How to Fix Horizontal Lines on an Android Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are quite a few reports of users spotting horizontal lines appearing on their Android phones out of nowhere. Note that the screen responds to touch, but the horizontal lines look distracting and could be a sign of physical damage. If you are also facing the same issue, we have put together this comprehensive guide to fix horizontal lines on Android phones. So, without any delay, let's jump in.

What Causes Horizontal Lines on an Android Phone?

First, let's learn why horizontal lines appear on Android phones. It could be caused by hardware as well as software problems, though hardware is the most common culprit. These line bands are typically black, green, pink or white in colour, and they cut across the display.

• Physical damage: Due to hard drops and impact, the LCD or OLED panel on phones can get damaged internally. While the glass may look fine from the outside, the display matrix is damaged, and that causes horizontal lines.
• Loose display connector: This is another hardware problem where the cable connecting the display to the motherboard can loosen over time. It results in persistent horizontal lines on the display.
• Faulty display driver: The display driver on Android phones can fail, and sometimes, after a faulty update, horizontal bands appear across the screen. In most cases, these damages are permanent and can't be reversed.
• Pressure on the screen: Sitting on the phone, bending it in a tight pocket, or pressing the screen too hard can damage the display internally, and it may develop horizontal lines on the screen.
• Manufacturing defect: Most of the horizontal line issues that we have seen so far on Android phones are because of faulty display hardware. It doesn't have anything to do with software. It could be an electrical issue inside the screen or simply a panel durability problem.

Diagnose the Problem: Software or Hardware?

Before trying any fix, let's go ahead and check whether the issue is hardware or software. There is a simple trick that works on every Android device. You just need to take a screenshot on the affected Android device. On most Android phones, press the Power + Volume Down buttons to capture the screenshot. This shortcut also works on Samsung phones to take a screenshot.

Thereafter, transfer the screenshot to another device, like your laptop or another phone. Now, view the screenshot and verify if the horizontal lines appear in it. If horizontal lines are visible, it means the issue is software or GPU-related. And if the screenshot looks clean, the problem is with the physical display panel, and you need to get a screen replacement.

This test works because a screenshot captures what the GPU is rendering, not what the display panel is physically showing. If the GPU output is clean but the screen shows lines, it means the panel or its connector is damaged.

How to Fix Horizontal Lines on an Android Phone

Now that you know how to diagnose the issue, let's go through the fixes. Here are the steps to follow.

Restart Your Android Phone

As is the case with most issues, restarting your Android phone can often resolve display glitches caused by software bugs. If the horizontal lines appeared suddenly without any physical impact, you should try rebooting your device to fix the issue.

1. You can press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons to bring up the power menu.
2. If the Power button isn't assigned to Gemini or your phone's digital assistant, you can long-press only the Power button until the power menu appears and then tap on Restart to reboot it.

Let Your Phone Cool Down

In some cases, users have reported that horizontal lines have appeared on Android phones under direct sunlight. So to fix it, let your phone cool down with the screen turned off. If you are gaming, charging, or using your phone under direct sunlight, overheating can temporarily cause horizontal lines on the display.

Image Credit: schankz / Shutterstock

You can also remove the phone case to improve heat dissipation and place the phone on a cool surface. No need to put it in a refrigerator, as the rapid temperature change may make things worse. Allow it 15 to 20 minutes to cool down and then verify if horizontal lines have disappeared or not.

Reset App Preferences

If you think an app is causing horizontal lines on your Android display but can't find which one, you can choose to reset app preferences. This won't delete app data but will reset all default apps, permissions, background data restrictions, notifications, and more. Here is how to do it.

1. Open Settings on your Android phone and select Apps.
2. Tap on the 3-dots icon at the top-right and choose Reset app preferences.
3. Now, tap on Reset to confirm it.

Go ahead and verify if horizontal lines have disappeared on your Android phone.

Check for Software Updates

At times, a buggy system update can cause display-related issues such as horizontal lines on Android phones. Phone manufacturers generally push a patch in a subsequent update to resolve the issue. So, it's a good idea to make sure your phone is running the latest software version.

1. Launch the Settings app on your Android phone and go to System > Software updates.
2. Now, check for the latest update and tap on Install now.
3. Thereafter, restart your phone and check if horizontal lines have been fixed or not.

Get a Screen Replacement

If none of the above methods work, it's likely a hardware issue, and you should get a screen replacement to fix the issue. If your phone is still under the warranty, the replacement may be covered for free. OnePlus is, in fact, offering a lifetime free screen replacement for any OnePlus device affected by the green line issue on the display. And this applies to all OnePlus phones, both past and future models.

Apart from that, Samsung is also offering a one-time free screen replacement for Galaxy phones affected by the green/pink line issue. I would also suggest avoiding third-party repair shops, as they use non-OEM display panels, which are compatible, but they heat up the phone, drain the battery, and have worse colour accuracy, brightness and touch sensitivity.

So, these are the steps you can follow to fix horizontal lines on your Android phone. While most of the cases are linked to hardware issues, I have added some steps in case the display is glitching due to a software problem. You can also diagnose the problem first by taking a screenshot and viewing it on another phone. Lastly, if nothing works, you need to get a screen replacement on your Android phone.