Fix a screen that isn't working right on Android

Try the solutions below if your phone screen:

  • Doesn't respond
  • Flickers
  • Jumps
  • Flashes
  • Shows dead pixels
  • Stays blank

Step 1: Check your phone's screen

Important:After you try each recommended solution, check to find whether it fixed your issue.

  1. Make sure that your screen isn't cracked, chipped, or damaged.
  2. If you have a case or screen protector, take it off.
  3. If you're wearing gloves, take them off.
  4. If you've put any stickers over the screen or sensors, peel them off.
  5. Make sure that your screen is clean.

Step 2: Try these troubleshooting steps

Restart your phone

  1. On most phones, press your phone's power button for about 30 seconds, or until your phone restarts.
  2. On the screen, you might need to tap Restart.

Tip:After you restart, if your touchscreen is still completely unresponsive, learn how to reset your phone to factory settings (below).

Find out whether an app causes your problem

Important: To learn how to turn safe mode on and off, go to your device manufacturer's support site.

  1. Turn on safe mode.
  2. Touch the screen.
    • If the screen works in safe mode, an app is most likely causing your issue.
  3. Turn off safe mode.
  4. To find the app that causes issues, uninstall recently downloaded apps one by one. After you remove the app that causes the problem, you can reinstall the other apps you removed.

Test the affected part of your screen

  1. Touch the top left corner of the screen.
  2. Slowly drag your finger to the bottom right corner without lifting. Try to move your finger slowly enough that you can count to 10 before reaching the opposite corner of the screen.Drag your finger across the screen image
    • If you can drag your Quick Settings bar and notifications all the way to the bottom of the screen
      The problem isn't caused by a specific area on your screen. Learn how to reset your phone to factory settings (below).
    • If your Quick Settings bar and notifications release while you're still dragging your finger across the screen
      Repeat the test. If they release again, note whether it happened in the same place on the screen. Then contact your device manufacturer.

Turn off developer options

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap SystemAnd thenDeveloper options. You'll see this only if you have developer options turned on.
  3. Turn off Developer options.

Step 3: Use advanced troubleshooting

Related resources

  • Prevent a cracked screen
  • Fix a phone that freezes or is unresponsive

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