How to replace-repair your iPhone or iPod Touch screen
Posted on March 16, 2009 at 5:49 am
If you’re reading this post, you probably have a iPhone or iPod Touch with a cracked or broken screen, right? Don’t worry, I know how you feel! I dropped my PDA once and cracked the screen completely.
Even though the iPhone and iPod Touch screens are very strong, they can still break with one hard fall flat against the glass. After that, the device is pretty much unusable. Here are some tips on how to get your touchscreen replaced/fixed.
Image Source – Wired
By default, your iPhone is covered by Apple for one year, but this only includes manufacturer defects, not accidental damage. If you send it to Apple to have it repaired, this is what you will have to pay:
iPhone 3G, Out-of-Warranty Service
8GB – $199
16GB – $299
Original iPhone – Out-of-Warranty Service
4GB & 8GB – $199
16GB – $249
To me, if you’re going to spend that much money to get the screen repaired, you may as well buy a new one! So here are your other options.
Take it to the Genius Bar
Your one and only shot at getting it repaired for free and not having to do anything yourself is to go to your local Apple store and take it to the Genius Bar where the techs are.
Apparently, a lot of people have gotten their iPhones fixed by simply going up to their local Apple store and making a very emotional case! Looks like Apple really wants their customers to be happy and many of the techs don’t ask how you broke your phone, but will just fix it.
Note that your chances on this happening are fairly slim, though!
Do It Yourself
You can also try to replace the screen yourself by getting the parts, tools, etc from third party vendors. There are several companies that provide iPhone repair services and the charges range from $150 to $250. I will list a couple of the ones I ran across:
1. iPod Fix It – These guys will do a LCD screen replacement for around $125, which is not a bad price. They have a 30 day warranty on all parts and repairs. This is a good deal because you send it to them and let them do the actual hard work.
2. PDAParts – With this company, you can order all the necessary parts and then replace the screen yourself. You can either buy the entire replacement kit, which costs $240 for the iPhone 3G or just buy the replacement LCD or replacement Touch Panel for $50 and $40, respectively.
3. Dr Cell Phone – These guys will replace a cracked screen for $100. If the screen is cracked and the inner LCD is broken also, then it will cost $200. They also have a whole bunch of other services for the iPhone 3G, including repairing the Home button, replacing the microphone, replacing the battery, etc.
If you are really tech savvy and know how to fix things yourself, you can go to YouTube and watch videos of people who have repaired their phones themselves! However, I would only recommend this solution if you REALLY know what you are doing.
iPhone Screen Disassembly and Replacement
iPhone 3G Screen Disassembly and Replacement
Both of these videos are actually from the second company mentioned above, PDAParts.
These are really all of the ways you can go about getting your screen fixed. Unfortunately, there is no easy or cheap way, unless you get super lucky at your local Apple store.
If you live in a big city, it might be worth trying to go to 3 or 4 different Apple stores and crying your eyes out when you get there! Enjoy!
» Filed Under Computer Tips
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Comments
38 Responses to “How to replace-repair your iPhone or iPod Touch screen”
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March 26th, 2010 at 5:21 am
This is actually a great post on what to do with your phone. Since the article discusses a few vendors that do the repair I thought I would throw another company in the mix: Jet City Devices. I actually own that company and we do this replacement of the touch screen glass (jetcitydevices.com/apple-iphone-3g/touchscreen-replacement). It costs $110 and it can be done in person (if you live in Seattle) or through the mail. It takes about a week round trip if you go the mail route. Just thought I’d throw out another option.
What if you have an ipod touch 16G and you broke the screen? how much would you have to pay if its under warranty?
do iPhone screens work for iPod Touch screens??
I called Apple regarding a broken glass. You ship your iTouch to them and they’ll ship you your iTouch back (we have a 16GB, 1st GEN) for $199.00
I recently had a similar situation where I dropped my phone and picked it up only to find that the screen had been cracked! Really frustrating! I was told by apple this repair would be $199. After searching around for a little bit, I found http://www.iphone3gscreenrepair.com on google. They had the same repair available for only $69.99! The better part is that I sent my phone in on monday and had it back by wednesday! I really recommend them.
Buy ipod parts, iPhone parts, iPhone 3G parts and more @wholesaleiparts.com
I’d like to throw another name into the hat. I’ve used RepairsUniverse.com 3 times now. 1st time to repair the iPod Touch, and 2 times for parts. I have 2 sons and they seem to be forever breaking their screens.
They were a one stop shop as they provided the parts, tools and install guide. I’m sure i’ll be using them again as i’m sure the iPods are going to get broken again soon.
I cracked my ipod touch screen, and i am living i kazakhstan, how can i find a new screen in kazakhstan?
I cracked my ipod touch screen ,how could i change it? Is it possible to get it replaced in India?
Check the RepairsUniverse.com website. They have video instructions showing how to replace the iPod Touch Screens. You can view these at the link below.
http://www.repairsuniverse.com/fitting-instructions.html
I’m not sure if they ship to India and Kazakhstan but you could ask them.
Hi Uday, Did you find a solution in India. I live in Ghana and have damaged my iPod glass screen. I am flying to India for 3 weeks and wondered if you found somewhere I can get this problem fixed.
