How to Fix an iPhone That Won't Turn On

Fix an unresponsive iPhone with these proven troubleshooting steps. Force restart, check charging, and restore your device to get it working again.

  1. Check the charging cable and power adapter. Connect your iPhone to a known working Lightning cable and power adapter. Look for the charging icon on the screen after 15 minutes. Try a different cable and adapter if available, as damaged accessories are common causes of charging failures.
  2. Force restart your iPhone. For iPhone 8 and later: quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. For iPhone 7: hold Volume Down and Side button together. For iPhone 6s and earlier: hold Home and Top buttons together.
  3. Let your iPhone charge for one hour. Leave your iPhone connected to power without attempting to turn it on. A completely drained battery may need 30-60 minutes before showing any charging indicators. Keep the device in a cool, dry location while charging.
  4. Try a different charging method. Use a computer USB port, wireless charger, or car charger if your wall adapter isn't working. Connect to iTunes or Finder on a computer to see if the device is recognized, even if the screen remains black.
  5. Put your iPhone in recovery mode. Connect to a computer running iTunes or Finder. For iPhone 8 and later: quickly press Volume Up, quickly press Volume Down, then hold the Side button. Keep holding when you see the Apple logo until you see the recovery screen. For older models, use the appropriate button combination while connected to the computer.
  6. Restore your iPhone through iTunes or Finder. When iTunes or Finder detects your iPhone in recovery mode, click Restore. This will download and install the latest iOS version, erasing all data. The process takes 15-30 minutes and requires a stable internet connection.
  7. Contact Apple Support for hardware diagnosis. If your iPhone still won't turn on after a restore, schedule a Genius Bar appointment or contact Apple Support. The issue likely requires professional diagnosis or component replacement, especially if the device was exposed to water or physical damage.

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