Fix a Scratch on an LCD Screen

Although you can't repair a scratch in an actual LCD display, the screen covering it is sometimes repairable. If your phone, computer, or television has an LCD screen cover with a scratch, your repair options will vary, since scratches can range from barely noticeable to visually distracting. If your screen simply has a small scratch, you can repair it yourself using a professional scratch repair kit. However, if your screen is so damaged that it hinders the LCD display, you will have to purchase a new screen cover. Note that LCD screens are not touch screens.

Steps

Using a Professional Scratch Repair Kit

  1. Assess the damage. Scratch repair kits work well on surface-level scratches, but deep nicks or chips in the plastic won't be affected by a scratch repair kit.[1]
  2. If the scratches are light, purchase a professional scratch repair kit. "Displex Display Polish" and "Novus Plastic Polish" are both quality scratch repair kits available from Amazon. Best Buy and Walmart tech departments may also have scratch repair kits in-store.[2]
  3. Purchase a microfiber cloth if your kit doesn't have one. Microfiber cloths, unlike paper towels or traditional napkins/cloths, won't scratch your screen during the buffing process.
  4. Power down your TV/phone/computer. Scratches should be easier to see when the screen is dark.
  5. Open your repair kit and read the instructions. Usually, scratch repair kits require that you spray a solution onto the scratch and immediate area around it, then gently buff the scratch with a microfiber cloth.
  6. Spray a small amount of the solution onto the scratch. There should be a fine mist of solution on your screen.
  7. Using the microfiber cloth, gently buff the solution into the scratch. Do this until the screen appears dry.
    • You should move the cloth in circular directions rather than left-to-right or up-and-down. This works the solution into the scratch.
  8. Review your results. If the scratch appears to be gone, then your repair worked!

Purchasing a New LCD Screen Cover

  1. Assess the damage. If your screen is scratched to the point where it impairs the visual presentation--but the actual LCD display is unharmed--then purchasing a new screen cover is practical. If the LCD display has been damaged (parts of the screen are black or rainbow-colored), however, your item is likely beyond repair and you will need to purchase a TV/phone/computer.
  2. Find your TV/computer/phone's model number. You can usually find the specific model number on the back of a TV or phone, or the bottom of a laptop. You'll need this number to make sure you purchase the correct type of screen.
    • Make sure you have your manufacturer's name as well (e.g., Sony or Toshiba).
  3. Open a search engine of your choice.
  4. Type in your manufacturer name, model number, and "screen replacement". Higher price doesn't always correlate with higher quality, so look through your results carefully before deciding on a screen replacement.
    • For a more focused search, go to Amazon or eBay and type the same thing in.
  5. Call your local tech department for a price check. You may find that you're better off buying a new item anyway--if the combination of their services and the screen's price ends up being as much as a new TV, for example, you should consider just purchasing the new TV.
  6. If it's cost-effective, purchase your screen.
  7. Take your screen to a professional for installation. Most tech departments (e.g., Best Buy) will replace your screen for you, though they often charge a considerable fee--another reason to purchase a mid-range screen replacement rather than the most expensive one.
    • Replacing your own screen cover is not recommended.
  8. After your new screen is installed, purchase a screen protector. Your screen should now be safe from future scratches!

Tips

  • If a scratch is small enough that you can repair it, consider leaving it alone. Trying to fix it might only draw more attention to it than is already present.
  • Screen protectors are cheap ways to ensure your screen cover stays scratch-free.

Warnings

  • Never attempt a do-it-yourself scratch repair with anything other than a professional scratch repair kit. Vaseline, nail polish, toothpaste, or any other "quick fixes" will harm your screen.
  • Though there are plenty of YouTube and internet tutorials on how to replace a screen cover yourself, you run the risk of permanently damaging your LCD display if you do.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ https://www.radtech.com/products/icecreme
  2. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Displex-00300-Display-Polish/dp/B00CFLMIFC
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