Basically if you break your iPhone screen, you are screwed and you have to buy a new phone. I’ve tried many ways to get it fixed and it’s just plain expensive!
Serena,
Not so on having to buy a new iPhone. There are several posts above you that point out there are a number of places you can get your iPhone fixed (assuming it’s a 3G or 3GS). A quick Google search for “iPhone Screen Repair” will reveal quite a few options for you and most of them under $100.
My iPhone screen broke into tiny pieces…any way to get that repaired?
I live in Nigeria and I have both my iPod (two(2) of them)and iPhone traumatically broken and the ironic part is I live in Nigeria. Please is there any such service center here you can refer? I will really appreciate it if you can.
Thanks.
You don’t have to buy a new iphone if the screen is cracked just use some third party repair company….I used iphone services depot to repair mine.
iphoneservicesdepot.com, they did a great job and very cheap
How easy was it to repair the iPod touch? I’m not really tech savy but are the instructions from Repair Universe clear?
hey, i also used iPhone Services Depot – iphoneservicesdepot.com – to fix my iphone screen, just sent my iphone to them, and they returned it like new in three days. very convenient and cheap. recommend to everybody.
I recommend not attempting to repair you own iPhone (ESPECIALLY the Touch) unless you are an experienced technician. I know many who have tried and failed only to end up breaking their phone WORSE than it already was.
Greetings!
We are supplier from China, we specializes in providing all kinds of iPod and iPhone repair parts,
If you need any of this parts, please feel free to contact us or you can browse oue website ww.mepodphone.net to get more information about our company.
We accept PAYPAL, wire transfer and western union for payment terms.
Thanks/Kelly
hi, i got a ipod touch for christmas and now the screen has gone black i can see it when it is tilted but it has no light on the background an yes the background light it on, can anyone help me on how to fix it with out taking it back…x.
Can you buy a new screen for the iPhone and put in yourself?
Well this was useful info considering the thousands of sites that give you trash info.too bad my Iphone isn’t an actual apple.It’s the chinese version it cost 120 dollars(US) and works as well as an Iphone does other then the LCD cracking from a three foot fall.At least this one can open so I can get the SIM card out..thanks anyways.
Greetings!
We are supplier from China, we specialize in providing all kinds of iPod, iPhone and blackberry repair parts,
If you need any of this parts, please feel free to contact us or you can browse our website mepodphone.net to get more information about our company.
We accept PAYPAL, wire transfer and western union for payment terms.
Thanks/Kelly
I have a friend that works in tech support at the apple store online…apple dot com. When I called him and told him about the cracked screen I was told that legally they have to tell the caller to dispose of the Itouch all together. I have known this man for some time now, he does not lie.
@Brainstrain: I’m not sure that your friend is lying but he’s definitely not right. Straight from the apple website:
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/prices/
As you can see, Apple does not tell people to throw them away. They offer full repair services for the iPod Touch. As for the iPhone, they also offer non-warranty repairs for those:
http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/service/faq/#warranty7
For the record, if you did break your iPod Touch or iPhone, there are other, much less expensive, ways to get your device fixed. A lot of third party people fix cracked screens on those devices for under $100.
what happens if your ipod is still under warranty
?
I am a fix it myself kind of person and thought that iPhone repair cannot be that hard… Not 2 minutes into the repair I accidentally broken my LCD trying to remove it from the frame. I just stopped before I could break something else and called repairmyiphonescreen.com and they resolved the issue right away and even fixed my mistake for way less than Apple wanted.
Hello: I just got my ipod touch 3rd gen last xmas, and now its screen cant see anything, have white lines all over the screen and sometimes it fade it all so i cant see anything. It this replaceable? what is the difference with the LCD screen, digitalizer ?
Am so stressed, I live in Nairobi, Kenya. my iphone broke but I cant get a dealer who can repair it. please assist
Hi Priscilla,
It sounds like you have the same problem I had. I got a new LCD screen from Repairs Universe and it got my iPod working again. The LCD is the part that does the image. The digitizer is the glass touch screen which picks up the “touch” when you move your finger on the screen.
The LCD screen you need is here – http://www.repairsuniverse.com/ipod-touch-lcd-screen-replacement-display-3rd-gen.html
You can find the digitizer and other parts here – http://www.repairsuniverse.com/ipod-parts-ipod-touch-replacement-repair-parts.html
Hope this info help.
Greg
Actually, I shattered my iPhone screen, purchased a replacement on eBay for $25, found a video on YouTube, and replaced it myself in less than 10 minutes (took my time). It was a piece of cake. Also replaced my son’s second gen iPod touch screen and it was almost as easy. Worth it to get the button bezel with it to save even more time.
My iPod touch screen cracked when I dropped it. It looks like, from the prices, that it costs less to buy a new one then to get it fixed. Would it be safe to have a company fix it?
Most screens are now $85 – $96 installed at ipodfixit.com.
i got my ipod touch screen fix and i only paid 45$!
i have the new ipod touch 32GB and the screen cracked. how much money would it cost me to fix the screen?
my iphone is bad……it aint coming up and when connected to a charger it shows just the apple sign for some minutes and goes off…..any where i can fix these?