Table of content
Published on: 01.03.2024 | updated on: 02.04.2024
Encountering an unresponsive phone that refuses to turn on can be stressful, but in most cases, there are steps you can take to revive your device. Our methodology outlines a systematic, step-by-step approach to diagnosing, and then resolving, the issues that prevent phones from turning on.
First, we dive into the most common culprits behind phones that refuse to turn on, from depleted batteries to hardware malfunctions. Before you can start taking steps to resolve your phone, it’s crucial to identify the root cause.
Then, we offer a simple, step-by-step process of elimination to pinpoint the specific issue stopping your phone from turning on. Finally, once you’ve narrowed down the root cause of your phone’s problem, we provide comprehensive instructions to perform soft and hard resets. In most cases, this is the best way to revive your phone without professional assistance.
Finally, in instances where none of our steps have been successful, we advise seeking help from reputable repair professionals. In any case, our methodology makes sure that you’re well-equipped to deal with a phone that refuses to turn on, should the problem happen to you again.
The most common reasons that phones fail to start up is one, or a combination of, the following:
A completely depleted battery
A damaged or faulty charger, cable, or charging port
Software bugs or glitches that prevent your phone’s operating system from booting
Physical damage to your phone’s internal components or power button
Depending on the root cause, you may be able to resolve the issue yourself at home. Regardless of what’s causing your phone to fail to start up, we cover how to pinpoint the reasons for it, as well as step-by-step solutions. For instance, the following steps can help you diagnose and resolve your phone’s failure to boot:
Hold down the power button for 30 seconds
Try a different power outlet
Try a different cable and charger
If your phone’s display shows that its battery has begun to charge, you’ve successfully figured out the reason for its failure to start up: a faulty charger or cable. In this situation, all you need to do now is let your phone’s battery charge fully, then boot it up as normal.
However, not all cases are quite as straightforward. Typically, the best course of action for an unresponsive phone is to perform a soft reset, and if this fails, a hard reset. How to do this varies slightly with each device, and you can find the steps for your specific device within the article.
In some cases, however, a soft or hard reset isn’t going to do the trick, and your best bet is to visit a professional repair store to carry out more advanced troubleshooting.
At Simply Fixable, our expertise lies in troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving all types of issues faced by mobile phones. Throughout this article, the steps we outline to diagnose and resolve the issue of a phone that refuses to boot – for various makes and models – have been carefully refined based on our experience dealing with this problem over countless different instances. In addition, our blog is always kept up-to-date to reflect any changes to the best practices for tackling this problem.
Here are the most common reasons why your phone won’t turn on:
Your phone’s battery might be completely drained.
The charger or cable could be damaged or faulty.
Software glitches may prevent the phone from turning on.
Damaged hardware, such as an issue with the motherboard or power button, may also cause this issue.
Sometimes, overheating can temporarily prevent the phone from booting.
Here are some steps to follow to fix your phone that won’t turn on:
Charge your phone in case of depleted battery.
Test your phone’s charging with a different cable to rule out any damage.
Perform a soft reset.
For Apple: Press and release the Volume Up button, then repeat the same with the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side Button until the Apple logo appears.
For Samsung: Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button together for a few seconds, and your phone will restart.
Update your phone to the latest software, as it can fix any software bugs.
If the hardware is damaged, take your phone to technical experts for repair.
Here is why your iPhone won’t turn on and what to do about it;
Below are the reasons why your Apple phone won’t turn on:
The battery is completely drained.
There is a glitch with iOS, causing the iPhone not to turn on.
The power button may be damaged, causing your phone not to turn on even if you press it.
Exposure to water or other liquids could cause damage to the components, resulting in this issue.
To fix your iPhone that won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Connect your phone to the charger or use a different charger if you suspect the problem is with the charger.
Perform a force restart if you encounter a dead screen. You can perform a forced start by pressing both the volume up and volume down buttons, releasing them quickly, and then pressing and holding the lock button until the Apple logo appears.
If your phone is extremely hot, let it cool down and see if it turns on.
Update the iOS in recovery mode by connecting it to the computer and opening Finder or iTunes. You’ll see an option to update or restore. Click on ‘update’ to reinstall iOS without deleting your data.
