easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their smartphone's screen…
A user complains that their smartphone's screen protector has started peeling off at the edges after a few weeks. They installed it themselves. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA A+ often tests the misconception that peeling is caused by product quality or case interference, when the real culprit is improper surface preparation—a common real-world mistake that candidates overlook because they assume the user followed instructions correctly.
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
✓
The user did not clean the screen properly before installation, leaving dust or oil.
Improper cleaning leaves dust, oil, or debris on the screen, which creates microscopic gaps between the adhesive and the glass. These contaminants prevent full adhesion, causing the edges to lift over time as the protector is subjected to daily handling and temperature changes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The screen protector is of low quality and does not fit the device model.
Why it's wrong here
Poor quality or a mismatched model would typically show bubbles, misaligned cutouts or lifting from day one. Peeling at the edges after several weeks indicates the adhesive bond failed gradually, most often from dust or oil trapped during a self-installation, or from flexing at the curved edges.
- ✓
The user did not clean the screen properly before installation, leaving dust or oil.
Why this is correct
Adhesive failure at the edges stems from contamination trapped beneath the film. Dust, oil or fingerprints left on the glass prevent proper bonding, so the protector lifts after normal handling. Cleaning with an alcohol wipe before application avoids this.
- ✗
The smartphone case is too tight and pushes the protector off.
Why it's wrong here
A tight case presses on the protector's edges, but that pressure is constant and would lift the protector immediately, not after weeks. Cases are designed around the device's outer dimensions. Peeling after several weeks points to adhesive curing or trapped dust, not case interference.
- ✗
The device's screen has a factory oleophobic coating that repels the adhesive.
Why it's wrong here
Oleophobic coatings resist fingerprints and oil, not pressure-sensitive adhesive, and manufacturers expect protectors to be applied over them. If the coating genuinely repelled adhesive, the protector would never stick at all rather than peeling only at the edges weeks later.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
SSD TRIM, Wear Leveling, and Over-Provisioning
Key term
Smartphone
A smartphone is a handheld mobile device that combines cellular communication with computing capabilities, running an operating system that supports third-party applications, internet connectivity, and a touchscreen interface.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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