iPhone Black Screen? How to Get It Working Again

Common causes

• A completely drained battery
• A charger, cable or outlet that is not delivering power
• iOS has stopped responding while the display is off
• Screen Curtain, a VoiceOver feature that turns the display off on purpose
• An update or restore that is still running or has stalled
• Damage to the display or other hardware, for example after a drop or liquid contact

Step-by-Step Solutions

Work through the steps in order and check whether the screen comes back after each one.

1. 1

   Step 1: Connect it to a working power source

   A black screen is often just an empty battery. Start by making sure the iPhone is actually getting power.

   Plug the iPhone into a wall outlet using a cable and adapter you know work with another device. Check that each connection is firm and that there is no obvious debris in the iPhone’s charging port.

   • Don’t use a cable or adapter that is visibly damaged, for example frayed or with bent prongs.
   • If you see a low-battery icon on the screen, the iPhone is getting power. Leave it connected for at least 30 minutes, or until it starts.

   Good to know

   If the iPhone doesn’t seem to charge with any cable or outlet, the iPhone Not Charging guide linked at the end of this page covers the charger, cable and port checks in more detail.

2. 2

   Step 2: Force restart your iPhone

   If iOS has frozen with the display off, a force restart usually brings the screen back.

   Keep the iPhone connected to power. On iPhone 8 or later, which includes every iPhone with Face ID and iPhone SE (2nd generation or later):

   • Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
   • Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
   • Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This can take longer than 10 seconds, so keep holding.

   Good to know

   Older models use different buttons. On iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, hold the Side button and the Volume Down button together until the Apple logo appears. On iPhone 6s or earlier, or iPhone SE (1st generation), hold the Home button and the Side or Top button together until the Apple logo appears.

3. 3

   Step 3: Let it charge for an hour, then try again

   A battery that has run completely flat can take a while before the iPhone will start.

   If the iPhone still doesn’t turn on after a force restart, leave it connected to power for one hour. Then try turning it on again or repeat the force restart.

   Good to know

   This is also the step to try if your iPhone went black after charging or seemed to charge but won’t wake up.

4. 4

   Step 4: If your iPhone seems on but the screen stays black

   Sounds, vibrations or incoming calls mean the iPhone has power, so the problem is what the screen shows.

   Listen and feel for signs that the iPhone is running: a ringtone or vibration when someone calls it, notification sounds, or Siri responding. If you notice any of these, the battery and software are at least partly working, and the black screen is either a setting or a display problem.

   If you use VoiceOver, check Screen Curtain first. Screen Curtain turns the display off on purpose while the iPhone keeps working. With VoiceOver on, triple-tap the screen with three fingers to turn it on or off. If Zoom is also turned on, tap four times with three fingers instead.

   Good to know

   If the iPhone clearly responds but the screen stays black after a force restart, and Screen Curtain isn’t the cause, the display likely needs service. Don’t keep repeating resets: they can’t fix a hardware fault.

5. 5

   Step 5: If it went black or froze during an update

   After an update or restore, the Apple logo and a progress bar can stay on screen for a long time. That can be normal.

   Leave the iPhone connected to power and give the update time to finish. The progress bar can move slowly or look stuck, and when restoring or moving data to a new iPhone it can stay on screen for more than an hour.

   If the progress bar hasn’t moved for more than an hour, connect the iPhone to a computer and put it into recovery mode. On iPhone 8 or later:

   • Press and release the Volume Up button.
   • Press and release the Volume Down button.
   • Press and hold the Side button, and keep holding it until you see the recovery mode screen.
   • On a Mac, open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (older macOS). On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app or iTunes. When asked, choose Update.

   Good to know

   Choose Update, not Restore: Restore erases your iPhone. On iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, recovery mode uses the Side and Volume Down buttons, holding Volume Down until the recovery screen appears. On iPhone 6s or earlier, it uses the Side (or Top) and Home buttons, holding Home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related guides

• Battery & ChargingiPhone Not Charging? Try These FixesWork through the cable, power source, charging port, and restart checks before deciding if your iPhone needs service.