Symptoms
- Screen looks black or extremely dark, hard to see anything
- Touch still responds normally underneath
- Shining a bright flashlight at an angle reveals a faint image
- Sounds and vibrations from actions still occur
Likely causes
- CommonBacklight component or its power circuit failedThe touch digitizer and the backlight are separate parts, so one can fail while the other works.
- CommonLoose backlight connector from a dropImpact can disconnect just the backlight cable.
- PossibleBrightness set to zero or a display setting issueRarely a software setting can make the screen appear fully dark.
What to do
- Shine a bright flashlight at a low angle across the screen in a dark room to check for a very faint, dim image, which confirms the backlight (not the whole display) is the problem.
- Try adjusting brightness up fully through touch or voice assistant, since you may still be able to navigate blind.
- Restart the phone to rule out a software display setting stuck at zero.
- Avoid pressing on the screen trying to fix it, which can worsen a loose connector.
- Back up data via voice commands or a computer connection if possible.
Tools and parts
- Flashlight
Display assembly with backlightSearch: “screen replacement for [your phone model]”
When to call a pro
See a repair shop for a screen replacement, since a failed backlight is a hardware issue that needs the display assembly replaced.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.