Bright Spot on iPhone Screen (Causes, Fixes, & When to Repair)

Part 1. What a Bright Spot on an iPhone Screen Means (How to Identify & Common Causes)

A bright spot on an iPhone screen often indicates a display issue and appears as a light patch that looks out of place. Some users confuse it with a feature like AssistiveTouch or a screen effect. However, a bright spot remains visible at all times and does not move when you switch apps or change the wallpaper. So, to know what causes this spot in the first place, adhere to the given details for clarity:

Part 2. Troubleshooting and Fixing Bright Spots on iPhone: 9 Fixes

To deal with the iPhone screen bright spot, review the 9 solutions given in this section, along with detailed instructions:

Fix 1. Clean Dust Around the Screen

A clean screen helps you check if the mark comes from debris, a bubble, or the glass protector. This step also helps protect the display from further damage, as dust or dirt on the screen can appear as a bright or white spot. After a proper clean, it becomes clear if the spot sits on the surface or inside the screen.

Fix 2. Press the Bright Spot Gently

Light pressure may shift screen layers or pixels and temporarily reduce the spot. However, in rare cases, the dot fades if the cause stays minor. Additionally, don't apply excessive pressure, as it can crack the glass or cause further damage. So, the method is not a safe first choice, especially for costly or under-warranty phones.

Fix 3. Force Restart Your iPhone

For instance, if you still have a bright spot on the phone screen, perform a force restart. This solution can resolve temporary software issues or display glitches that may appear as bright spots. Additionally, it reloads iOS and display drivers, and removes minor system or GPU errors. If the bright spot goes away via the given guide, you may avoid a screen replacement; if it persists, technicians may be able to help.

• For iPhone 8 & Later: Quickly press and release the "Volume Up" button, then the "Volume Down" button. Finally, press and hold the "Side/Power" button until the Apple logo appears, then release.
• For iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the "Volume Down" and "Side" buttons together until the Apple logo appears, then release.
• For iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation), & Earlier: Hold both the "Home" and "Top or Side" buttons together until the Apple logo appears, then release.

Fix 4. Update Your iOS Software

To get rid of the bright spot on the iPhone screen, an iOS update can fix software or graphics driver problems that may show as bright spots on the screen. New iOS versions include fixes for display, GPU, and power issues that reduce glitches, flicker, or ghost elements. Additionally, updates also refresh system components and drivers, which can correct cases where part of the screen shows the wrong brightness, once performed via the listed steps:

Instructions: In General settings, select the "Software Update" option, then press "Update Now" if available.

Fix 5. Use a Robust iOS System Repair Tool | Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)

If you feel that the light spot on the iPhone screen is permanent, don't play tricks and consider a robust solution, Dr.Fone - System Repair. This tool is designed to resolve iOS system issues, such as the Apple logo being stuck in Recovery mode or screen display glitches that may cause abnormal bright spots. Plus, it is compatible with the latest iOS 26/iPadOS 26 and iPhone 17 Series. Users can access the Recovery for free via this tool to fix the bright spot on the screen, with the facility to exit the DFU Mode for free. Additionally, the tool offers 3 different modes to deal with the various levels of issue severity. Overall, the tool is easy to use and provides fully guided solutions for both amateurs and professionals.

Get Rid of the Bright Spot on iPhone Screen with Dr.Fone

To know how you can deal with the bright spot on the iPhone screen with Dr.Fone – System Repair (iOS), adhere to the 3 simple guided steps given below:

• Step 1. Access the iOS System Repair Tool & Choose the Mode

  Choose the "iOS Repair" option as you access the System Repair tool for "iOS" and choose the "Standard Repair" mode.



• Step 2. Enter the Recovery Mode to Download the Firmware on iOS

  Here, put the device into Recovery Mode by following the on-screen instructions in the "Guide," or press the "Enter Recovery Mode" button. After that, the tool will automatically detect the appropriate iOS firmware versions to install, which you select by pressing the "Download" button.



• Step 3. Start the Repair Process to Fix the Bright Spot

  As the downloading ends, click the "Repair Now" button and determine if the iPhone bright spot issue is resolved as the process ends.

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Fix 6. Use Solid Color Backgrounds to Detect Pixel Issues

When you use solid color backgrounds like black, red, and green, it helps spot real light spots on the iPhone screen. Any bright, dark, or discolored pixel stands out without images or reflections hiding it. So, when you switch the colors, it shows if the issue is a single pixel, a group of pixels, or a larger backlight patch.

Fix 7. Check for Dead Pixels with a Screen Test

If you observe the issue with the pixel using the screen test mentioned in Fix 4, use a Pixel Fixer app such as Pixel Control. Such applications come in handy when color backgrounds fail to show dead pixels properly. This app offers Loop, Flash, DSE, or Lines-based tests to determine the depth and location of the bright spot. To know how you can use one of its tests, adhere to the given details:

Instructions: In the app, select a test, such as "Loop," on the main interface, then press the "Play" icon to start. There, you can also adjust the speed and, once the lines appear, identify dead pixels.

Fix 8. Reset All iPhone Settings

This method can also fix misconfigured display, accessibility, or graphics options that may cause abnormal bright spots. Additionally, it resets return color filters, zoom, brightness, and other system preferences to default and removes combinations that affect part of the screen. It also refreshes system configurations that control the display. Plus, this step can remove software-related visual issues without deleting photos or apps, as guided:

• Step 1. As you choose the "Transfer or Reset iPhone" option within the General settings, pick the "Reset" option.



• Step 2. After that, choose the "Rest All Settings" option, enter the passcode/Face ID, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Fix 9. Inspect for Physical or Water Damage

When no solutions resolve the light spot on the iPhone screen, inspect for physical or water damage, as it helps determine if a bright spot comes from serious hardware issues. Check the phone for cracks, dents, bent frames, or bulging glass. If any of these are present, check whether drops, pressure, or a swollen battery affect the screen. Moreover, look for moisture, stains under the glass, or liquid indicators that indicate water inside the display caused the spot. This will help choose the proper fix, like screen replacement or device service, and improve repair or warranty results by giving technicians clear evidence of the real problem.

Part 3. Situations Where You Must Replace the iPhone Screen

After inspection, if the issue is with the screen, review the given reasons where you may need a replacement to get rid of the bright spot on the phone screen:

Can You Recover Data After Replacing the iPhone Screen?

In most cases, data remains secure after an iPhone screen replacement due to a light spot on the iPhone screen. This is because it is stored in internal memory rather than on the screen. Instead, the risk of data loss comes from how the repair is performed, not from changing the display.

Data is lost only if the phone must be erased, replaced, or has severe internal damage that stops it from turning on. To protect data, always back up to iCloud or a computer before any repair. Other than that, you can use the Dr.Fone - Data Recovery solution to recover 35+ data types in a few taps.

Conclusion

To wrap up, this article has addressed the bright spot on the iPhone screen issue with 9 simple and practical solutions. So, review the guide and determine why and when you need screen replacement when basic fixes fail. Before that, you should try Dr.Fone - System Repair, as the tool can efficiently address screen display glitches that cause bright spots.

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