Is it worth fixing my iPhone screen before selling it?

Only if the repair costs clearly less than the difference between the phone's cracked value and its intact value. Get a quote for both before booking a repair.

Can I sell an iPhone with a black screen?

Often, yes, but it is worth less, because the buyer can't easily test the rest of the phone. Erase it and remove it from your Apple Account in Find Devices at iCloud.com first (see the steps above). Tell the buyer what happened, such as a drop or water, so the quote reflects reality.

Will a buyer know if my screen was replaced?

On iPhone 11 and later (except SE 2nd and 3rd generation), a replaced display shows up in Parts and Service History, and a non-genuine one is marked "Unknown." Be upfront about past repairs.

Selling an iPhone With a Cracked Screen: Repair First or Sell As-Is?

By Vilicus Electronics · Updated October 12, 2026

Yes, you can sell an iPhone with a cracked screen. Most buyers, including us, will make an offer on one; the damage just lowers the price. Whether you should fix it first comes down to one comparison: does the repair cost less than the extra money the phone is worth with a good screen? On a recent, higher-value iPhone repaired with genuine parts, it sometimes does. On an older model, or with a cheap replacement screen, selling as-is usually leaves more money in your pocket.

This guide walks through how to work that out for your phone, what buyers look at when they see a crack, and how to get a cracked iPhone ready to sell.

First, check what is actually broken

"Cracked" covers a lot of different problems, and buyers price them differently. Before you get a quote, look closely:

Screen protector or screen? Peel back the corner of the protector. A cracked protector over an intact screen is not a cracked screen.
Glass only, or the display too? If the glass is cracked but the picture is clean and touch works everywhere, the damage is mostly cosmetic. Lines, black or green spots, flickering or dead touch areas mean the display panel underneath is damaged too.
Front, back or both? Cracked back glass is a separate repair from the screen.
Does everything else work? Check Face ID, both cameras, speakers, charging and buttons. A hard drop that cracked the screen can damage other parts.

Write this down or take clear photos. It is what a buyer will ask for, and it lets them give you a number you can rely on.

The repair-or-sell math

You need three numbers:

	What it is	Where to get it
A	What the phone is worth with an intact screen	Ask a buyer for a quote "as if the screen were perfect"
B	What the phone is worth as it is now, cracked	A quote based on your photos
C	What the repair costs	Apple's repair estimate tool or a local repair shop

If A minus B is clearly bigger than C, repairing first can make sense. If the gap is small, or C is close to it, sell as-is: you save the money, the waiting and the risk that the repair turns up another problem.

Two things change the math:

AppleCare+. Apple says its AppleCare plans cover "unlimited repairs for drops and spills," with a service fee for each repair. If your plan is still active, check that fee before deciding. It may make the repair worth doing.
The kind of replacement screen. This one is easy to get wrong, so it gets its own section.

Why a cheap replacement screen can cost you money

On iPhone 11 and later (except iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation), iOS keeps a record of repairs under Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History. If the display has been replaced with a non-genuine part, it shows as "Unknown" there (Apple also uses that label for parts it can't verify). On iPhone 11 the history also covers the battery; on iPhone 12 and later it adds the logic board and cameras. (Apple: iPhone Parts and Service History)

Apple also lists problems that non-genuine displays can cause: touch not responding on parts of the screen, True Tone not working correctly, uneven or lower maximum brightness, and unexpected battery drain. (Apple: About genuine iPhone displays)

Most buyers who resell phones check that screen in Settings. A phone with an "Unknown" display is harder to resell, so it gets a lower offer. If you are going to repair a phone so you can sell it, the cheapest screen is often the wrong choice. Compare the cost of a genuine repair against your A minus B gap, not the cost of the cheapest option.

When selling as-is usually makes sense

Older models. The gap between cracked and intact value is smaller, so a repair rarely pays for itself.
The display is damaged, not just the glass. Lines, dead spots or touch problems mean the whole display has to be replaced, and a drop hard enough to cause them can damage other parts too.
There is other damage. Back glass, a bent frame or Face ID problems add up quickly.
You want the money now. A repair can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on parts and the shop.

When repairing first can make sense

A recent model with only screen damage, where a genuine repair costs much less than the A minus B gap.
You have AppleCare and the screen repair fee is low compared with the value difference.
You plan to keep using it for a while before selling. Then the repair is worth it for you, not just for the sale.

What else affects the offer on a cracked iPhone

The crack is one factor. Buyers also look at:

Model and storage. These set the starting value.
Battery health, found under Settings > Battery.
Carrier lock. Unlocked phones are easiest to resell, though many buyers take carrier-locked phones too.
Whether parts have been replaced before, shown in Parts and Service History.
Box and charger. They help a little, but they won't make or break the deal.

Getting a cracked iPhone ready to sell

A buyer can't take a phone that is still linked to your Apple Account. If you skip this step, the sale stops. Apple calls the link Activation Lock. It stays on until you sign out, or until you erase and remove the phone in Find Devices at iCloud.com.

If the screen still works:

Back up to iCloud or your computer.
Unpair your Apple Watch if you have one, and cancel or transfer AppleCare.
If you had the phone repaired, check Parts and Service History for a "Finish Repair" message and complete it.
Sign out of your Apple Account in Settings.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. If you use an eSIM, choose to erase it when asked.

Apple's full checklist is here: What to do before you sell or give away your iPhone.

If the screen is too damaged to use:

You can still do this without touching the phone:

Sign in at iCloud.com/find, select the phone and choose Erase This Device. You don't need to enter a phone number or message, since the phone isn't lost. If the phone is offline, the erase starts the next time it connects, so keep it charged and on Wi-Fi or cellular if you can. (Apple: Erase a device)
Once the erase is done, choose Remove This Device. (Apple: Remove a device)

Also take out your SIM card if it has a physical one.

Selling a cracked iPhone in the Toronto area

We buy most cracked and scuffed iPhones, from the iPhone 11 and SE up to the latest Pro Max. The damage lowers the price, but it doesn't stop the sale.

Send us a photo of the damage along with the model and storage. You can also use our instant estimate or text or call us.
We meet you anywhere in Toronto and the GTA, or you can meet us somewhere that's easier for you.
We check the phone together and pay cash on the spot. If something we find changes the number, we'll show you why.

We only buy phones that are fully paid off, not reported lost or stolen, and signed out of the owner's Apple Account.