Not all iPhone screen problems are hardware failures. If your iPhone 7 Plus is experiencing screen flickering—especially after an iOS update or while using certain apps—you might be able to fix it yourself without a trip to the Apple Store.
Here’s a full troubleshooting guide to help you identify and fix screen flickering on your iPhone 7 Plus.
What Causes Screen Flickering on iPhone 7 Plus?
- Software bugs (especially after updates)
- Corrupted apps like Camera, FaceTime, or iWork apps
- Memory issues (low storage or crashes)
- Hardware damage (only if the device was dropped or exposed to water)
If your iPhone hasn’t suffered any physical damage, it’s likely a software problem—and good news: it’s usually fixable!
How to Fix Screen Flickering on iPhone 7 Plus
Step 1: Soft Reset Your iPhone
A simple restart clears temporary glitches.
How to soft reset:
- Hold the Power button until you see the red slider.
- Slide to power off.
- After 30 seconds, turn the iPhone back on.
If the screen is frozen:
- Press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons together until the Apple logo appears.
Step 2: Enable “Reduce Transparency”
Reducing transparency effects can sometimes stop flickering.
To enable it:
- Go to Settings > General > Accessibility.
- Turn on Reduce Transparency.
Step 3: Disable iCloud Sync for iWork Apps
If screen issues happen when using Pages, Keynote, or Numbers:
- Go to Settings > iCloud > Documents & Data.
- Turn off syncing for Pages, Keynote, and Numbers.
Step 4: Factory Restore Using iTunes
If the issue persists, restoring your iPhone to factory settings may help.
Before you begin:
- Backup your iPhone using iCloud or iTunes.
To restore:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes.
- Select your device.
- Click Restore iPhone under the Summary tab.
Tip: Set your iPhone up as new to avoid reloading any corrupt data.
Step 5: Try Third-Party iOS Repair Tools
Apps like ReiBoot can help fix iOS system issues without data loss.
Use one of these tools to attempt a “Repair iOS” process if you want to avoid restoring through iTunes.
Special Cases: Screen Flickering During Camera Use
If flickering only happens while using the Camera app:
Turn Off Portrait Mode
- Open Settings > Photos & Camera.
- Enable Keep Normal Photo.
- Use standard camera modes instead of Portrait (beta).
Disable 60 FPS Video Recording
Recording at 60 FPS can sometimes cause instability.
To change it:
- Go to Settings > Photos & Camera.
- Set recording to 30 FPS.
Update to the Latest iOS Version
Apple often releases fixes for bugs like flickering:
- Settings > General > Software Update.
Install any available updates to patch known problems.
When to Contact Apple Support
If screen flickering continues even after trying everything—and especially if it’s combined with touchscreen unresponsiveness or happened after a drop—you may have a hardware issue.
Contact Apple Support or visit a Genius Bar to have your iPhone checked professionally.