If the issue persists, take the device to a local repair store in your area.
Here is why your Samsung may not be turning on and what to do about it;
Below are the reasons why your Samsung phone won’t turn on:
There is a software glitch, causing the device not to turn on.
There may be signs of physical damage due to drops or falls, causing the device not to turn on.
The battery is dead or damaged.
Your Samsung phone may have been exposed to water.
To fix your Android phone that won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Try charging your device to see if the issue resolves.
Try restarting your device or forcing restarting if the normal restart doesn’t work.
To force restart your Samsung phone, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button together for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears.
If your phone has been exposed to water, dry it with soft clothes and leave it in a ventilated room for at least 24 hours.
If the issue remains, get your Android phone checked by a professional.
Here is why your Motorola phone is not turning on and what you can do about it;
Here are the reasons why your Motorola phone won’t turn on:
A software malfunction is preventing the phone from powering on.
Damage to the internal components from drops or falls may be the reason the device won't turn on.
Your phone’s battery is depleted or completely dead.
The phone is overheated, which is why it’s refusing to turn on.
To fix your Motorola phone that won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Connect your phone to the charger to rule out a depleted battery.
Perform a force restart by pressing and holding the Power button and the Volume Down button together for a few seconds until you see a black screen.
If your phone is overheated, let it cool down before trying to turn it on.
Take your device to the professionals for a diagnosis if the above steps don’t work.
Here is why your LG phone won’t turn on and what you need to do to fix it;
Below are the reasons why your LG phone won’t turn on:
Your LG phone’s battery is aged or drained.
Your phone’s software could have bugs, preventing it from booting up.
Damage to the screen or internal components can also prevent the phone from turning on.
To fix your LG phone that won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Charge your LG phone to rule out any battery issues.
Ensure your phone’s charging port is clean to perform the charge successfully.
If the screen is damaged, consider getting it replaced.
For any other issues, contact a repair store and get your phone fixed immediately before it causes any further damage.
Listed below are some common reasons why your Google phone may not turn on and what you can do to fix it;
Here is why your Google phone won’t turn on:
Your Google phone’s battery could be drained.
The charging cable might be faulty.
There are software or hardware malfunctions.
To fix your Google phone that won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Charge your Google phone with a different charger and cable to rule out battery issues.
Perform a soft reset by pressing and holding the power button for about 30 seconds until the logo appears.
If you suspect that the hardware or internal components are damaged, take your device to a professional repair store for troubleshooting.
It must be frustrating to discover that your phone has died and refuses to charge. Here are some common reasons why your phone has died and won’t turn on or charge:
Below are the reasons why your phone won’t charge or turn on:
The cable or adapter may be damaged or not correctly connected.
The charging port on your phone could be dirty or damaged.
The battery might be drained entirely or have reached the end of its lifespan.
There is a software issue preventing the phone from charging or powering on.
If the phone has overheated, it may automatically shut down and refuse to turn on or charge until it cools down.
Exposure to water or other liquids might have caused internal damage.
To fix your phone that died and won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Try using a different charger and cable to rule out if these are working fine.
Look for any debris, dust, or damage in the charging port and gently clean it.
Perform a force restart by following the methods mentioned above according to your phone’s make.
Let your phone cool down and check if it turns on or starts charging.
If the battery is old, get it replaced by a professional, or you can also do it yourself.
If none of the above steps work, the damage might be severe, so it should be taken for professional diagnosis.
If your phone isn’t turning on even though it was charged, here is why it might be happening;
Below are the reasons why your phone won’t turn on even though it’s charged:
The battery may be faulty and not holding sufficient charge to power on the device.
There might be a software glitch or damage to the internal components, leaving the screen black and unresponsive despite charging the phone.
The power button may be damaged or stuck.
The screen is damaged, preventing the phone from turning on.
To fix your phone that won’t turn on even though it’s charged, follow these steps:
Restart the device by pressing and holding the power button for about 10-20 seconds.
Ensure the power button is not stuck or damaged.
