A smashed screen shows the obvious damage, but it rarely tells the whole story. A phone can also have a bent frame, loose charging port, damaged camera or weak battery after the same accident.
Before we accept a parcel at Repair My Crack, our phone repair checklist starts with clear photos. They help us understand what happened, record the device’s condition and spot symptoms that may disappear before testing begins.
Build a phone repair checklist before packing
Take the photos before removing the phone from daily use. Use bright, even light and place the handset on a plain surface. Avoid flash if it creates glare across the screen.
Capture these views:
- Photograph the front with the screen switched off, then take another image with it switched on.
- Take a clear picture of the rear glass, including the camera area and any cracks.
- Photograph each edge and corner, especially dents, gaps, lifted glass or a bent frame.
- Take close-ups of chips, deep scratches, shattered sections and areas where the screen is lifting.
- Photograph the charging port, speaker grilles, buttons and SIM tray.
- If the phone still works, photograph the model details in Settings. Keep the IMEI private rather than sharing it in a public post.
Take the pictures before applying tape or putting the phone in a case. Keep the original files on your computer or cloud storage, because messaging apps can reduce image quality. A clear record also helps when comparing the condition at arrival with the condition after repair.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
Show the fault, not only the damage
A photo of a crack is useful, but a photo of the phone’s behaviour can be even more helpful. Photograph screen or display fault symptoms such as coloured lines, black patches, flickering, dead touch areas, ghost touches or uneven brightness.
If touch still works, open a plain white screen and a dark screen. This makes marks, lines and bright spots easier to see. Take a picture of any warning message, unusual battery symbol or charging notification.
For a device-won’t-turn-on-or-won’t-charge diagnosis, photograph the handset connected to a known-good cable and charger. If the phone only charges at one angle, capture that position. A short video can help with intermittent faults, such as a button that works only sometimes or a display that flickers when the phone moves.
We recently saw an iPhone 12 with shattered front glass but a working image and mostly normal touch. Several days later, dead areas appeared near the impact point. The original photos showed the starting condition, while the later symptoms helped confirm that the complete screen assembly needed attention rather than a cosmetic glass repair.
Don’t keep pressing a cracked display to test it. Sharp glass can catch skin, and repeated pressure can worsen damage beneath the panel.
Record what happened to the handset
Write down the basic story while you still remember it. Include whether the phone fell onto a corner, landed face-down, was sat on, got wet or suffered pressure inside a bag. Mention when the fault first appeared and whether anything changed afterwards.
An iPhone component fault after a drop may involve the charging port, camera, Face ID parts or an internal connector, even when the screen still lights up. The same applies to a Samsung component fault after a drop, where a soft button, intermittent charging or a loose camera can be missed from the outside.
With a Google Pixel component fault after a drop, photograph the side buttons closely. We recently checked a Pixel whose volume-down key felt soft after a pavement impact. The display looked fine, but the side rail had shifted against the button assembly.
For an iPad component fault or diagnosis, photograph the whole frame and every corner. The larger laminated display can suffer damage to the glass, touch layer and LCD together. A picture showing whether the tablet still responds to touch gives the repairer more useful information before it arrives.
This detail supports phone hardware troubleshooting in the UK, particularly when a device has several symptoms but only one obvious mark.
Protect your data before sending the phone
Photos document the handset, but they don’t protect your personal data. Back up photos, contacts, messages and app data before posting the device if it still works.
Apple’s official service preparation guidance covers backing up an iPhone or iPad and preparing it for repair. Pixel owners can also follow Google’s Pixel backup instructions before troubleshooting, resetting or sending a handset away.
Before packing, remove the SIM card and any memory card. Follow the repairer’s instructions about Find My, device locks and testing access. Never write your banking password, Apple Account password or screen passcode on the outside of the parcel.
Some repairs need a passcode so technicians can test cameras, speakers, charging and biometric functions. We explain why this may be needed in our passcode guidance for postal phone repairs. If you don’t want to share your usual code, ask whether a temporary passcode is suitable.
If the battery looks swollen, the screen is lifting or the phone becomes unusually hot, stop using it. Don’t post a device showing signs of a dangerous battery fault without speaking to the repairer first.
Send useful information with the parcel
When booking, give the exact model and describe the fault in plain language. “The screen is cracked” is helpful, but “the top-left corner cracked after a drop, touch still works, and charging now stops at 40%” gives us a much better starting point.
Add the order number inside the package, then wrap the phone securely so it cannot move around. We provide tracked Royal Mail options for customers across the UK, while local customers can arrange an appointment-only drop-off in Harlow, Essex. Our accredited technicians inspect the whole device before chargeable work where possible.
Clear photos can speed up communication, but they don’t replace proper testing. A hard impact may reveal a different fault once the handset is opened. If no fault is found, an inspection fee may apply under our standard charges. If testing changes the expected repair, we contact you with the available options before proceeding where possible.
Our postal iPhone screen repair guide also covers the booking and packing process for mail-in repairs.
Why this phone repair checklist saves time
A useful phone repair checklist records the front, back, edges, ports, symptoms and exact story behind the damage. It also gives you a proper backup and a safer handover.
Take the photos before the parcel leaves your hands, keep your personal details private and describe every fault you have noticed. When you need a repair, you can book online and send the device securely, or arrange a Harlow appointment if you’re nearby.
James Waterston, Device Repair Specialist at Repair My Crack