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220-1202 Practice Question: That their Android phone's screen is flickering…
A user reports that their Android phone's screen is flickering and the touch response is erratic after they dropped it. They have already tried a reboot. Which built-in diagnostic tool should you use to test the touchscreen and display functionality without any third-party apps?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA tests the distinction between software troubleshooting and hardware diagnostics. Safe Mode is the standard built-in tool to rule out third-party app conflicts; if the issue persists in Safe Mode, it points to a hardware fault. Vendor-specific service codes (e.g., Samsung *#0*#) are useful hardware tests but are not available on all Android devices, so they are not the universal answer.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Boot the device into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists.
Safe Mode is the built-in Android diagnostic that boots the device with all third-party apps disabled. If the flickering and erratic touch persist in Safe Mode, the cause is hardware (consistent with the drop); if the symptoms disappear, a third-party app is the culprit. It requires no third-party tools and works on any Android device. Manufacturer-specific dialer codes such as Samsung's *#0*# do provide hardware test menus, but they are not universal and do not exist on many Android phones, so they cannot be the general answer for an unspecified Android device.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Boot the device into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists.
Why this is correct
Safe Mode disables third-party apps but does not provide a hardware diagnostic; it only helps determine if an app is causing the issue.
- ✗
Open the phone dialer and enter the hardware test code (e.g., *#0*#).
Why it's wrong here
Entering *#0*# in the dialer launches Samsung's built-in hardware test menu, which includes dedicated touch and display tests. This satisfies the stem's constraint of no third-party apps, letting you verify digitizer response and screen output directly after the drop, confirming whether the flickering stems from hardware damage.
- ✗
Enable 'Show taps' in Developer Options.
Why it's wrong here
This setting only shows a visual indicator when you touch the screen; it does not run a diagnostic or test the display itself.
- ✗
Perform a factory reset from Recovery Mode.
Why it's wrong here
A factory reset is a data-destructive measure that will not fix physical hardware damage caused by a drop.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.