If your iPhone or iPad suddenly won’t turn on, it’s a situation that needs attention. Even though these devices are usually dependable, they can sometimes face this issue.
This can be not very pleasant for you because it might require spending money to get it fixed. Plus, it can cause stress thinking about your data, pictures, and other stuff.
But don’t worry too much. Before getting all worked up, let’s figure out why this happened and what you can try to do to fix it yourself before going to the experts.
Why did the iPhone/iPad stop turning on?
There are a few reasons why an iPhone or iPad stops turning on. Below is a list of the most common situations.
1. Battery failure
Electronic devices, like iPhones and iPads, have batteries that wear out over time. So, it’s possible that the battery in your device has worn out, which could be why it’s not working properly. Signs of a battery issue include:
- The device heats up excessively with use.
- The load drops quickly.
- Unexpected shutdowns.
Check out our article for more details on possible iPhone battery issues.
2. Physical damage
Is your iPhone prone to slipping from your grip frequently? This can damage the screen and the device’s body, and sudden impacts can even cause the device to stop functioning. If your screen is broken, you can try calling the device to see if the screen still lights up. If it rings or vibrates, you might need a screen replacement.
Water damage is another concern. Even though iPhones are somewhat resistant to water, they have their limits regarding how much liquid they can handle before it affects their internal parts. If an iPhone or iPad gets soaked, it’s likely to stop working correctly.
3. Software bugs
Software problems are not as frequent but can cause issues that stop your iPhone or iPad from working. This often occurs when an update gets interrupted due to something the user does or if the battery runs out during the update process.
What to do if it won’t turn on?
1. Place the device on the charger
When your iPhone or iPad doesn’t turn on, your first instinct might be that the device is completely dead. But here’s a simple step: plug it into a charger and wait for about an hour. Sometimes, it just needs a power boost to return to life and start working again.
If you still see no response, give this a shot: try using a different charger, and also connect your device to a computer. Sometimes, the issue might be with the charger itself, so swapping it out could do the trick.
2. Try a forced restart
If your iPhone or iPad is still not responding, you can try giving it a bit of a jolt by forcing it to restart using these methods based on your device model:
- For iPhone 6s or earlier, iPad with a Home button, or iPod touch (6th generation or earlier): Hold down both the “Power” and “Home” buttons at the same time. Keep holding them even when you see the Apple logo.
- For iPhone 7, 7 Plus, or iPod touch (7th generation): Hold down both the “Power” and “Volume Down” buttons together. Keep holding them even when you see the Apple logo.
- For iPhone 8 or later: Quickly press and let go of the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button. After that, press and hold the side button until the device restarts.
- For iPad models with Face ID: Quickly press and let go of the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the top button until the device restarts.
3. Restore the device to factory settings
If your Apple device still isn’t responding after trying a force restart, you might need to consider doing a factory reset.
But remember that doing this will erase all the data on your iPhone or iPad. So, before proceeding, ensure you have an iCloud backup turned on or do the backup directly from a Mac or Windows PC.
After that, connect your device to a Mac or Windows PC with an updated iTunes or Finder (if you’re using macOS Catalina or higher). If you have macOS Mojave or an older macOS version, or if you’re on a PC, use iTunes. Then, click on “Recovery Mode”.
After performing these steps, you must perform one of the actions below (corresponding to your device model):
- iPhone 6s or earlier, iPad with Home button, or iPod touch (6th generation or earlier): Press and hold the “Power” and “Home” buttons simultaneously. Don’t release when you see the Apple symbol. Hold until the recovery mode screen appears on the screen.
- iPhone 7, 7 plus or iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. Don’t release when you see the Apple symbol, hold until the recovery mode screen appears on the screen.
- iPhone 8 or later: Quickly press and release the volume up button. Then press and quickly release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until the recovery mode screen appears.
- iPad with Face ID: Quickly press and release the volume up button. Then press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the top button until the device restarts. Keep pressing the top button until it enters recovery mode.
Ready! Just follow the instructions on your computer screen to update or restore (and erase all data). Be aware of the whole process, if you notice a crash and delay in completing the task, try repeating this method.
4. Contact Apple Support
If you did not get any response from your iPhone or iPad following the above methods, the best solution is to seek support from Apple. Using a Mac or PC, you can access the company’s website.
Apple will send you to an Apple Store, or an Authorized Service Center or schedule a delivery of the device by mail to make repairs.
