Ghost Touch & Unusable Screens
Sometimes a crack causes "Ghost Touch"—the phone clicks things on its own.
- Emergency Fix: If you can't unlock your phone to back it up because it keeps typing wrong numbers, plug in a USB Mouse.
- Android: Use a "USB-OTG" adapter to plug a standard mouse into your charging port.
- iPhone: Requires a "Lightning to USB Camera Adapter".
Should I Fix It or Replace It?
Use the "50% Rule": If the repair cost is more than 50% of the current value of the device (not what you paid for it, but what it's worth used today), it's better to buy a new one.
- Example: iPhone 11 screen repair = $120. Used iPhone 11 value = $200. Verdict: Repair is borderline.
- Example: Laptop screen repair = $300. Laptop value = $250. Verdict: Replace.
Pro Tip: If you have a cracked laptop screen but the computer works fine, you don't have to fix it. Just plug in an external HDMI monitor and use it as a desktop!