iPhone Won't Turn On? Here's What to Do

Did You Know?

Quick answer: 60% of "dead" iPhones just have completely drained batteries. Plug it in, wait 15-30 minutes, then try a force restart. If that doesn't work, keep reading for other causes. Also see our battery health guide.

Your iPhone is completely unresponsive. You press the power button — nothing. The screen is black, no vibration, no sounds. If your iPhone turns on but gets stuck on the Apple logo, that's a different issue. Let's systematically work through what might be wrong.

Did You Know?

Our "Dead iPhone" Revival Statistics (2025)

• • 892 "won't turn on" iPhones diagnosed
• • 87% successfully revived - back to full working order
• • 48% were just frozen or flat - fixed with force restart (free)
• • 31% needed battery replacement - same-day repair
• • 8% had charging port issues - £69-89 repair
• • Data recovery success on non-repairable units: 93%

Data from celltech repair logs, January-December 2025

Step 1: Rule Out a Dead Battery

The most common cause of an iPhone that won't turn on is a completely drained battery. Even if you think it had charge, the battery may have depleted while the phone was off.

What to Do

1. Connect your iPhone to a charger (use the original cable if possible)
2. Wait at least 15-30 minutes — deeply drained batteries need time to recover
3. Look for the charging indicator (battery icon or Apple logo)
4. If nothing appears after 30 minutes, try a different cable and adapter

Warning

Don't press any buttons yet. If the battery is extremely depleted, the phone needs uninterrupted charging to recover. Pressing buttons during this time can drain the small amount of charge it's accumulating.

Step 2: Force Restart

If your iPhone has been charging but still shows a black screen, try a force restart. This clears system errors without deleting data.

Force Restart Instructions

• iPhone 8 and newer (including SE 2nd/3rd gen): Press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo (about 10-20 seconds)
• iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold Volume Down and the Side button together until the Apple logo appears
• iPhone 6s and earlier (including SE 1st gen): Press and hold the Home button and Side button together until the Apple logo appears

Important: Keep holding until you see the Apple logo. Many people let go too early. It can take 15-20 seconds.

Step 3: Check If It's Just the Display

Sometimes the phone is actually on but the screen isn't working. Here's how to check:

• Listen for sounds: Have someone call or text you. If you hear ringtones or vibrations, the phone is on — it's a screen issue
• Check for Siri: Hold the Side button and say "Hey Siri" — if Siri responds, the phone is working
• Connect to computer: Plug into a computer with iTunes/Finder. If the computer recognises the device, the phone is on

Step 4: Software Issues

Recovery Mode

If the phone gets stuck during boot on the Apple logo, it may need recovery mode restoration:

1. Connect to a computer with iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac)
2. Perform a force restart (see above) but keep holding after the Apple logo until you see the recovery mode screen
3. Choose "Update" first — this attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing data
4. If Update fails, choose "Restore" (this erases everything)

DFU Mode (Last Resort)

If recovery mode doesn't work, DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode performs the deepest possible restore. This is for serious software corruption and will erase all data.

When It's a Hardware Problem

If none of the above works, you're likely dealing with hardware failure:

Common Hardware Causes

• Dead battery: Batteries can fail completely, especially if they were already degraded — see our iPhone battery health guide to check yours
• Charging port damage: If the port is damaged, the phone can't charge and eventually dies — our charging port repair guide explains the signs
• Logic board failure: Liquid damage or physical damage can cause the main board to fail
• Screen failure: If only the display is dead, everything else may work fine — check iPhone screen repair costs
• Power button failure: Rare, but the button itself can fail

Signs It's Hardware

• Phone was working fine, then suddenly stopped (no warning signs)
• Phone was dropped recently
• Phone got wet or was exposed to humidity
• Phone shows no response to any charging or restart attempts
• Phone gets warm when plugged in but won't turn on

UK Repair Options

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my iPhone suddenly die?

Common causes include complete battery drain, software crash, or hardware failure. If the phone was already showing battery issues (dying at 20%, rapid drain), the battery may have reached end of life. Read our guide on iPhone battery draining fast for warning signs.

Can water damage cause this?

Yes. Water damage can cause immediate failure or delayed failure days/weeks later as corrosion develops inside the phone. If your phone was exposed to liquid recently, that's likely the cause. See our iPhone water damage guide for recovery steps.

Will I lose my data?

Not necessarily. If the issue is battery, charging port, or screen, your data is completely safe — it's stored on the phone's memory, which is separate from these components. Only logic board damage might risk data loss.

How long should I wait before seeking repair?

If you've tried charging for 30+ minutes and force restart multiple times without any response, it's time for professional diagnosis. Continuing to attempt restarts won't help and delays getting your phone back.