If your phone is an Android, try booting it in Safe Mode. Press and hold the Power Button until the power option appears on the screen. Then press Power Off until you see the option to reboot in Safe Mode. Click YES or OK to confirm. The process may vary depending on your phone’s make and model.
You can try a factory reset from the recovery mode as a last resort, but this will erase all data on your device, so it should only be done if you have a backup or don't mind losing your data.
If none of the above steps work, visit a repair shop in your area for a diagnosis.
Here is why your phone is refusing to turn on even after updating;
Below are the reasons why your phone won’t turn on after the upadate:
The update process was interrupted or wasn't completed successfully.
The phone's battery must have run out during the update process.
To fix your iPhone that won’t turn on after update, follow these steps:
Connect your phone to the charger and charge it for at least 30 minutes.
For Android, if you can access recovery mode, you can perform a factory reset. This will erase all data on your device, so it's considered a last resort.
You can also perform a factory reset on your iPhone by going to iTunes or Finder.
Listed below are some reasons why your phone may be failing to turn on and how you can fix it:
Here is why won’t your phone turn on at all:
The battery is drained or dead.
The power button may be damaged, causing your phone not to turn on even if you press it.
There is a software glitch in your phone.
The screen is damaged and not displaying anything.
There may be damage to internal components due to a drop or fall.
To fix your phone that won’t turn on at all, follow these steps:
Connect your phone to the charger or use a different charger to rule out any damage to the battery or charger.
Perform a force restart if you suspect a black screen.
Boot your phone into recovery mode and perform a factory reset.
If the issue persists, take the device to a certified technician.
Here is what to do if your phone is turned off and is not turning back on;
Below are the reasons why your phone has turned off and won’t turn back on:
The battery may be drained entirely or damaged, preventing it from holding a charge.
The phone's operating system or software may have crashed.
The phone is overheated and not turning on to prevent damage.
Exposure to water or physical damage can cause internal damage, affecting the phone's functionality.
To fix your phone that is turned off and won’t turn on, follow these steps:
Charge your device and try different accessories or outlets.
Try a force restart by following the methods mentioned above according to your phone’s make and model.
Boot your phone into Safe Mode to determine if a third-party app is causing the issue.
Boot your phone into recovery mode and perform a factory restart.
If the issue remains, get your device checked by a professional.
If you dropped your phone and all of a sudden it stopped turning on, here is what you need to know about it;
Here is why your phone won’t turn on after dropping it:
The impact may have damaged internal components.
The drop could have damaged the power button, making it unresponsive.
The impact might have damaged the screen, so even if the phone is on, a damaged screen might not display anything.
To fix your phone that won’t turn on after dropping, follow these steps:
The only solution is to take your device to a certified repair center to fix any issues that might have occurred due to the fall such as screen replacement.
Here is what to do if your iPhone screen won’t turn on even while the phone is on;
Here is why your iPhone screen won’t turn on but phone is on:
The most common reason is a malfunctioning display, possibly due to hardware failure or screen damage.
The phone's software may have crashed, keeping the screen black while the phone remains powered on. This can sometimes happen after a software update or due to a problematic app.
Damage from water exposure or fall can affect internal components, including the screen.
Hardware issues, such as faulty logic boards or connections, can lead to screen failure while the phone is still operational.
To fix your iPhone screen that won’t turn on, but your phone is on, follow these steps:
Perform a force restart by quickly pressing and releasing the Volume Up button, quickly pressing and releasing the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Enter recovery mode by connecting your iPhone to a computer and opening iTunes. Now, force restart your iPhone, but don't release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Wait until the recovery mode screen appears. In iTunes, you'll see an option to Restore or Update your iPhone and click on restore.
Use a lightning cable to connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed. Select your device in iTunes and choose the "Restore iPhone" option. This will erase your device and install the latest iOS version. After restoring, you can set up your device as new or restore it from a backup.
Here is why your phone is not turning on after charging;
Below are the reasons why your phone won’t turn on after charging:
If the battery is damaged, it will not charge, leading to the device not turning on.
A software glitch may prevent the phone from starting up, even if the battery is charged.
There may be damaged internal components preventing the phone from turning on.
If the phone has overheated during charging, it might automatically shut off to prevent damage.
