risk
Cracked glass can have sharp edges and tiny loose splinters. Run your finger gently around the edges, not across the crack. If glass is flaking or the crack is near where your cheek touches during calls, use earphones or speakerphone until it is fixed.
A clear tape or a cheap screen protector over the crack can hold loose pieces in place for a few days. Do not use this as a long-term fix.
Step 2: Work out how bad it is
Not every crack is the same. Look at the screen carefully:
- Cracked glass, display and touch working normally: the least urgent case. You can plan the repair, but cracks tend to spread, and dust or moisture can get in.
- Lines, coloured patches or black spots: the display panel itself is damaged. On OLED and AMOLED phones, black ink-like spots often spread over hours or days.
- Touch not working in some areas, or "ghost touches": the touch layer is damaged. The phone may open apps or type on its own.
- Black screen but the phone rings or vibrates: usually the display, not the whole phone.
Step 3: Back up your data now
If the phone still works, back it up today. A screen that works now can fail completely tomorrow.
- iPhone: iCloud backup or a computer.
- Android: Google backup, plus your phone brand's own backup if available.
- WhatsApp: run a chat backup from WhatsApp settings.
Also make sure you know your passcode and Google or Apple account password. You will need them after any repair. Please note that Refits does not offer data recovery, so a backup is your safety net.
Step 4: Things to avoid
- Do not press hard on the crack to "test" it. This spreads the damage.
- Do not use it in rain or a steamy bathroom. A cracked phone has lost its seal against water.
- Do not use glue or DIY kits unless you know exactly what you are doing. Glue under the glass can make a proper repair harder.
- Do not ignore a lifted screen. If the screen is pushed up from underneath, the cause may be a swollen battery. Stop charging and read signs your battery needs replacing.
Step 5: Check whether you are covered
Before paying for any repair, check:
- Manufacturer warranty or extended plan: standard warranties usually do not cover accidental damage, but some extended plans do. If you have one, a brand service centre may be the right first stop.
- Phone insurance: some plans bought with the phone or via a bank card include screen damage. Check the claim process.
We compare the options honestly in doorstep repair vs service centre.
Step 6: Decide on repair or replace
For most phones, replacing the screen costs far less than a new phone. It may be worth upgrading instead if the phone is very old, the battery is also weak, and the phone no longer gets software updates. For a sense of what affects price, read what decides screen replacement cost.
Step 7: Get it repaired
If you go with Refits, a trained, background-checked technician comes to your home or office in Hyderabad or Secunderabad. They inspect the phone in front of you, explain whether it needs only a screen or something more, and quote a price for A-grade or standard parts. Once you approve, the screen is replaced on the spot while you watch. Most screen replacements take about 30 minutes after the quote is approved. You test the phone before paying, and the repair has a 90-day warranty on the same issue.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep using a phone with a cracked screen?
If touch and display work and there is no loose glass, you can use it for a short while. Get it fixed before the crack spreads or water gets in.
Will a screen protector stop the crack spreading?
It can hold loose glass in place, but it will not stop the crack growing under pressure or from another drop.
Can only the glass be replaced?
On most modern phones, the glass and display are bonded together, so the whole display assembly is replaced.
My phone also got wet. Can you fix it?
No. Refits does not offer water or liquid damage repair.
Do I need to hand over my phone?
No. The repair happens in front of you at your location.
Refits is an independent repair service and is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Apple, Samsung or any other device manufacturer. Repair by an independent service may affect any remaining manufacturer warranty, so check before booking if your phone is still under warranty.
Book a screen repair
Learn more on our screen replacement page.
Book online at refits.in/book and choose your exact model, or WhatsApp or call 086882 46747. Technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across Hyderabad and Secunderabad.