Seeing weird flickering, flashing lines, or screen glitches on your iPhone 6s Plus? You’re not alone. From gray lines and camera glitches to full-on screen flickering, many users have dealt with these frustrating display issues. While some cases are hardware-related, many others are caused by software bugs, faulty apps, or even just low memory. Here’s how to troubleshoot and (hopefully) fix it without heading to the repair shop.
Common Causes of iPhone 6s Plus Screen Flickering
- Rogue or buggy apps
- Faulty camera settings
- Poor software optimization
- iOS bugs or update issues
- Low storage or memory problems
- Physical damage (drops or water exposure)
1. Do a Soft or Hard Reset
Sometimes a quick reboot is all it takes.
Soft Reset:
- Press and hold the Power button.
- When the red slider appears, slide to power off.
- Wait 20 seconds, then press and hold the Power button again until you see the Apple logo.
Hard Reset (Force Restart):
- Press and hold the Home and Power buttons at the same time.
- Keep holding for about 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears.
2. Enable ‘Reduce Transparency’
This has helped some users reduce flickering or white boxes on screen.
- Go to Settings > General > Accessibility.
- Tap Increase Contrast.
- Toggle Reduce Transparency to ON.
3. Check iPhone Storage and Free Up Space
Low memory can cause performance issues and display glitches.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- If you’re running low, delete unused apps, large videos, or old messages.
4. Turn Off iCloud Sync for iWork Apps
If flickering happens in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive.
- Find Pages, Keynote, and Numbers and toggle them OFF.
5. Fix Flickering When Using the Camera
If your screen glitches only when using the camera or FaceTime, try this:
- Go to Settings > Camera.
- Disable Portrait Mode and set video to record at 30 FPS instead of 60 FPS.
- Restart your iPhone and check again.
6. Update to the Latest iOS Version
Some iOS updates (like iOS 10.3 for older devices) contain crucial bug fixes.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If there’s an update available, install it.
7. Disable Background App Syncing
Apps syncing in the background can hog CPU and GPU resources.
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Turn it off completely or limit it to only essential apps.
8. Restore Your iPhone via iTunes
If the issue persists, a full system restore may help.
⚠️ Back up your data first — this will wipe your phone.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
- Select your device and click Restore iPhone under the Summary tab.
- Follow the on-screen steps to complete the process.
9. Try Third-Party iOS Repair Tools
Apps like ReiBoot or Dr.Fone – Repair can fix system issues like flickering screens without wiping your data.
- Download the tool from the developer’s site.
- Follow the instructions for entering Recovery Mode or Standard Mode repair.
Be sure to use trusted sources only when downloading tools.
10. Check for Hardware Damage
If you’ve dropped your iPhone or it got wet—even weeks ago—screen issues could be tied to internal damage.
- Look for signs like screen separation or discoloration.
- If the screen is unresponsive or randomly flickers after a drop, visit an Apple Store or authorized repair center.
I am having issues with my iPhone 6S. It is stalling and started typing ccccccc and random text in a text message. It also froze on me in the middle of an email. Then, it switch b/t an application and my text message. I tired to soft reboot. But when I turned it back on this morning.. It keyed in password and disabled my phone for 1 min. I just left the sprint store and they told me to go reset it. I have a lot of info, pics on my phone and I do not want to lose them. Please Help me… how can I fix this??