Hey! If your LG phone screen shows lines (vertical stripes, horizontal bands, or a single green/pink line), we can narrow down what kind of issue it is with safe checks — no risky “open the phone” steps, and no “wipe everything” advice.

First, it helps to name what you’re seeing because different patterns point to different causes:
• One thin line (often green/pink/white) that stays in the same spot
• Multiple vertical lines like barcode stripes
• Horizontal lines that come and go (sometimes with flicker)
• Lines only in one app (camera, games) vs lines everywhere (home screen, lock screen)

Answer any of these in any order:
1) Which LG model? (G7/G8, V series, Velvet, Stylo, K series, etc.)
2) When did the lines start? After a drop, pressure in a pocket, a screen protector change, water/steam, or a system update?
3) Do the lines show on the boot logo (LG logo when restarting) or only after the phone fully loads?

Thanks — a single vertical green line that’s visible across the system (home screen + apps) is a very specific symptom. It can still be either software or hardware, but the “across everything” part pushes us to test for a display-layer issue rather than a single app bug.

Before we jump to conclusions, I like to run two quick, safe “separation tests” that don’t require tools:
• Screenshot test: Take a screenshot and view it on another device (or send it to yourself). If the line is visible in the screenshot on a different screen, that suggests a software/graphics rendering issue. If the screenshot looks normal on another device, the line is likely in the phone’s display hardware path (panel/connector).
• Boot/logo test: If the line appears on the LG boot logo during restart, that strongly leans hardware because the OS isn’t really involved yet.

A couple quick questions (answer whichever is easiest):
1) Can you still take screenshots normally?
2) Is the phone also flickering, dimming, or showing “ghosting”?
3) Any screen protector or case edge pressing the display? Sometimes pressure can make lines appear or get worse.

That screenshot result is a strong clue: if the screenshot looks clean on another device, the phone is “drawing” the image correctly, but the panel is displaying it with a line. That usually points to the display itself, its driver path, or sometimes pressure/connection issues — especially with a single straight line that doesn’t move.

Since you mentioned a thick case with a raised edge, a safe (and reversible) check is simply removing the case for a while and seeing if the line changes at all — not “fixed,” just changes. With some phones, pressure on the frame can make a line appear more noticeable.

Another safe observation that helps a lot: does the line change with brightness? For example, is it more visible at low brightness, or only on dark backgrounds? If you can’t test now, no worries — it’s just a useful clue for later.

Also, since you keep it in a pocket: did it ever get warm while charging? Overheating can sometimes come with weird display behavior. If charging seems involved, keep this handy: Android phone charging very slowly – what to do next (different symptom, but the same “heat/power clues” approach).

More visible on dark backgrounds is very common with a “single line” display symptom. It doesn’t prove one exact cause, but it supports the idea that this is happening at the display/panel level rather than inside one app.

Here’s the “simple explanation” of what we’re trying to separate:
• Software/graphics issue: lines show up in screenshots, often come and go, might appear only after an update or only in specific apps.
• Display hardware path issue: lines do not show in screenshots, may show even on the boot logo, often triggered by impact, pressure, heat, or aging of the panel/driver.

Since yours doesn’t show in screenshots, the safest next steps are more about evidence gathering than “do this and it’s gone.” A couple low-risk checks:
1) Restart once and watch the LG logo screen — note whether the line appears before Android loads.
2) Remove the case for a day (just as a test) and avoid tight pockets/pressure on the frame.
3) Check for moisture exposure (bathroom steam, rain, condensation) even if you didn’t “drop it in water.”

One more question: is touch working perfectly? Any random taps, dead zones, or “touch lag”? Lines + touch issues together can be a different category than lines alone.

If it’s visible on the boot logo, that’s one of the strongest “hardware-leaning” clues — because Android apps and settings aren’t driving that image yet. Since you’re not totally sure, it’s worth watching closely one more time (no rush).

I also want to ask a question people don’t expect: did anything change right before you noticed it? Not just drops — things like a new charger/cable, a new case, a long charging session in heat, or even a system update can coincide with when you finally notice a line.

If you *did* recently update, a safe “software sanity check” is confirming updates and testing in Safe Mode briefly — not because it “fixes lines,” but because it helps rule out a graphics/app overlay issue. (If you ever get a stuck screen instead, this is relevant: Android phone camera shows black screen – simple explanation — different symptom, similar diagnostic logic.)

Also: if you use an SD card and the phone has been laggy lately, storage pressure can cause weird display stutters (not usually a perfect straight line, but it can confuse the picture). Related: Android phone SD card slow – simple explanation.

I get why you’d ask that. The honest answer is: some lines stay exactly the same for a long time, and some get worse — and the best predictor is the pattern you already found (screenshot clean + possibly visible on boot logo). That’s why I focus on safe checks that clarify risk rather than promising outcomes.

Practical “what to do next” without going into full repair territory:
• Treat it gently for a bit — avoid pressure on the screen/frame, avoid tight pockets, and avoid heat while charging.
• Use a reliable charger — especially avoid cheap car chargers that run hot or deliver unstable power. If you’ve also seen battery weirdness lately, this guide can help you think through symptoms: Android phone battery not charging – easy help for seniors.
• Re-check the boot logo test carefully once (it’s quick, and it’s strong evidence).
• Document it — a photo/video of the line on the lock screen and on the boot logo can be helpful if you ever need warranty/repair options.

And a safety note (not panic): if you ever notice screen swelling, lifting, or unusual heat, stop charging and get it checked. That overlaps with battery issues more than display lines, but it’s worth mentioning. If overnight drain/heat becomes a thing: Android phone battery drains overnight – simple explanation.

You’ve got the logic right: a clean screenshot usually points away from “Android drawing a line” and toward the display hardware path. For safe checks, you’re already doing the best ones.

A couple more gentle, low-risk observations that can help you decide your next move (without turning this into a DIY teardown):
• Does the line ever change color or thickness? A perfectly stable line is different from a line that flickers or spreads with movement/pressure.
• Does it show in Recovery or before unlock? Anything visible outside normal apps (boot logo, lock screen, recovery) is another “hardware-leaning” clue.
• Does rotating the screen change anything? If it stays in the same physical spot on the panel regardless of rotation, that’s consistent with panel-level behavior.

If at any point the phone also starts showing a black screen (but you still hear sounds/vibrations), that’s a separate track: Android phone camera shows black screen – easy help for seniors can help you describe symptoms clearly.

Bottom line: gather a couple strong clues (boot logo + screenshot test + whether it changes with pressure/heat), then you’ll know whether it’s a “monitor it” situation or something that likely needs a screen service option.