Can A Cracked Ipad Screen Be Repaired

Apple iPads aren't cheap, and neither is getting one'southward screen repaired. Apple tree's one-year warranty doesn't cover accidental harm, so unless your iPad's screen has a hairline crack due to defective drinking glass (and no obvious sign of drop affect), get ready to bust out your credit carte du jour.

Here's everything you need to know most getting an Apple tree iPad screen fixed.

No iPads were hurt in the process of this mail.
Josh Miller/CNET

Accept Apple fix information technology

Getting your screen replaced by Apple is pretty inexpensive -- if you have AppleCare.

AppleCare costs $99 dollars for two years and it covers ii incidents of accidental damage for a $49 service fee. It'southward available upon buy, but yous also have 60 days after buy to buy it.

If you don't accept AppleCare, information technology volition cost about the price of a new (refurbished) iPad to fix your screen. Apple tree charges anywhere from $199 to $599 (plus taxation) to set a cleaved iPad screen, depending on the model. That's a lot, particularly compared to $129 to $149 tofix an out-of-coverage iPhone seven screen.

If yous tin't go to an Apple store, yous can mail service your device to Apple for a shipping fee of $6.95.

Fixing a cracked iPad screen tin cost every bit much as buying a refurbished iPad.
Josh Miller/CNET

Have a tertiary party gear up information technology

There are other places to get your iPad screen fixed, simply choosing a non-Apple repair shop will void your warranty. And yeah, Apple tin can tell if a non-Apple employee has opened up your iPad. Just if you're out of warranty anyway, in that location's a number of third-party Apple tree repair places that can fix your iPad's shattered screen.

When you're shopping around for a good repair visitor, there are a few questions yous'll want to ask before handing over your device:

How much will it toll?
How long volition it take?
What type of warranty practice you offer?
Where exercise they get their replacement parts from?

Since the third-party company will be voiding your Apple warranty, you want to brand sure they'll stand up backside their piece of work and parts -- the last thing you want is a crack-free but defective screen.

Local mom-and-pop reckoner repair stores (yes, they withal exist) are oft a adept place to try for a third-party repair. Merely bank check for reviews and get a solid quote up-front end. We recently profiled a handful of contained computer shops in New York, many of which specialize in Apple repairs.

We don't recommend a DIY arroyo to getting your iPad's screen fixed.
Josh Miller/CNET

Don't do-information technology-yourself

You can find drinking glass replacement kits and dense DIY tutorials online that show you how to fix your iPad screen yourself, but trust us, yous don't want to practice this yourself.

Replacing the drinking glass is much more than hard than replacing the unabridged touchscreen, because you will need to separate the drinking glass from the touchscreen and so glue the new piece of glass onto the one-time touchscreen. That's something you should get out to professionals.

If you really want to requite it a shot, proceed in mind that a touchscreen replacement kit, including the LCD screen and digitizer, can cost between $30 and $400, depending on which components you demand and the model. We oasis't tested these replacement parts ourselves and do not recommend information technology.

Plus, with the DIY approach, y'all will void your warranty and have nobody just yourself to blame if something goes wrong. Replacing the screen will cost you equally much, if not more, than but taking your device to the Apple store.

Deal with information technology

If you're curt on cash, or are simply dealing with a pocket-size cleft, yous can also endeavor to make the best of what y'all got.

Information technology won't await pretty, just you don't need to replace your screen when information technology cracks. If the cracks are effectually the edges of the screen and don't interfere with actually using the phone, or if you take one or two large cracks that come across the screen, a glass screen protector such equally Zagg's glass screen protector ($30-$50) so you lot don't cut your fingers every bit y'all swipe.

(If your screen is absolutely shattered, a glass screen protector will keep y'all from getting cut, but your iPad may still be unusable.)