The Green Line Display Issue in 2026: Who Still Replaces It Free?
You wake up, unlock your phone, and there it is: a thin vertical green line down the display. You did not drop it. Nothing spilled on it. It was fine last night.
The green line is a hardware fault in AMOLED displays, not something you caused and not something you can fix with a reset. It usually appears after a software update, but the update is a trigger rather than the root cause. In 2026 the free-replacement window has closed at Samsung India and stayed open at OnePlus - so what it costs you now depends almost entirely on which phone you own.
What the green line actually is
It is a row of pixels that has lost its signal. On an AMOLED panel each column of pixels is driven by a controller, and when the connection between the driver and part of the panel degrades, that column stops receiving proper instructions and defaults to fully lit green.
The exact trigger has never been officially confirmed by any manufacturer. The prevailing explanation is a display connector or flex cable that degrades over time, made worse by heat - which is why the line so often shows up right after a big software update, when the phone runs hot for an extended period during installation and re-indexing.
The one thing every reported case has in common is an AMOLED display. LCD phones do not get this.
Which phones are affected
- Samsung: heavily reported on the Galaxy S21 series, with the S22 series, Galaxy A73 and Galaxy M21 also affected.
- OnePlus: reported across OnePlus 8 series and later.
- Others: isolated reports on other AMOLED phones. It is not brand-specific, it is panel-specific.
The pattern is older AMOLED phones, typically two to four years in. If your phone is newer than that, this is probably not what you are looking at.
Can you fix it yourself?
No, and it is worth saying plainly so you do not waste an afternoon. Safe mode, factory reset, cache wipe, rolling back the update, the various pixel-fixer apps - none of them work, because none of them touch the hardware.
The line will also not go away on its own. It typically widens or gains company over the following weeks.
The only genuine fix is a new display.
Who still replaces it free in 2026
This is where it matters which logo is on the back.
| Brand | Position as of August 2026 |
|---|---|
| OnePlus | Lifetime screen warranty covering the green-line defect on OnePlus 8 series and later. The display must have no physical cracks. |
| Samsung | Ran a free one-time replacement programme in India, subject to inspection. The extension closed on 31 December 2025. Affected owners now pay. |
| Everyone else | No dedicated programme. Treated as a normal out-of-warranty display fault. |
If you own an affected OnePlus, go to a service centre before doing anything else - and do not let anyone talk you into a paid third-party repair first, because a third-party display will almost certainly void the claim.
If you own an affected Samsung, it is still worth asking. Programmes get quietly extended, regional discretion exists, and a polite request costs nothing. Go in with your purchase date and IMEI.
What it costs if you are paying
A green-line replacement is a standard display replacement - same part, same labour, same price as if you had cracked it. On the affected generation that is roughly:
- Galaxy S21 / S22 series: ₹13,000-₹30,000 depending on model and whether you use an authorised centre.
- OnePlus 8-11 series: ₹10,000-₹20,000 if you are outside the warranty programme.
- Mid-range AMOLED (A73, M21): ₹5,000-₹12,000.
Model-by-model figures are on our display and screen repair cost pages.
Repair it, or live with it?
An honest framing, because plenty of people reasonably choose to live with it.
- One thin line at the edge, phone otherwise fine, three-plus years old: living with it is a defensible choice. The repair often costs more than the phone is worth.
- Line in the middle, or spreading: it will get worse. Repair or plan a replacement.
- Touch also failing in that column: repair now - the digitizer is going too.
- Free replacement available to you: take it immediately, whatever the line looks like today.
The part where we do not sell you anything
We make a phone tether, and it is worth being straight with you: a tether does nothing to prevent the green line. This is a manufacturing defect that develops inside a sealed phone. No case, no grip, no tether, no screen protector changes it.
What is worth noticing is the price you were just quoted. That figure is what your display costs to replace - and the far more common way people meet that bill is not a rare panel defect, it is dropping the phone. Roughly one in fifty drops ends a display.
So: nothing to buy for this problem. But now you know what your screen is worth, which is useful context for the failure mode you can actually do something about.
Frequently asked questions
What causes the green line on a phone display?
A hardware fault in the AMOLED panel - most likely a degrading display connector or driver connection, often accelerated by heat. It is not caused by the software update it tends to appear after; the update is a trigger, not the cause.
Can the green line be fixed without replacing the display?
No. Factory resets, safe mode, cache wipes, update rollbacks and pixel-repair apps do not work, because the fault is physical. A new display is the only fix.
Is Samsung still replacing green-line displays free in India?
The free one-time replacement extension closed on 31 December 2025, so affected owners now generally pay. It is still worth asking at a service centre with your purchase date and IMEI, since terms have been revised before.
Does OnePlus cover the green line issue?
Yes - OnePlus offers a lifetime screen warranty in India covering the green-line defect on OnePlus 8 series and later, provided the display has no physical cracks. Do not get a third-party repair first; it will void the claim.
Will the green line spread?
Usually. Most reports describe the line widening or additional lines appearing over the following weeks rather than the fault staying stable.
Does a screen protector or case prevent the green line?
No. It is an internal hardware defect. Nothing fitted to the outside of the phone affects it.
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