iPhone Won't Turn On? Troubleshooting and Solutions

It's frustrating when your iPhone won’t turn on, but don’t panic. There are a number of possible reasons behind this issue, and many can be fixed with simple troubleshooting steps. 

Common Causes and Solutions
1. Completely Drained Battery
One of the most common reasons your iPhone won’t turn on is a completely drained battery. Normally, when the battery is too low, iPhones will show a charging prompt, but if the battery is almost empty, the screen might not display anything. Here’s how to address it:

• Check the battery: Plug your iPhone into a known working charger and leave it for at least 10 minutes before trying to turn it on again.

• Check the charging equipment: Make sure your charging cable, power adapter, and outlet are working properly.

2. Firmware Crash
Sometimes, your iPhone's firmware might crash, preventing it from booting up normally. This is especially common if the phone hasn't been dropped, exposed to water, or otherwise damaged. In this case, you can try performing a forced restart to fix the issue.
Steps for forced restart on different iPhone models:

• iPhone 8 and later (including SE 2nd & 3rd gen): Press and release the Volume Up button, press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

• iPhone 7: Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.

• iPhone 6 and earlier: Press and hold the Power button and Home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.

If the phone still won't turn on, try charging it for 10 minutes before attempting the restart again.

3. Battery Aging
Over time, the performance of your iPhone's battery will naturally degrade, leading to a decrease in its capacity to hold a charge. If you use your iPhone heavily and have gone through thousands of charge cycles, the battery might be too worn out to function properly.

Check Battery Health:

• Open the "Settings" app, go to "Battery", then tap "Battery Health".

• If the maximum capacity is below 80%, it means the battery is significantly degraded, and you may need to replace it.

If the battery capacity is under 50%, it’s time for a phone battery part replacement, as the battery may no longer be able to supply sufficient power for the device.

4. Dirty Charging Port
If your iPhone's charging port is clogged with dust or dirt, it may prevent the device from charging and, consequently, from turning on. You can clean the charging port with the following method:

• Use a Plastic Spudger to carefully remove debris from the port.
  

  

• Use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to clean the port, then let it dry before attempting to charge again.

If the charging port itself is damaged, the phone won’t charge, and you may need to replace the iPhone charging port. 

5. Screen Damage
If your iPhone isn’t responding when you press the power button, it might not be a boot issue but rather a screen malfunction. If the screen is damaged, you might hear sounds or feel vibrations, but the display could be black. Here's how to test it:

• Try connecting your iPhone to an external monitor. If you see content on the external display, it means the phone is on, but the screen is broken.

• Use a USB ammeter to check if the phone is charging. If it is, it suggests that the phone’s internal components are working, but the screen is faulty.
  

  

In this case, Phone screen replacement might resolve the issue.

6. Motherboard Damage
If none of the above solutions work, the issue might be with the phone’s motherboard. The motherboard controls most of the phone’s functions, and damage is typically caused by severe impact, water exposure, or extreme temperature fluctuations. If you suspect motherboard damage, it's best to seek professional repair services, as replacing the iPhone motherboard may be required.

7. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: My iPhone is showing no response, but the screen seems fine. What should I do?

• A: Try force restarting your device and ensure the battery is charged. If the screen is still unresponsive, consider having it checked for internal damage.

• Q: How can I tell if the issue is with the charging port or the battery?

• A: Test using wireless charging (if supported). If wireless charging works, the battery is likely fine, and the issue lies with the charging port.

• Q: After forcing a restart, my iPhone still doesn’t turn on. What’s next?

• A: Follow the steps for checking battery health and charging equipment. If these don’t help, the issue may be with the logic board or screen, and professional repair may be needed.

By following the troubleshooting steps above, you can identify why your iPhone isn’t turning on and attempt to fix it. If you're a professional repairer or a DIY enthusiast, Welcome to our website. Phonefix offers a full range of officially certified iPhone repair kits and accessories to make the process smoother and safer.