Can you remove scratches from a phone screen?

Inspect the mark without pressing the display

Look at the switched-off screen under ordinary light. Note whether the mark is on an added protector, the display glass or the surrounding frame. A protector's visible edge can help, but do not prise at glass or press hard to test a scratch.

Record whether the screen also has a crack, missing glass, coloured lines, dark patches or unreliable touch. Those symptoms belong in a repair assessment rather than a cosmetic-cleaning plan. An intact protector and an intact display are different things, so do not assume that one proves the condition of the other.

Clean using the manufacturer's method

For an iPhone, Apple recommends disconnecting cables, switching off and using a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth while keeping moisture out of openings. Its guidance explains that abrasive materials can reduce the oil-repellent coating and scratch the surface.

Samsung's Galaxy cleaning guide likewise starts with the device switched off and unplugged, using an appropriate microfibre cloth. Follow the instructions for your particular model, especially where specialist or folding displays are involved. Cleaning guidance is not an instruction to scrub a mark until it disappears.

Avoid toothpaste, polish and abrasive experiments

Do not use toothpaste, baking-soda mixtures, metal polish, sandpaper or powered polishing tools on the screen. These are not the cleaning procedures above, and abrasion can worsen the surface or its coating. Filling a mark with household glue is not a display repair either.

Be cautious about before-and-after clips: lighting, a new protector or cleaned fingerprints can change how a mark appears without restoring scratched glass. Stop if ordinary approved cleaning leaves the mark unchanged. Repeated rubbing is not a useful diagnostic test.

Know when the device needs inspection

A damaged removable protector may need replacement under its maker's instructions. Damage to the display itself needs assessment if you want it repaired. Ask what the proposed repair covers, whether the frame or panel is affected and what the written terms include.

If glass is cracked or you suspect battery damage, discontinue use and follow the manufacturer's service advice. Apple's safety guide specifically advises against using an iPhone with cracked glass. A screen protector is not a substitute for resolving that damage.

Describe the screen honestly when selling

Photograph visible wear in clear light and separate scratches from cracks or touch faults. Tell EXE about protector condition and previous repairs where known. You can ask for an assessment before deciding whether repair makes sense; no particular repair spend or condition guarantees an offer.