iPhone will not turn on or charge? Troubleshooting for Apple Device Users Who Are Experiencing Issues in Powering Off
Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for us to hear complaints about devices not powering on. This complaint is especially common in 4S, 5, and even some 6 models. Some users have also tried resolving this issue by leaving the phone on charge overnight. Unfortunately, this won’t solve the problem, and these users are left needing help. Never fear, we are here to help.
Table of Contents
iPhone will not turn on or charge? Fix it now!
Firstly, let’s look at the symptoms:
- won’t turn on when pushing the power button
- only powers on when connected to an outlet
- shows a dark screen
- responds to pushing the home and sleep buttons by displaying the logo but then shuts off immediately
- connect to iTunes” text is displayed, but nothing further
If you are experiencing any of these issues, try these simple methods to troubleshoot. Be sure to check your phone after each step to ascertain if the problem has been solved.
The Solutions:
iPhone will not turn on or charge – Restart
Perform Forced Restart.
For model 6 or lower (in addition to all iPads and iPod Touch): depress the power and home buttons at the same time until you see the logo.
For model 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold BOTH the Side and the Volume Down buttons for at least ten seconds, until you see the logo.
For model 8, 8 Plus or X: press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Repeat this step with the Volume Down button. Finally, depress and hold the Side button until the logo appears.
*if step 1 has failed to achieve results, please proceed to step 2.
Charge
For ALL models of iPhone: Place your device on charge for a minimum of one hour. It is advised that you plug the device DIRECTLY into an electrical outlet (on the wall) for this step. Some users report that power strips are not effective. Once charged, repeat Step 1.
*if the device won’t charge, please proceed to Step 3.
iPhone will not turn on or charge – Clean Up
If it still doesn’t power on/charge, you must next inspect the charger port for debris. Some older iPhones can have a build-up of particles in the charger port, which prevents it from making a good connection to the electricity source. Clean this port with a plastic pin to remove any build-up that may be preventing the charge. It is also advised that you check the condition of your charger cable. Worn and damaged cords will not perform properly and need to be replaced. Once you have completed this process, please try Steps 1 and 2 again.
*if you are still experiencing failure to move to Step 4.
iPhone will not turn on or charge – Connect to iTunes Notice
Once charged, attempt to turn On. It has been reported that some users pressing/holding the Sleep and Home buttons simultaneously (for a duration of 20 seconds) will then see the text “Connect to iTunes”. The phone then powers off. If this text appears, we suggest you next try putting the phone into Recovery Mode (discussed in Step 5). If there is no Home button, press the Volume Down button, instead.
Recovery Mode
To initiate Recovery Mode, you’ll first need to connect to your computer. Open iTunes from your computer, then follow the prompts for a Forced Restart for your iDevice. You should soon see the logo; then the Restore option will appear.
Restore
Once you see the message, select Restore and set up your device.
This is the procedure to reboot following an iOS Crash. As a general rule of thumb, it is optimal to turn your phone off a minimum of once per week. To do so, simply press/hold the Sleep/Wake functions until the text appears with the option to power off. Slide to turn off.
iPhone will not turn on or charge – On/Off Working?
As these devices age, it is expected that the buttons may become inoperable. If this is the case with YOUR device, you’ll likely need to have it repaired before being able to power it off properly. There is one set of actions that can be used to Restart the phone without using the broken buttons.
Go To: Settings > General > Accessibility > Bold Text.
- Scroll down to Bold Text setting.
- Toggle for Restart option.
- Confirm. Restart should begin. *Additional SuggestionPress/hold the Lock Screen Accessibility option until you see the text prompting you to slide to turn off
- That will turn it off.
Go To: Settings > General > Accessibility > Assistive Touch > Customize Top Level Menu. (A small square with a white spot inside will appear on the screen.)
In the “Customize Top Level Menu”, select “Custom”. Then select “Lock Screen”.
The “Lock Screen” will now show in your Assistive Touch Menu.
To use, tap the Assistive Touch option. This will open the menu.
Press and hold the lock icon. A slide option will appear to turn off the device.
Still, Need Other Options?
If you are still experiencing trouble, you can always try unplugging the phone from its energy source and plugging it back in. You can also plug it into an energy supply to turn it on.
No “Home” Button? It is possible to add a virtual “Home” button. This can be achieved the same way we added the lock screen option through the Assistive Touch Menu. We have a detailed article on how this can be accomplished, and you should check it out if you think this may be of help to you.
Summary
Always keep in mind, if you are having problems that you cannot resolve through troubleshooting methods, you’ll have to take your iDevice to the repair center to have it serviced. The support line is no longer available to run remote diagnostics. If you find that you are in need of a technician, you can click here to set up an appointment to speak with a member of the Tech Support Team. As always, we hope these tips can save you time and hassle. Please let us know if you were helped by this article, and feel free to share it with others who may benefit from the instruction.
