Phone stuck on a white screen? Here’s what to do

⚡ Fast fix

• Force restart it first—most white screens are just a frozen system.
• Plug it in and let it charge for 10–15 minutes, just in case the battery dipped too low.
• If it happened after an update, try Recovery Mode before assuming it’s broken.
• Seeing lines or spots after restarting? That’s likely hardware—don’t keep forcing it.

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Your phone is your lifeline, or at least your window to your text messages and those compulsively scrollable Instagram® Reels. So when you suddenly see the horrible white screen of death, it's natural to feel stressed. Can you fix it, or is it time to buy something new? Don't run to the phone store just yet.

At Asurion, we know how much you rely on your phone, and we're ready to help you get back to scrolling. Whether you're wondering why your Galaxy® touch screen isn't working or troubleshooting a pesky iPhone® screen glitch, we have the answers you need. Here are some quick fixes for your phone's white screen.

Understand why your phone screen turns white

A white screen is one of the most common smartphone problems. In some cases, you may see white horizontal lines on your phone screen. Other times, the dreaded white screen of death takes over your entire phone.

A temporary software issue is usually the culprit. Your phone might freeze on a white screen after installing a buggy new app, leading to a dramatic software crash. Or maybe you get a white screen after an operating system update that didn't install properly. These glitches can confuse the phone, because the system doesn't know what it's supposed to display.

A damaged connector can also cause flickering lines or a white mark on your phone's screen. This can happen if you drop your phone on, say, your tile kitchen floor, knocking the connection to the backlight loose.

Try restart and recovery options

Don't assume your iPhone screen is broken or your Android display is permanently damaged just because your phone is stuck on a white screen. It may be caused by a software issue that you can fix at home.

If you're experiencing an iPhone or Android white screen issue, these tips can help you see if software is the culprit:

Restart your phone

Restart your phone again to clear any background errors, such as a frozen app. Often, that's all it takes to get your display working properly.

Use Safe Mode

If you have an Android device, try rebooting it in Safe Mode, which disables everything except for a few pre-installed apps. Here's how:

1. Hold the Power and Volume Up buttons for a few seconds.
2. Tap the Restart button and then OK.
3. You should see Safe Mode at the bottom of your screen when the phone reboots. If not, try these steps again.

If your display looks normal in Safe Mode, it's likely that a third-party app is causing the white screen. Restart the phone in normal mode and uninstall your newest or least vetted apps until you find the buggy one.

Try Recovery Mode

If your iPhone is stubbornly stuck on the white screen, consider putting it into Recovery Mode. This step lets you restore it with your computer, which comes in handy when the system won't load.

These steps can help you fix a white screen on an iPhone:

1. Connect your phone to your Mac® or a PC with a USB cable.
2. If you're using a Mac, open the Finder. On Windows, you'll need to download and open the Apple Devices app.
3. The message Connect to computer screen should appear on your iPhone. If you don't see it, try pressing and quickly releasing the Volume Up button, then repeat with the Volume Down button.
4. Find your device in the sidebar of the Finder or Apple Devices app.
5. Click Restore.

This step is a factory reset for your phone, erasing all your data. Only use it if your phone screen isn't responding after you've tried the other tips in this troubleshooting guide.

When to get professional repair help

Still getting a mobile screen error? It may be a hardware issue. Here are a few symptoms:

• The phone screen is visibly cracked or shattered.
• Your phone got wet.
• After you restart your phone, the screen still has a white spot or lines.

These signs usually point to a damaged display or connector. Consider contacting a repair pro instead of trying to fiddle with it yourself. They can help you understand how to fix white spots on your phone screen and restore your device. They may also recommend phone screen protectors to help you avoid a white screen in the future.