Find out what steps to take if your iPhone or iPad screen isn’t working properly and flickers or flickers frequently or randomly, disrupting your workflow.
iPhone screen flickering can be due to software problems (which are easily solved) or hardware problems (which require taking your iPhone to a service center).
If the problem is due to software, the solutions below will help you fix it. If it’s not, repairing the faulty screen or part (or repairing it yourself) is your only option.
Are you confusing screen flash with blinking?
First, if you see the screen flashing on calls and alerts, that’s not a problem but a little-known feature that you or someone using your phone might have turned on by mistake. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio and visual > Flash Notifications and turn it off.
If the screen flickers only in a certain application
If you experience screen flickering in only one app, here are the steps you can take:
Restart or force restart your iPhone
Regardless of the issue, if you can interact with the screen, turn off your iPhone and turn it on again. If touching the screen does nothing, force restart your iPhone using the physical buttons.
Let it cool if it is too hot
If you’re out on a sunny day or in a car with the AC turned off, and your iPhone starts to overheat, you’ll notice a drop in screen refresh rate and brightness, system slowness, and sometimes the display malfunctions, even if it’s for a while. Just keep your iPhone in a cool place or turn it off for 5 minutes. This basic step should solve your screen flickering problems.
Try turning off Always On, Auto Brightness, and Reduce Brightness
Some user reports online suggest that turning off these features can help fix the screen flickering problem. Try them:
- Turn off AOD: Settings > Display & Light > Always On Display.
- Turn off Auto Brightness and Reduce Brightness: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
Update to the latest version of iOS
If your iPhone is running an older version of iOS, or if turning off one of the above features helps solve your problem, then chances are software bugs are the cause. Go to Settings > General > Software Updates to install the latest version of iOS available on your phone. You can also use your Mac or PC to update your iOS device.
Erase your iPhone and set it up again
In case the above software fixes failed to bring any luck, factory reset of your iPhone may help. But before you do that, understand that you may have difficulty setting up your rooted iPhone if the screen problem is worse than blinking.
Additionally, even when the iPhone screen is flickering or cracked, there are ways to use it, such as iPhone Mirroring or connecting to a monitor. But you may not be able to do this if the phone data is cleared and you fail to set it up by touching the screen.
Therefore, I advise you to backup all your iPhone data (and get a backup iPhone if possible), then you can continue the factory reset process from Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. You can also use recovery mode to wipe the device using a Mac or Windows PC.
Get the device tested at an Apple store
Finally, if nothing helps, it is certain that the problem is hardware related. Perhaps the screen cable that connects to the iPhone’s main board is loose, or there is a hardware problem (resulting in green, white, or vertical lines on the iPhone screen).
Take your faulty iPhone to an Apple Store or authorized service center for inspection. You may be able to get a free repair if there are no visible cracks in the screen and your iPhone is under warranty.
Or, check out Apple’s self-service program if you have basic technical knowledge of smartphone repair.
Were you able to fix the problem?