What should I try if an iPhone will not turn on?
Answer
Charge the iPhone with a known-good cable and wall adapter for at least 30 minutes, then force restart it. If the screen stays black, try another cable or port, and contact Apple or your carrier insurance only after those steps fail.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Force restart does not erase data; recovery-mode restore can.
- Ignore unexpected callers or sites that demand payment to “reactivate” a dead iPhone.
Follow these steps
Charge for 30 minutes
Plug the iPhone into a wall outlet with a working adapter and cable. Leave it charging for at least 30 minutes, even if nothing appears at first.
You should see: A battery icon or Apple logo appears, or the phone still stays dark.
Force restart
Quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. Keep holding through any black screen for up to about 20 seconds.
You should see: The Apple logo appears and the phone boots, or it remains unresponsive.
Try another cable and outlet
Swap to a different cable, adapter, and wall outlet. Avoid unpowered computer USB ports for this test.
You should see: Charging indicators appear with the alternate setup, or all combinations fail.
Get service or start a claim
If it still will not power on, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or authorized provider. If you have carrier insurance, start that claim only through the official insurer portal.
You should see: You receive repair, diagnostic, or claim next steps.
Not sure this is the right page? Check here
0 of 5 checked
Extra tips
What to look for: No screen activity, no Apple logo, and no response to the side button after charging.
Before you change anything: Use a genuine or MFi-certified cable when possible. Avoid cheap damaged chargers. Do not pay an unexpected “remote unlock” fee. Note insurance claim deadlines if the phone stays dead.