Facing an unresponsive iPhone can indeed be unnerving, particularly for those not well-versed in technology. With a myriad of potential issues, pinpointing the problem and resolving it may feel daunting. However, in most cases, the culprit can be traced back to one of three main issues: a software glitch, a charging malfunction, or a significant hardware problem.
Here’s a guide to help you diagnose why your iPhone won’t turn on and what steps you can take to address the issue.
1. Ensure your Battery is Charged
Should your iPhone screen go dark due to low or depleted battery levels, your initial step should be to charge your device. Here’s what you can do:
- Connect your iPhone to the USB cable and power adapter.
- Plug it into a power outlet.
- Allow it to charge for a minimum of 30 minutes, then restart your iPhone.
If your iPhone remains unresponsive or fails to charge, consider the following troubleshooting steps:
- Examine your charging cable for any indications of damage, or attempt using an alternate cable.
- Try charging from a different outlet, preferably a wall socket, and ensure secure connections between your cable, iPhone, and the outlet.
- Inspect the charging port at the bottom of your iPhone for debris or damage; if it’s damaged, seek professional servicing.
- Perform a force restart and charge for an additional half hour. If these measures do not resolve the issue, attempt restarting your phone.
2. Inspect Charging Port and Cable
If your iPhone remains unresponsive after being connected to power for 30 minutes, it’s crucial to examine the charging port and cable for cleanliness. Debris lodged in the charging port or dirt on the charging cable contacts can hinder battery charging. Here’s what you can do:
- Carefully check the charging port for any debris or foreign objects. Use a toothpick or a non-conductive probe, such as a spudger, along with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to clean the port. Allow it to dry thoroughly before attempting to charge your iPhone again.
- Similarly, ensure the charging cable contacts are free from dirt or grime. Wipe them gently with a clean, dry cloth.
- Try using a different charging cable to rule out any issues with the cable itself.
- Alternatively, consider charging your iPhone wirelessly if your device supports this feature.
3. Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone, often referred to as a soft restart, essentially turns off the device. This action can help halt any malfunctioning apps or processes that could be preventing your iPhone from powering on.
Here’s how to restart your iPhone:
- Simultaneously press and hold the button located on the right side of your iPhone along with the volume down button.
- Continue holding until the power-off slider appears on the screen; swipe it to the right.
- Once the screen goes black, wait for 30 seconds.
- Press and hold the button located on the right side of your iPhone to turn it back on.
4. Force Restart iPhone
If your iPhone’s failure to turn on stems from software-related issues, a system reboot might offer a solution.
To execute a hard reset, also known as a force restart according to Apple’s terminology, follow these steps:
- Press and release the volume up button.
- Press and release the volume down button.
- Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
5. Restore iPhone to Factory Settings via Finder
When faced with the perplexing scenario of your iPhone displaying the Apple logo but failing to power on, Apple suggests putting your device into recovery mode and restoring it to its factory settings using your Mac.
While a factory reset is a drastic measure as it erases all personal data and settings, it can be the last resort when your iPhone refuses to turn on or charge.
Here’s how to perform the reset:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
- Open Finder (or iTunes if you’re using a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier).
- Locate your iPhone in the sidebar of the open Finder window.
- Restart your iPhone while it’s connected to your Mac: press and quickly release the volume up button, then press and quickly release the volume down button, finally press and hold the side button.
- Continue holding the side button until the recovery mode screen appears.
- Choose “Restore” from the prompt on your Mac. Once the Restore process is complete, you’ll need to set up your iPhone from scratch.
This task becomes much simpler if you have a backup from which you can easily transfer all your data. We highly recommend to always backup your iPhone’s data before restoring your iPhone.
6. Connect iPhone to iTunes for Repair
Connecting your iPhone to iTunes can be beneficial if there’s a hardware issue solely with the display or if the iOS operating system has become corrupted and requires reinstallation or updating. It’s advisable to ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer, as you may need to update it before proceeding with this step.
Here’s how to proceed:
- Plug your iPhone into your computer and launch iTunes. Look for an iPhone icon in iTunes; if it appears, it means iTunes recognizes the phone.
- If iTunes doesn’t recognize your iPhone, you may need to put it into recovery mode. Follow the same button sequence as when force restarting your iPhone:
- Press and release the Volume Up button, then press and release the Volume Down button. Afterward, press and hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears.
Once in recovery mode, you can attempt to update the iOS on your iPhone. Updating iOS via iTunes does not result in data loss.
7. Restore iPhone Using iTunes
If your iPhone still refuses to turn on despite completing the preceding steps, you might need to restore it to its original factory settings.
Once your phone is connected to your computer and recognized by iTunes, you can attempt to access the settings to “restore” the phone. Keep in mind that this action will erase all data and information from the phone, so it’s essential to take a backup if possible to restore it afterward.
If you notice that the update or restore process is taking longer than 15 minutes, you may need to reconnect the phone to iTunes again, following the initial step of holding down the correct buttons for your specific iPhone model.
8. Enter DFU Mode on Your iPhone
If you’ve exhausted all previous methods without success in resolving your iPhone’s failure to power on, attempting a restoration via DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode might be the next step. DFU mode performs the deepest reset by reloading the firmware of your phone, inevitably erasing all personal data in the process, so it should only be used as a last resort.
To initiate DFU mode:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
- Open Finder (or iTunes if your Mac runs macOS Mojave or earlier).
- Repeat the steps for a hard reset: press and release the volume up button on your iPhone, then press and release the volume down button, and finally, press and hold the side button until your iPhone’s screen goes completely black (without displaying the Apple logo or any other signs).
- While still holding the side button, press the volume down button.
- After five seconds, release the side button but continue holding the volume down button.
- Wait until your iPhone appears in Finder (or iTunes).
- Release the volume button and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the DFU reset.
9. Inspect Your Display
Frequently, when you’re pondering the question, “Why won’t my iPhone turn on?” the issue typically stems from either battery or software malfunctions. However, if you’ve attempted the previously outlined resets and your iPhone’s screen remains black, it’s possible that the problem lies with the display.
Thoroughly scrutinize your screen for any cracks and try to recall if you’ve recently dropped your phone. Additionally, check for any dents in other areas of your iPhone. If any hardware damage is detected, it may be necessary to seek professional servicing for your device.
10. Inspect Your iPhone for Physical Damage
Following the previous steps, it’s crucial to examine your phone for any evident damage that might be contributing to a hardware issue. Even something as seemingly innocuous as liquid spillage from a week ago could now be hindering your phone’s functionality. Are there any signs of water damage or cracks on the screen? Pay close attention to the jack (where you plug it in), ensuring there is no liquid or debris accumulation that could be causing a problem.
11. Seek Assistance from Apple Support
If none of the previously mentioned options have resolved your issue, it’s likely a hardware problem. In such cases, reaching out to Apple support is advisable. However, this step should be considered a last resort due to the potential for it to be costly and possibly result in data loss.