Screen is black but the phone is still on
It rings, it vibrates, it makes noises. The screen shows nothing. That narrows it down considerably.
Also searched as phone screen went black, phone screen not working.
Mon to Sat 10 to 6
What causes it
- The display panel has failed while the rest of the device carries on
- A display connector shaken loose by a drop, which looks identical from outside
- Backlight failure, where the image is there but unlit
- A board fault, which is the least common of the four
What to do right now
- Hold the phone under a bright light at an angle and look for a faint image
- Try a force restart before anything else, because a hung device looks like a dead screen
- If you can see a faint image, say so when you bring it in, it points at the backlight
- Do not keep pressing the power button repeatedly
What you are seeing.
The same complaint covers several different faults. Find the line that matches and you have already narrowed it down.
- It rings and vibrates but shows nothingThe phone is running and you cannot see it. That is a far better outcome than a dead phone and usually a cheaper one.
- It connects to CarPlay or Android AutoSame thing: the phone is alive. Anything that proves the device is running narrows this to the display side.
- You can hear notificationsThe system is up. Whatever has failed is between the board and your eyes.
- There is a very faint image in a dark roomThe panel is working and the backlight is not. On an OLED that points at the panel; on an LCD it can be the backlight circuit.
- It flashes on briefly then goes blackA loose or damaged display connector, often after a drop.
- Nothing at all, and it does not ring eitherDifferent problem. That is a dead device and it starts as a diagnostic, not a screen.
Work out which one it is.
The single most useful thing you can establish is whether the phone is still running, because it separates a display repair from a board repair.
If none of these is clearly yours, that is what the free diagnostic is for. It costs nothing and it is the step that stops people paying for the wrong repair.
What we check at the bench.
- Whether the device outputs an image at all, which separates panel from board
- The display connectors, because a reseat sometimes fixes it outright
- Backlight voltage on the board
- Touch response, which often still works and confirms the digitiser is alive
What it costs.
If the phone is running, this is a screen repair and the price for your model is on its repair page. If it is not running, the diagnostic is free and the price comes after it.
Whatever it turns out to be, you get the price before anything is opened, and there is no fee if we cannot fix it. Every completed repair carries a 360-day warranty on the part we fitted and the work we did.
On your device.
What is different about this fault on each one.
Samsung
iPad
Google PixelCommon questions.
No, and that is the point of checking whether it still rings. A phone that is alive but dark is a display problem. A phone that is dead is something else, and the two prices are not close.
Often, yes. Say that is the priority before we start, because recovering data and repairing a phone are sometimes done in a different order.
Because the screen is an output. Everything else in the phone carries on working; you simply cannot see it.
15 to 45 minutes for most phones, done while you wait.
The display panel has failed while the rest of the device carries on. A display connector shaken loose by a drop, which looks identical from outside
Screen Repair starts from €50 depending on the model. No fix, no fee, so if we cannot repair it you pay nothing.
We use genuine Apple and Samsung service parts where they are available, and premium aftermarket panels where they are not. We tell you which one is going in your device before we start, and the price reflects it.
Usually not. On almost every modern phone the glass, the touch layer and the display are bonded into one assembly, so the whole part is replaced even when only the glass is broken. Separating them is possible on some models but costs more in labour than the assembly saves.
Yes. We test touch across the whole panel, plus brightness, the sensors and the front camera cutout, before the device goes back to you. If anything reads differently we refit it rather than hand it over.
It is worth it. A tempered glass protector takes the first impact and costs a fraction of a second screen repair. We fit one while you wait if you want it.
On almost every modern phone, no. The glass, the touch layer and the display are bonded into one assembly at the factory, so the whole assembly is what gets replaced. Anyone offering to change only the glass is either separating and rebonding it, which fails, or talking about a different device.
It is not urgent, but a crack lets dust and moisture into the panel and it spreads. The repair does not get harder, it just becomes a repair you did not choose the timing of. Touch failing suddenly is the usual way people find out.
Customer reviews
Got a Premium Screen Repair for an unbelievable cheap price. Made a booking and was very impressed with their customer service help and knowledge. Fitted in another part as well which badly needed fixing. The whole fixing process was 30 minutes!! I was very impressed with my overall experience!!! Thank you
I have fixed my iPhone SE screen camera and battery at Imend Drumcondra branch This was my second visit at imend. Reliable fast mobile repair service! Can't recommend enough
Thank you for the service, and discount for my and my daughter's screen and the ear phones
The screen stopped working on my iPhone 13 mini - it had recently been repaired elsewhere. I got a warm welcome in the shop, and a phone to borrow while mine was in for diagnostics and repair. An issue with the battery was also detected and I am very happy with the new screen and battery and appreciated the excellent service and communication.
Amazing place and very professional staff. Brought iPad for repair. They diagnosed the issue, replaced battery and gave new leads for charging. Also repaired an iPhone with motherboard issues and screen cover. I can't recommend them enough. Best repair and sales for all makes of mobile phones and devices. We are very lucky to have these in our doorstep in Drumcondra.
Excellent staff members at imend mobile phone repair shop did well on my iPhone screen protector with privacy film I'm definitely going to recommend i have been here before fast repair centre imend drumcondra Dublin
Screen is black but the phone is still on? Bring it in.
Free diagnostic, a firm price before any work, and a 360-day warranty on every completed repair.
Book a repair 24/7 · No fix, no fee · 360-day warranty · Free diagnostic