Fixing an iPhone Screen With a Lighter Isn’t Just Fake—It’s Dangerous

A TikTok video is taking social media platforms by storm. It claims to show how to “magically fix” a smartphone screen using nothing but a lighter. The clip has racked up more than 13 million views, spawning a wave of similar videos—featuring Samsung, iPhone, and other brands—all attempting a so-called hack that’s a ticking time bomb.

It has all the ingredients for virality: it’s eye-popping, looks easy, promises to save money, and involves literal fire magic. But as a former certified Apple technician, I have to be clear: this isn’t just fake—it’s hazardous.

The “Lighter Fix” Is a Complete Hoax

The video appears to show something miraculous: A phone with screen damage—black-and-white lines—suddenly works again after someone waves a lighter over it for a few seconds. The original poster (@lucascastro420) seems stunned, sharing it with the world. Millions of views later, people are saying, “I’m going to try this at home.”

The phone in the video is an Android, but similar clips claim the trick works on iPhones too. Here’s the truth: it’s a setup. The screen isn’t broken. It’s an animation—a video synced with the motion of the hand and flame, designed to fool viewers into thinking the screen repairs itself.

Frankly, I’m not shocked. In my years as an Apple technician, I saw countless devices ruined by “internet fixes.” None of them ended with a working iPhone—or a happy customer.

What Really Happens When You Put a Flame Near Your iPhone?

Let’s break it down. Even if your phone isn’t broken and you just want to join in on TikTok or Instagram, you’re playing with fire—literally.

• You can destroy your screen. Phone screens have delicate layered materials that melt under heat. The video is staged. In real life, you’ll burn the screen.
• Your battery might explode. iPhone batteries can swell, ignite, and explode under high heat—even if they’re enclosed in the phone casing.
• You’ll melt internal components. The USB-C port, speaker grills, microphones—all exposed components—can be damaged by open flame. Even though the iPhone has a metal body, lighter flames reach 1,650 to 1,830 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to do serious damage.

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I’ve Seen Worse as an Apple Technician

I’ve repaired just about every Apple product. I’ve also seen customers come in with phones in shockingly bad shape after trying “creative” fixes.

Here are just a few:

• Super glue in the Lightning port. One customer applied glue to “trap the lint” inside the port. It worked—he trapped everything, including the ability to charge his phone.
• Baking the phone. Another customer said, “I put it in the oven at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes to dry it.” The result: a melted electronic brick.
• Punctured speaker. Someone pierced the speaker mesh with a needle to “clean it thoroughly.”
• Toothpaste on the screen. A YouTube tutorial claimed it would remove scratches. It didn’t—it left the screen dull and scuffed.
• Wrapped in plastic. To “waterproof” their phone, one person wrapped it completely in plastic. Then summer heat caused it to overheat.
• Sanding the frame. Someone sanded their iPhone X to “bring back the original shine.” Instead, they stripped the protective coating and exposed the base metal.

These viral videos succeed for one simple reason: They tap into a basic human instinct. We want to believe in magic solutions—cheap, easy, immediate fixes. But the truth is, modern technology isn’t built to be fixed with home tools. Apple engineers didn’t leave behind a secret repair method that involves lighters and trick videos only TikTokers know about.

If your screen isn’t working, there are legitimate things you can try force restart your iPhone, update to the latest iOS version, restore your iPhone using a computer, and visit an authorized repair service. And if all else fails, get professional help. Yes, it may cost money—but it’s still cheaper than replacing your iPhone.

This goes deeper than one fake hack. We live in a time when content is valued by its impact. A video with 2 million views brings influence, followers—and money—to the creator. While you or I might watch and say, “That’s ridiculous,” some people will try it. Even when it’s clearly dangerous.

Just ask the customer who baked his phone trying to dry it. Good intentions. Bad result.

Image | TikTok

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