fix green or white iPhone screen issue
Is the screen on your iPhone completely green or white, or does it occasionally flicker and show lines that are either green, pink, or purple? We will examine the reasons behind it as well as potential fixes in this troubleshooting guide.
The problem
- The entire iPhone screen, from top to bottom, is solid green or entirely white. Some people call it the green screen of death.
- You see horizontal or vertical lines of one or different colors on the screen.
- The iPhone screen flickers, then goes all black, and then automatically returns to normal for a while until the entire thing repeats.
The devices most affected by this
After reading through numerous posts on Reddit, X (Twitter), Apple Community, and other places, it appears that the issue is specific to iPhones with OLED displays (iPhone X and after, excluding XR and 11). The majority of the incidents appear to be with the 13 and 14 series, specifically the 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max.
Samsung, OnePlus, and other Android phone manufacturers have also experienced it.
Why does it happen?
- Through Software Update: Based on user posts, it appears that the green or white screen and lines issue usually happens after installing an OTA (over-the-air) software update on the iPhone.
- Through beta updates: Such issues can also happen if you install iOS developer or public betas.
- Through extreme heat: If your iPhone was constantly subjected to significant heat, it could lead to internal component issues, including those that affect the display.
- Physical drop: You dropped your iPhone on a hard surface, which unseated the display connector or caused physical damage to the screen.
- Through voltage changes: A couple of people have also claimed that because of issues in the new iOS update, there was a change or fault in the voltage supplied to the display, which led to its failure.
- Through manufacturing defects: If your iPhone is new or a few days old, you can easily get a replacement or free repair.
- Regular glitches: While system glitches rarely cause problems of such severity, we cannot rule out the possibility of them happening to a small set of users.
How to fix this issue
The best course of action is to get it inspected at an Apple Store, although you can attempt some DIY solutions first. These techniques can deal with software problems if that’s what created the issue.
Force restart your iPhone
Since the screen is not working, you cannot perform a simple restart. So, you will have to do a force restart of your iPhone, which does not involve interacting with the screen.
Connect it to a charger or a computer
If force restarting does not help, connect the phone to a charger or a Mac or PC and leave it unattended for 30 minutes or more.
Restore it using recovery mode
If none of the aforementioned methods work, you can upgrade the software on your iPhone by entering recovery mode. Using this method for updating will preserve all of your data.
You can restore your iPhone and reinstall iOS if updating in recovery mode is still ineffective. This will remove all of the data on the device. If the problem was brought on by faults or bugs in the software, doing this will resolve it.
Take it to an Apple Store
Finally, try chatting with Apple Support or taking your iPhone to an Apple Store if none of the above solutions work.
Although Apple has not publicly addressed this issue, there are many who assert that staff members at Apple Stores have received internal instructions to be forgiving when an out-of-warranty iPhone with a white or green screen and lines is brought to them.
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Tips for the future
Here are some tips to ensure this problem does not happen to you:
Protect it from heat: Don’t let your iPhone get extremely hot. Use fast chargers and wireless chargers, and perform iOS updates in a cool room.
Let the update run its course: Before updating your iPhone, plug it into charging and make sure to leave the device unattended until the process is complete. Do not unplug or plug it into charging during iOS installation. Secondly, do not press its buttons or interact with the display when an update is going on.
Get it updated at an Apple Store: If you are hesitant to perform an OTA update from your end, it’s best to take it to an official Apple Store and ask them to update your iPhone. When they do it, and the green screen situation happens, the onus is on them to fix it.
Other things to check:
- Do not use a phone case that grips the screen and continuously exerts a force on the display sides.
- Make sure not to drop your iPhone on a hard surface.
- Remember to protect it from water damage.
- Do not tap or press the screen with abnormally great force.
FAQS
Can this iPhone be fixed if it’s out of warranty?
As previously stated, Apple has declined to acknowledge that iPhone users are impacted by this issue. There is no reference to this specific issue on the Apple Service Programs page.
It’s highly likely that you will get a free repair or, if it was bought recently, a new device if your iPhone is still under warranty or has AppleCare+.
If your iPhone is no longer under warranty, though, things might not go as smoothly. To begin with, replacing the screen could cost you an absurd amount at the Apple Store.
Even if your iPhone is out of warranty, there’s a good possibility that the employees at your neighborhood Apple Store are aware of this issue and could be able to fix it for free.
Second, I suggest attempting another Apple Store if your request is denied by one Apple Store or a third-party Apple-authorized store. Much depends on the staff member who is addressing your request; some may be more forthcoming than others.