To fix your phone that won’t turn on after charging, follow these steps:
If the device is not turning on and displaying the battery sign, try charging it with a different charger.
Try to boot your phone in safe mode and see if it turns on.
Try to factory reset your phone in recovery mode.
If nothing else works, take your phone to a certified professional and get it fixed.
Here is why your phone won’t turn on after water damage;
Below is the most common reason why yur phone won’t turn on after damage:
The water might have penetrated the phone’s body, thus damaging its internal components.
To fix your phone that won’t turn on after water damage, follow these steps:
Do not try to turn your phone on or connect to damage after exposure to water, as it may lead to more damage.
Next, let your phone dry out naturally by putting it in a well-ventilated area for at least 48 hours.
If the device still fails to boot up, a professional repair is the only solution.
Recovering the data from the phone that won’t turn on can be challenging, especially if the damage is severe. Here is how you can safely recover data from your iPhone and Samsung phone.
To recover data from an Phone that won't turn on, connect the iPhone to a computer and open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and newer). Now, force restart the iPhone to enter recovery mode. Click on ‘update’ to reinstall the OS without erasing data. If this doesn't work, data recovery might not be possible without professional help.
The easiest way to recover data from your Samsung phone is through an SD card if you have one on your phone. All the data on your SD card can be easily retrieved by inserting it into a card reader or directly connecting it to your computer.
If the above-mentioned solutions don’t fix your phone, it’s recommended to take it to a professional repair store, such as a Manufacturer’s store, Apple, or Samsung, if the phone is under warranty. For non-warranty phones, you can visit a local repair store in your area, such as Simply Fixable’s stores, and get your phone fixed at an affordable price.
Below are the average costs to repair your Apple or Samsung phone:
Simply Fixable |
Apple |
Samsung |
|
iPhone |
$110.88 |
$261.85 |
x |
Samsung Phone |
$75.66 |
x |
x |
Table. iPhone and Samsung repair costs by Providers
*Data in the given table is based on Simply Fixable's market research and the official Apple website
Here are some preventive measures to follow to avoid the issue of phone not turning on in the future:
Regularly charge your iPhone or Samsung phone before the battery fully drains.
Keep the OS and apps updated to the new version.
Don’t expose your phone to extreme temperatures or water.
Use a strong case over your phone and a screen protector to minimize physical damage.
Regularly back up your data to avoid losing it in case of damage.
There are various reasons why your phone may fail to power on, ranging from drained batteries to physical/liquid damage and software glitches. If the troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, there is likely severe damage for which a professional repair may become necessary.
You can visit any repair store in your area that is associated with Simply Fixable. These repair stores offer high-quality repairs and use only industry-compliant parts. They also offer a 90-day warranty on repairs to ensure nothing is wrong after the service.
Reviewed by Monica J. White
Linkedin: Monica J.White
Expertise: Technology, PC Hardware, Software, Gaming
Monica is a journalist with a lifelong interest in technology. Monica attended King's College London and obtained her bachelor's degree in English Language and Linguistics. She then went on to get a master's at that same university, this time focusing on Global Media Industries. She first started writing over ten years ago and has made a career out of it, with a special focus on PCs and mobile devices. She enjoys the challenge of explaining complex topics to a broader audience, whether it's how semiconductors work or how to troubleshoot a tablet. Her work has previously appeared in Digital Trends, Tom's Hardware, Pay.com, SlashGear, Forbes, Springboard, Looper, Money, WePC, and more.
Tech Writer | Photographer
LinkedIn: Madiha Khadim
Madi is a dynamic tech writer with a passion for simplifying complex concepts. Her expertise lies in creating clear and concise guides, blogs, manuals, and tutorials that empower users to navigate the technological landscape with ease. Throughout her career, Madi has worked with numerous leading tech companies, collaborating with engineers, developers, designers and marketers to create user manuals, FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and tech articles, on the websites such as "Technology Castle" and "Bilzimo". She can transform intricate technical jargon into user-friendly language, empowering users to understand and utilize products effectively.
State
Discover a stores nearby
Search by a zip code|city|state
Search in 12 partners, 7 state