Green line on phone screen? Here's what it means

A green vertical bar on the display is a hardware failure that cannot be fixed by updates or settings. The only real solution is to replace the screen (sometimes together with the module, and sometimes with the motherboard).

Android Authority writes about it.

What is happening, and why does the "green line" appear?

Users report a thin green stripe from the top to the bottom of the screen: the smartphone is working, but the defect is clearly visible. The problem is fixed in devices of various brands — from Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, vivo/iQOO, Xiaomi, Motorola, Nothing, and HUAWEI to Apple. The common denominator is the AMOLED display, cases with LCD screens for phones are practically non-existent. Devices about a year or two old, as well as devices operated in hot and humid climates, are most often affected. Over time, the lines may become more numerous, other shades appear (pink or white), sometimes the stripe flickers, but usually remains constant and is visible everywhere — from the lock screen to Always-On.

The probable cause is a damaged or defective display cable or connector, which causes irreversible changes in the panel. The coincidence of the defect with the software update is explained by the fact that the phone heats up more during installation, and excessive heat can accelerate hardware failure. At the same time, the updates themselves are not the source of the problem. The green line can also appear after a blow, pressure on the screen, or contact with water — in such cases, the chances of a free repair are minimal.

What to do with a defect

First of all, reboot the device to eliminate a single failure — it does not "cure" the problem, but it can save you a trip to the service center. If the line does not disappear, contact support or a service center: usually, you will need to replace the screen, and sometimes the entire modular unit or board — depending on the model design. Dangerous "life hacks" with heating with a lighter near the edge of the screen are categorically not recommended: the risk of damaging the battery and causing a fire far outweighs any perceived benefit.

There is no single approach among manufacturers, so it all depends on the brand and age of the device. Within the standard warranty, if there are no traces of shock or moisture, the defect is most often recognized as hardware and eliminated free of charge. If there is damage on the case or inside, free repair will most likely be rejected, even if they did not directly cause the "green line".

As a reminder, two invisible, at first glance, dark spots on the screen can spoil the viewing experience — they stubbornly "hang" on the image, attracting attention. In most cases, this is a consequence of dead pixels that no longer respond to color changes and remain black, regardless of the content.