iPhone screen gone black, and you don’t know why? Could it be water damage, overheating, or a connectivity issue within the device that’s causing the problem? If you’re wondering ‘why has my iPhone screen gone black’ and want to know how to fix it, our ‘iPhone won’t turn on: troubleshooting tips’ guide might be able to help you!
There could be a number of reasons why your iPhone screen went black, and unfortunately, they’re not all fixable. However, if you want to do everything you can to get your device working, we’ve got some suggestions – with some of them requiring Apple repairs.
Below, we will go through some reasons why your phone may be damaged, and how to get rid of black screen on iPhone devices.
Reasons Your iPhone Might not Turn on
If you want to know how to fix black screen on iPhone devices, you need to understand the cause of the black screen. Some causes are very straightforward and have simple solutions, while others are more complex and will require the assistance of a tech professional at a mobile repairs company – like us at im Fixed.
Dead Battery
The first potential issue is simply that the battery is dead. This is what we all hope the issue is, because it’s an easy fix.
The issue here could be that you just forgot to charge your phone, or there’s an issue with your charging cable. In some cases, there may be a failed or dead battery involved, which will need to be replaced.
Other Reasons Why Your iPhone Isn’t Turning On
- Connectivity Issue Between Internal Components – phones are sensitive, and if there is an issue with its internal components, your best bet is to take it to a trusted repair shop like us
- Water Damage – if you suspect your phone has experienced water damage, check out our blog that walks you through what to do
- Software Issues & iOS Updates – numerous software issues could have occurred, and iOS update issues can leave your phone unresponsive. We’ll walk you through how to handle this.
- Physical Damage – shattered screens, damaged batteries, there could be a number of reasons why your iPhone isn’t turning on due to physical damage, and you should take it to a trusted repair shop for fixing
iPhone Won't Turn On: Troubleshooting Tips
Now, for the star of our ‘iPhone won’t turn on: troubleshooting tips’ blog – the troubleshooting part. Below, we’ll go through some of the best ways to overcome the dreaded black screen, and you can take steps to bring your iPhone back to life.
Force Restart Your Device
Depending on the iPhone model you have, you will need to take different steps to force restart your device. We will outline the steps for different models below.
For iPhones that Support iOS 16 or Later
- Quickly press the volume up button and release
- Quickly press the volume down button and release
- Hold down the side button
- Release the side button when the Apple logo shows
For iPhones that Don’t Support iOS 16 (iPhones 6, 7, 8 and SE (1st Gen)
- iPhone 6 models and iPhone SE (1st Gen) – Hold down the home and sleep/wake button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 7 – Hold down the sleep/wake button and volume down button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Gen) – Quickly press the volume up button and release, then do the same with the volume down button. Hold down the side button, and release it when you see the Apple logo
Charge Your Phone
If you suspect that your battery is dead, all you should need to do is charge it. It sounds simple, but there may be an issue with your charging cable if it isn’t working, or your phone battery may be dead and in need of repair.
See if it’s Overheating or Freezing
You should be able to tell if your iPhone is overheating or freezing simply by touching it and feeling how hot or cold it is. An icy cold iPhone will be due to the weather, so do keep an eye out for this, because we’ve seen it happen!
An overheating phone, however, could be caused by a number of things, with the weather also playing a role. Heavy data use, poor signal, faulty batteries, or too much sunlight can all cause an iPhone to overheat and shut down.
So, the first thing to do would be to put your iPhone somewhere cooler. To cool your black-screened iPhone down, you can:
- Make sure it is not charging
- Take the case off
- Put it in the shade (never put your phone in the fridge, we know it’s tempting)
- Fan it with a book, paper, or anything else you have on hand
Use Recovery Mode to Update iOS
If your iPhone is getting stuck on the Apple logo screen or anywhere else while It's starting up, there may be an iOS issue. You can try to update your iOS in Recovery Mode (you will need the latest version of iTunes on a Windows or Mac laptop/PC).
- Connect your Windows/Mac device to the phone
- Do a force restart (steps outlined in an above section) to get your phone in Recovery Mode
- Don’t let go of the buttons until the phone screen has the Recovery mode screen (a charging cable with an arrow pointed at a laptop)
- Select ‘update’ when the option to restore or update on your computer shows up
- Confirm, then follow the instructions given to you (it can take up to 15 minutes, so have some patience)
- Your phone will restart on its own once you’re done
Use DFU Mode to Update iOS
A DFU (Device Firmware Update) is another way of restoring your device, but it is the deepest option. It’s similar to the Recovery Mode update, with one big difference. DFU will restore iOS to a clean slate while bypassing iBoot, which Recovery Mode uses.
DFU is perfect for scenarios where there are complex issues like corrupted iOS or firmware crashes. However, you should know that everything will delete everything on your phone, so if this works, you will have a fresh device. As such, make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding.
Because DFU Mode is more complex than Recovery Mode, and varies depending on the device model you have, follow these steps to effectively go through the process. At the end, if everything works out, you will be greeted with a locked screen that you can unlock and start using.
If All Else Fails, Contact Apple
Unfortunately, sometimes it just comes down to contacting Apple itself to see what can be done. If all other avenues have been exhausted, getting in touch with the manufacturer themselves could lead to some answers or compensation, depending on the issue.
You can do this online, or find your nearest Apple Store.
Final Thoughts
We’ve got lots of other useful guides on our website, covering things like iPad screen rotation issues, reasons why your iPhone battery is draining, and ways to bring your iPhone back to life. You can also learn all kinds of amazing facts about phones, or get in touch with us for phone repairs in Bury, Rochdale, Manchester, and beyond.
At imFixed, we offer call-out screen repairs in and around Manchester, and believe that local is best. So, if you have been wondering ‘why won’t my iPhone turn on’, hopefully our ‘iPhone won’t turn on: troubleshooting tips’ has helped you solve the problem – or get in touch with someone who can.
If you need tech assistance, we’re always happy to help. With our independent team’s skills and expertise, we will do everything we can to get your iPhone back up and running.
