You've cracked your prison cell phone screen. Whether it slipped out of your hand while you were on a telephone call or you left it on top of your car when you collection away, the glass is smashed.

Fortunately, the display still works, and perhaps the touchscreen controls too. So, what do you do now? Here are some things to practise right after swell your phone'southward screen.

1. Does Phone Insurance Cover a Cracked Phone Screen?

The get-go thing to do is cheque if your phone insurance covers croaky phone screens, and nether what conditions.

If and so, arranging a fix should be straightforward. In well-nigh cases, if your phone screen is broken, the main problem is going to be living without it for a few days. That'south equally bad as information technology gets (although you might accept to pay an excess accuse).

The problems with cracked smartphone screens start when information technology transpires you cannot go a replacement screen on the insurance. When this happens, you'll need to take matters into your own hands.

2. Stop Using the Phone With a Cracked Screen, Use an Old Phone Instead

You have a broken phone screen simply notwithstanding need a phone. Then, what can you lot do? Well, a good option is to but use an old phone instead.

Whether you can't brand calls due to the smashed phone screen, or it has been sent away for repairs, yous'll need a replacement. The best place to notice one is unremarkably stashed away in the back of a drawer.

Fifty-fifty if you don't have an erstwhile phone you lot can switch to temporarily, a friend or relative might. Enquire, and you'll have a handy replacement until you've decided what to exercise with your phone and its broken screen.

3. Put a Screen Protector on a Cracked Screen

Cracked phone screen
Epitome from Pixabay

Wondering if you can put a screen protector on a cracked screen? Yous can, simply you should but exercise this in sure circumstances.

For displays where chips and shards of glass are loose or missing, adding a screen protector is pointless. It won't exist able to attach properly equally the glass is in motion. The result: you wasted money on a screen protector.

But where the crevice is minimal, putting a screen protector over a cracked screen might help keep the glass from cracking further. It might prevent further spidering.

4. How to Fix a Cracked Phone Screen

By now, you might have realized (or decided) that you don't actually need a new phone. Simply how would you lot get about replacing the screen if you cracked your mobile telephone display?

Cheers to the internet, the chances are you'll notice a DIY fix for everything online. iFixIt is a great place to first, every bit it provides both instructions on how to ready a broken screen, along with links to the parts. Our own guide to repairing a croaky smartphone screen is also worth reading.

YouTube is another smashing resource for repair tutorials. Replacement screens can be bought online, via sites like eBay and AliExpress. Benefits of a DIY fix include the keeping down the toll of repair, too as a feeling of accomplishment.

It's worth keeping in listen that without the right training and skills, yous might mess it upwardly.

5. Pay for a Cleaved Cell Phone Screen Repair

Uncertainty over DIY ("can I actually put a screen protector on a cracked screen?") might lead you to an alternative solution: paying someone else to do information technology.

But how much is information technology to replace a telephone screen?

While you lot could ship your phone to the official manufacturer, you're going to pay through the nose for that choice. Look at Apple tree's repair fees – it's not inexpensive to get a repair if the croaky screen is out-of-warranty.

There's probably a local phone repair shop that you tin can endeavour, and a Google search will show yous where to find one, as well as customer reviews. Although you lot'll probably be paying by the hour, a skilled technician can replace a screen pretty apace.

Check the prices and compare the repair shop'southward competitors before you effort them out. Our guide to places that gear up cleaved iPhone screens can help here.

vi. Sell Your Phone to Fund a Replacement

Broken iPhone screen
Epitome from Pixabay

Thinking about raising funds for a replacement? Several sites will purchase your croaky phone, and even pay for a broken i. These sites include:

  • SellCell
  • Gazelle
  • Gizmogul

You can even sell your broken stuff on eBay? You lot probably won't get a lot of money for it, but what you do make you can put towards a new phone.

Many sites volition as well requite you lot credit for buying a used phone when you trade yours in. Yous'll probably get a better bargain if yous take credit instead of greenbacks, so keep that in mind.

With cash raised, check the web'southward well-nigh popular online stores for a replacement, such as eBay and Amazon. You may even find the same phone in used, but otherwise good condition. Just pay attention to the detail description. You don't want to finish up ownership a damaged phone!

What should you check? Well, the details should tell you:

  • If the telephone is working
  • Does it have a functioning screen?
  • If it has whatsoever scratches

At the right price, ownership a like-for-similar, 2nd-hand replacement tin can be a better option than buying a new phone.

7. Phone Screen Broken? Just Buy a New Device!

And, of grade, the most obvious choice: buying a new phone. Sometimes you just need to acknowledge defeat and replace your damaged device.

Sure, it might exist painful to spend that much money. But it might exist cheaper than buying a replacement and upgrading a few months later anyway. Instead of upgrading soon, it might be best to just do information technology now.

If you practise make up one's mind to buy a new phone, don't automatically buy 1 from your carrier. Buy an unlocked version instead; information technology'll save yous a lot of money, even though it seems more expensive.

If you're looking for a new phone, accept a look at our all-time budget smartphones list.

8. Simply Put Upwardly With Your Cleaved Phone Screen

Short of coin? Not great on DIY solutions or paying for repairs?

If your phone is still working, and the screen doesn't announced to be in danger of completely falling autonomously, why not just proceed using it? Sure, it'll be abrasive to await at for a chip, but you'll become used to it.

Saving the money it would price for a new phone is always nice. If you're on a contract that'due south shortly expiring, this is your best option. You tin always put a piece of sticky tape across the cleft in the screen. Keep your phone otherwise protected with a protective example, and it should see you through to the next upgrade.

Don't Let a Broken Phone Screen Ruin Your Day

While broken smartphone displays are frustrating, ugly, and kill your phone's resell value, don't let it cast a shadow. A broken smartphone screen is but a challenge to be overcome.

Now you know what to practice with a cracked telephone screen:

  1. Claim on your telephone insurance
  2. Find or borrow an old phone
  3. Y'all can put a screen protector on a cracked screen
  4. Repair the cracked screen yourself
  5. Pay for the screen to exist repaired
  6. Trade in or sell the phone and purchase a replacement
  7. Contact your carrier for an upgrade
  8. Deport on using your phone

Somewhen your phone is going to be replaced, and so if the other options don't work out, accept a fall-back programme. Yous might contact the carrier for an upgrade, or only carry on using the phone with the damaged screen.

When the time comes to move on from the telephone, don't just throw it in a drawer.

ten Creative Means to Utilize Your Old Smartphone

Read Side by side

About The Author

Christian Cawley (1576 Articles Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with all-encompassing feel in desktop and software support. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

More From Christian Cawley