Reports are mounting that Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners are falling victim to software updates that are causing massive display issues on Note and S series devices. The defect appears to cause an unpleasant and persistent “green line” on the screen of these devices, and it seems that software patches alone will not be able to fix it.
This is not the first time the green line has affected Galaxy displays. In the past, Samsung has offered free screen replacements, and it looks like they might do so again, at least for Samsung Galaxy customers in India.
A reliable Samsung tipster, Tarun tanks, highlights two separate instances where an official Indian Samsung support channel has confirmed that Galaxy owners affected by the Green Line fault will be eligible for a free, one-time screen replacement for those affected by the Green Line. However, there are reservations.
Samsung India offers ONE-TIME FREE SCREEN REPLACEMENT for select models (within 3 years of purchase) experiencing GREEN LINE issue, even if your warranty has expired! Applicable models: • S20 Series • Note20/Ultra Series • S21 (FE excluded) • S22 Ultra (SM-S908E) Repost to help pic.twitter.com/t1Au0zthlEApril 21, 2024
The good news is that this potential fix extends to multiple Galaxy models, including the S21 Series, S22 Ultra, S20 SeriesAnd Note series 20. It should be noted that these devices must have been purchased within the last three years to be eligible for repair.
The bad news? This offer appears to be limited to India. However, this may soon expand to other regions. We’ve reached out to Samsung about this, but have yet to get confirmation one way or the other. We’ll stay tuned for updates.
What is the cause of the “Green Line” fault?
The most common cause of green lines on your smartphone screen is a hardware defect. This is usually a problem with your phone’s display connector, the part of your phone that connects your screen to the motherboard. This connector or cable may become loose or defective over time, or the solder connecting it may become damaged, especially if you tend to drop your device often.
However, while this may be the most common cause, the recent spate of reports indicate that Samsung displays are finding faults after software updates. Although a software update process could cause a smartphone to overheat more than normal, these temperatures would not be different from the levels reached when the devices were under similar load, such as when gaming. Therefore, it is still undetermined whether these updates are a trigger for the defect or just a coincidence.
We reached out to Samsung for comment and, while they couldn’t give us any clear insight into the cause of this issue (potentially due to the myriad of external factors that could contribute to its development), they did say that following :
“Samsung is committed to providing the best possible mobile experiences and product quality continues to be one of our top priorities. If you experience a vertical line symptom, please visit an authorized Samsung service center to have appropriate measures.”
How to Fix Green Line Fault on Your Smartphone Screen
As mentioned earlier, the most common cause of green lines on your smartphone screen will be a hardware defect. If this is the case, contact Samsung directly to troubleshoot or request repair.
However, there are different steps you can follow to resolve the issue on your own. First, turn your device off and on again to see if this green line disappears. This simple step is often one of the most overlooked and can truly solve many problems with your device, not just those related to screen issues.
If the problem persists, you can check if the screen pixels have remained stuck. If this is the case, it is possible to “unstick” them using a diagnostic tool built into your Samsung Galaxy phone.
- Open the phone app, bring up the keypad and enter *#0*# before pressing the call.
- In the menu, try selecting the different color options: Red, Green, BlueAnd Black.
You may find that cycling through the screen colors “peels out” all the pixels and fixes the green lines plaguing your screen. If so, congratulations! If not, unfortunately, it’s time to consider backing up your data and performing a master reset of your device or contact Samsung to inquire about the possibility of a repair.
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