6 Ways to Fix iPhone Grey Lines on Screen
I bought an iPhone XR, and when I try turning it on and it displayed the Apple logo for 3 seconds and then I showed the grey vertical lines. Why is there a grey line on my iPhone screen? How to fix it? Please help!" - A user from iFixit Forum
If you notice grey lines on your iPhone screen, the problem may be caused by a temporary iOS glitch, display settings, a loose screen connection, or physical damage to the display. The grey lines may appear occasionally or remain on the screen all the time. In this guide, we'll explain the causes and show you 6 practical ways to fix grey lines on an iPhone screen.
If grey lines appear on your iPhone screen, first restart the device, update iOS, and check whether the issue is caused by software. If the lines appeared after a drop, water damage, or screen replacement and do not disappear, the display or internal connection may need professional repair.
Why Is There A Grey Line on My iPhone Screen
A grey line on your iPhone screen can be caused by either a software problem or a hardware issue. If the line appears temporarily, especially after an iOS update, app crash, or system freeze, it may be related to a minor software glitch. If the grey line stays on the screen all the time, hardware damage is more likely.
Common causes include:
- 01 Temporary iOS glitches: System errors can cause abnormal lines, flickering, or other display problems.
- 02 Outdated or problematic iOS: Bugs in the current iOS version may occasionally affect how the screen is displayed.
- 03 App-related issues: If grey lines appear only when using a specific app, the app itself may be causing the problem.
- 04 Physical damage: Dropping or hitting your iPhone can damage the display panel or internal components.
- 05 Loose or damaged display connection: A damaged display cable or connector may cause persistent vertical or horizontal grey lines.
- 06 Water or moisture damage: Liquid exposure can affect the screen and internal display connections.
If the grey lines disappear after restarting or updating your iPhone, the problem is likely software-related. If they remain after troubleshooting or appeared after physical or liquid damage, the screen may need professional inspection or repair.
Further Reading: How to Get Rid of Red Lines on iPhone Screen [Solved]
6 Ways to Fix iPhone Grey Lines on Screen
If grey lines suddenly appear on your iPhone screen, first check whether the problem occurs only in one app or across the entire system. If the lines appeared after a drop, liquid exposure, or other physical damage, the display itself may be faulty and professional repair may be necessary. If there is no obvious hardware damage, try the following fixes in order.
Method 1. Force Restart Your iPhone
First of all, you need to check whether the gray lines appear in a certain app only or not. If yes, you can simply quit the app. Otherwise, you can force restart your iPhone. Restarting the device is a direct way to solve some software-related issue. It will shut down all the apps that are running and reload the system. However, it is not 100% working. You can follow the quick steps below.
- On iPhone 8 and later: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, and then do the same operation on Volume Down button. Then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
- On iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down button and Sleep buttons at the same time. Release them when you see the Apple logo.
- On iPhone 6 and older: Simultaneously press and hold the Home and Power buttons until the Apple logo displays.
Method 2. Update iOS to the Latest Version
If the grey lines are related to an iOS bug or display glitch, installing the latest available iOS update may help. Apple regularly releases updates that include bug fixes and system improvements.
Before updating, it is a good idea to back up important data.
- Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Step 2. Go to General > Software Update.
- Step 3. If an update is available, tap Update Now button.
Keep your iPhone connected to Wi-Fi and make sure it has enough battery power during the update.
Method 3. Fix iPhone Grey Lines on Screen with TunesKit iOS System Repair
When you meet the grey horizontal lines on iPhone screen or vertical lines issue, there might be something wrong with the iOS system. At this time, you can resort to a professional third-party tool named TunesKit iOS System Recovery.
This tool will help you solve any iOS/iPadOS problems with the highest success rate. The common issues like iPhone stuck on Apple logo, reboot loop, screen turns to grey, green, red, black and white, etc. The most important part of TunesKit iOS System Repair is that it can 150+ types of system issues without causing any data loss, thanks to its advanced technology. In addition, TunesKit provides you with a free chance to enter or exit the recovery mode automatically. Also, you can set your iPhone into factory settings, upgrade or downgrade the system to your desired ones.
Why Use TunesKit iOS System Recovery?
Repair software-related iPhone display issues without erasing data in Standard Repair & Fix various common iOS and iPadOS system problems
600,000+ Downloads
So how to fix grey lines on iPhone screen with TunesKit iOS System Repair? Read the 4 quick steps below now.
Step 1. Launch TunesKit iOS System Recovery
Download and install TunesKit iOS System Recovery on your computer. Launch the program and connect your iPhone using a USB cable. Select iOS System Repair and click Start.
Step 2. Choose Standard Repair
Choose the "Standard Repair" to fix grey lines on iPhone screen issue without data loss. If necessary, follow the onscreen instructions to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode or DFU Mode.
Step 3. Download Firmware Package
In this step, you're required to download the firmware package that is matched to your iPhone. Check your device info and make sure they're correct. You can manually choose the right one if there is something wrong. If your model version, iOS version, etc. are right, you can click the "Download" button to start the downloading process.
Step 4. Repair Grey Lines Issue
Click the "Start Standard Repair" button to fix your iPhone problem with no data loss. The process will take you a while. Wait patiently until it's done. Remember not disconnect your device during the process.
Method 4. Reset All Settings on iPhone
Incorrect or corrupted system settings may occasionally contribute to abnormal display behavior. Before erasing your iPhone completely, try resetting all settings first.
This option resets system preferences such as network, keyboard, privacy, and other settings, but does not delete your photos, apps, or personal files.
- Step 1. Go to Settings > General.
- Step 2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Step 3. Tap Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Step 4. Enter your passcode and confirm the reset.
Your iPhone will restart after the reset. Check the screen again to see whether the grey lines remain.
Method 5. Restore iPhone with Finder or Apple Devices
If your gray lines appear due to some possible firmware glitches, you can use iTunes app to restore your device. By doing so, your device will be completely erased and thus some simple bugs will also be solved. This will cause your data loss, so please make sure you have backed up your important data before taking this solution.
- Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.
- Step 2. Open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes and select your iPhone.
- Step 3. Choose Restore iPhone.
- Step 4. Confirm the restore and wait for the process to finish.
After iOS is reinstalled, set up your iPhone and check whether the screen lines are gone. If the grey lines remain even after a full restore, the problem is much more likely to be hardware-related.
Method 6. Contact Apple Support for Screen Repair
After trying the software troubleshooting above, and your problem still exists, it may be caused by the hardware issue, such as a display issue or a physical damage. If so, please seek help from Apple official support team. Make a call to their after-sales staff, or take your device to their offline store for repairing. Do not open your iPhone to fix any hardware issue by yourself. Otherwise, they may not help you fix the device for free during the warranty.
Summary
So, there are all possible fixes to the grey lines on iPhone screen issue. You can try them one by one to fix it. However, if there are some hardware issue in your device, you're suggested to ask help from professionals. TunesKit iOS System Recovery is a professional tool to help users fix any system issues without data loss. The program is easy to use with a friendly UI. Many iPhone users have used it to solved their device problems successfully, why not give it a try?
