iPhone 12 and later: Display Issues

Troubleshooting display and image issues

Troubleshooting Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch issues

Troubleshooting ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, or compass issues

Troubleshooting display and image issues

Identify issues

Read these articles if you notice any of the following issues:

  • No image or distorted images

  • All-white screen

  • Blank or black screen

  • Flickering image

  • Poor image quality, contrast, or light bleed

  • Brightness or backlight issues

  • Rainbow effect or non-uniform color

  • Displayed images have incorrect white balance

  • True Tone setting is missing on models that support True Tone

If the screen isn’t working on your iPhone or iPad

  • Particles or debris under the glass

  • Pixel anomalies

  • Horizontal or vertical lines

About LCD display pixel anomalies for Apple products released in 2010 and later

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article, continue to the next section.

Try quick troubleshooting steps

  1. Remove any cases or screen protectors. Touch the screen with your finger pads, not your fingernails.

  2. Clean the display with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

    • Important: Unplug all cables and turn off the iPhone first. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge the iPhone in any cleaning agents. Don't use compressed air.

Run manual and diagnostic tests

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:

  1. Run the Mobile Resource Inspector (MRI) diagnostic suite.

  2. Run the Display Pixel Anomalies diagnostic suite.

Open and inspect the iPhone

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the iPhone repair manual to open and inspect the iPhone. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Replace the part

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the display.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Troubleshooting Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch issues

Identify issues

  • Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch responds slowly or doesn’t respond

  • Specific areas aren’t responding to Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch

  • Erratic response to Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch

  • Unexpected Multi-Touch response

  • Overly sensitive Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch response

  • Low sensitivity to Multi-Touch or Haptic Touch

Try quick troubleshooting steps

  1. Remove any cases or screen protectors. Touch the screen with your finger pads, not your fingernails.

  2. Clean the display with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

    • Important: Unplug all cables and turn off the iPhone first. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge the iPhone in any cleaning agents. Don't use compressed air.

  3. Rotate and test the iPhone display in all four directions. Ensure that the display responds to touch while oriented each way.

Run manual and diagnostic tests

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:

  1. Run the Mobile Resource Inspector (MRI) diagnostic suite.

  2. Run the Multi-Touch diagnostic suite.

Open and inspect the iPhone

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the iPhone repair manual to open and inspect the iPhone. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Replace the part

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the display.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Troubleshooting ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, or compass issues

Identify issues

  • Display doesn’t adjust to varying light environments while auto-brightness is on

  • Compass doesn’t function correctly

  • Screen stays on during a call when the iPhone is held to your ear

  • Screen immediately turns off when making a call

Try quick troubleshooting steps

  1. Remove any cases or screen protectors. Touch the screen with your finger pads, not your fingernails.

  2. Clean the display with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

    • Important: Unplug all cables and turn off the iPhone first. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge the iPhone in any cleaning agents. Don't use compressed air.

  3. The accuracy of the compass may be affected by magnetic or environmental interference. Avoid proximity to sources of interference.

Run manual and diagnostic tests

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:

  1. Run the Mobile Resource Inspector (MRI) diagnostic suite.

  2. The proximity sensor detects when the iPhone is held to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent unintended touches. To check the proximity sensor, answer a call on the affected iPhone, then cover the top of the display. The display should turn off, and it should turn on again when you uncover the display. If it doesn’t turn off and on as expected, continue to the next section.

Open and inspect the iPhone

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the iPhone repair manual to open and inspect the iPhone. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Replace the part

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the display.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

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