Did a purple line recently appear on your iPhone's display? Seeing a purple or green streak on your iPhone screen can be quite upsetting. Especially if it appeared out of nowhere. This is not normal and could indicate more severe damage. The good thing is, it can be fixed in some cases. If you are facing a similar issue, check out this guide to learn how to fix the purple line issue on your iPhone display.
Why is there a purple line on my iPhone?
The purple line issue is an uncommon problem that shows a vibrant purple streak appearing vertically or horizontally on the iPhone screen. The issue is that this line does not go away, no matter which app or screen you are on, suggesting a more serious hardware-level damage.
It can show up out of nowhere and worsen over time. In most reported cases, it is linked to OLED display behaviour, where liquid damage or electrical issues affect pixel columns of the screen. While in rare instances, it can be a software-related bug, it is mostly caused by physical damage to the device.
Common causes of purple line on iPhone displays
There is no single reason why a purple or green line can appear on your iPhone's screen. I searched multiple accounts of users reporting this issue on Apple forums and Reddit threads. The patterns seem quite consistent across them. So, based on my research, here are the most common causes:
- Display damage: A minor drop can damage internal layers within the display, causing purple lines to appear.
- Loose display connectors: A drop or physical damage can also cause the Internal flex cables connecting the screen to the logic board to loosen or damaged, leading to colour lines.
- Manufacturing defects: It is not necessarily a user issue, as in some very rare instances, the display may start showing purple or green marks without any external faults.
- Water or moisture damage: A drop in water or exposure to liquid can also affect the display circuitry and cause such lines.
- iOS software bugs: Another rare reason behind the purple lines on iPhone could be a new iOS update, or a bug causing temporary display problems.
Which iPhone Models are affected?
From all the accounts on Reddit and Apple forums, I have noted that this issue is more prevalent on models starting from iPhone X to iPhone 14 Pro Max. Here are the most commonly reported devices:
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS and XS Max
- iPhone X
As you can see, these are all iPhones that use an OLED screen, while older models generally don't face the same problem. That said, I have seen very rare reports of the purple line issue on the iPhone 15 and newer models. This could be because these devices are somewhat new, and there aren't enough cases of this kind of damage on those devices. There's also the possibility that these new iPhones may have different internal structure and circuitry that prevents them from this being prone to this issue.
How to Fix the Purple Line Issue on iPhone (Step-by-Step Guide)
While the purple line issue is typically related to hardware damage, there are rare instances where it could just be a software-related issue. That is why I have listed down a bunch of quick troubleshooting solutions on how to fix the purple line issue on your iPhone display. Try them out and see if it helps.
Restart Your iPhone
Most common glitches and iOS bugs are easily resolved after performing a quick restart on your iPhone. If the touchscreen is still working, then follow these steps to restart your iPhone:
- Press and hold the Power + Volume down button till the power off screen appears.
- Drag the slider to the right.
- Once the iPhone shuts down, press and hold the Power button to restart it.
Update iOS Version
Outdated iOS versions may have some bugs or glitches that can cause weird lines to show up on your iPhone screen. Updating to the latest iOS version typically fixes such underlying problems:
- Open the Settings app and go to General > Software Update.
- Here, check if there is any new update available.
- If there is a new version for your device, tap on Update Now to download and install it.
Check Display Settings
Before moving on to further steps, you might also want to check your iPhone's display settings. It will help to rule out if there is any incorrect display setting causing the purple line problem on your iPhone.
- Head to the Settings > Display & Brightness.
- Here, try to switch between Light and Dark options to see if it affects the purple line.
- You can also try turning off the True Tone toggle to fix the purple line.
- If you have an iOS 26 device, you can try turning off Liquid Glass by switching to the Tinted option to see if that helps fix the issue.
If changing any of these does not curb the purple line, then it is time to take more serious measures.
Reset Your iPhone
Resetting your iPhone to factory settings will rule out the possibility that the problem is being caused by any third-party app or software glitch. But make sure to back up all your necessary data. In case you don't want to reset your device, you can skip forward to the next method.
- To reset your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Here, tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
- On the "Erase This iPhone" screen, tap on Continue.
- Select Erase iPhone on the dialog box.
Take Your iPhone to the Apple Service Centre
If none of the above troubleshooting methods was able to help you resolve the purple line issue, then it would be best to hand over your iPhone to an expert. Take your device to an authorised Apple service centre to verify whether the problem is related to hardware damage.
If you have AppleCare, then both water and physical damage will be covered for a discounted price. If the issue is caused by a manufacturing defect like a loose cable or a software glitch, and your device is in warranty, then the screen will be replaced for free. Hopefully, this guide was able to provide the necessary information to help you take the right action against the purple line issue on your iPhone.
