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 on how to fix horizontal lines on an Android phone. So, without any delay, let's jump in.
Quick Answer: Horizontal lines on an Android phone are generally caused by display damage, loose display connectors, overheating or software bugs. First, take a screenshot to determine whether the issue is with the display or software. If the screenshot is clean, the display is damaged and may require replacement.
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. Whether you are seeing black horizontal lines on the phone screen or horizontal white lines, Android devices generally develop these bands in green and pink colours too 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. Note that OLED horizontal lines caused by panel damage are almost always permanent.Android screen has 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.
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Diagnose the Problem: Software or Hardware?
Before trying any fix, let's go ahead and check whether the display line issue on your Android phone is hardware or software. There are three simple tests that work on every Android device.
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Take a Screenshot
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.
After that, 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.
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Check During the Boot Logo
Another useful trick is to restart your phone and watch the boot logo. The boot logo appears before Android loads, so no third-party app or system service is running at this point.
If your Android screen has horizontal lines right on the boot logo, it's almost certainly a hardware problem. In that case, you can skip the software fixes below and get the display inspected.
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Test in Recovery Mode
You can also boot into Recovery Mode to confirm the diagnosis. Power off your phone and press and hold the Power + Volume Up buttons until the recovery screen appears. Note that on some phones, you need to press Power + Volume Down buttons.
Recovery Mode runs outside the full Android system, so if the lines appear inside Recovery Mode, the Android OS is not responsible. It points to a faulty display panel or a loose connector and a screen replacement is the way to go.
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How to Fix Horizontal Lines on an Android Phone
Now that you know how to diagnose the issue, here is how to fix horizontal lines on an Android phone. Follow the steps below.
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.
- You can press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons to bring up the power menu.
- 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.
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.
Boot into Safe Mode
If a simple restart doesn't help, you can boot your phone into Safe Mode. In this mode, Android loads only system apps and disables all third-party apps, so it's a reliable way to check whether a misbehaving app is drawing horizontal lines on your Android display.
- First off, press and hold the Power button until the power menu appears.
- Now, press and hold the Power off option and choose Safe mode when the prompt appears.
- If the horizontal lines disappear in Safe Mode, a third-party app is the culprit.
- Go ahead and uninstall apps on your Android phone. Start with recently installed apps one by one, especially screen filters, overlay apps and blue light apps.
Once you are done testing, you can follow our guide on how to turn off Safe Mode on Android to get back to normal mode.
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.
- Open Settings on your Android phone and select Apps.
- Tap on the 3-dots icon at the top-right and choose Reset app preferences.
- 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.
- Launch the Settings app on your Android phone and go to System > Software updates.
- Now, check for the latest update and tap on Install now.
- Thereafter, restart your phone and check if horizontal lines have been fixed or not.
Factory Reset Your Android Phone
If none of the software fixes have worked so far, a factory reset is the final software step before you consider a screen replacement. It deletes all your apps, files, photos and settings, so make sure to back up your Android phone before you proceed.
- Open Settings and go to System > Reset options.
- Tap on Erase all data (factory reset) and confirm the action.
- Once the phone boots up, check if the horizontal lines are gone before restoring your apps.
You can follow our detailed guide on how to format Android phones for step-by-step instructions across different brands. If the lines persist even after a factory reset, the display hardware is at fault.
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 horizontal lines on your Android phone. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Android phone suddenly have horizontal lines?
Sudden horizontal lines generally point to a loose display connector, internal panel damage from a drop or pressure, or a buggy software update. Take a screenshot and view it on another device. If the screenshot is clean, the display hardware is at fault and a screen replacement is required.
Can overheating cause horizontal lines?
Yes, overheating can temporarily cause horizontal lines on an Android phone, especially while gaming, charging or using the phone under direct sunlight. Let the phone cool down for 15 to 20 minutes with the screen off. If the lines disappear after cooling, it's a thermal issue and not permanent damage.
Is horizontal line damage covered under warranty?
It depends on the cause. If the display line issue on your Android phone is due to a manufacturing defect, it's generally covered under the standard warranty. However, physical damage from drops or pressure is not covered. Notably, OnePlus offers a lifetime free screen replacement for the green line issue and Samsung offers a one-time free replacement for affected Galaxy phones.
