Phone screen cracked? Here's what to do in the first 10 minutes
Before you panic, drive to a shop, or start tapping at the cracks — read this. Half of cracked phones don't need a screen replacement at all.
Smashed your phone? Take a breath. Most cracked-screen situations are less serious than they look. Do these four things in the first 10 minutes and you'll save yourself money or data.
1. Stop tapping
If the touch still works, every tap pushes glass shards deeper and risks slicing your finger. Lock the phone and put it down.
2. Photograph the damage
Hold the phone under a bright light and snap a photo from your other phone (or a friend's). You'll want this for the quote — a clear photo is enough for any decent shop to give you a price on WhatsApp.
3. Back up if you can
If the screen still responds, plug the phone into a laptop and back it up. We never wipe a phone during a screen repair, but if the screen is fully unresponsive a back-up via iCloud / Google Photos buys you peace of mind.
4. Send a photo for a quote
Don't drive across London for a price. Most shops (us included) quote on WhatsApp from a photo. Saves the petrol and the time.
One more thing: if it's just the back glass that's cracked, a screen replacement isn't what you need at all — back-glass replacement is typically £30–£40 cheaper.