There are 124.7 million iPhone owners in the United States. If you’re among them, you likely rely on your phone for much more than making calls or sending texts. We use our phones to store documents, take pictures, listen to music, shop online, check social media, and so on.
Sometimes, it’s when you’re without a working phone that you realize how much you need it. Unfortunately, if you’ve seen the “black screen of death,” you can’t rely on your phone until you fix it.
So, how do you repair an iPhone’s black screen? Keep reading to find out.
What Is the Black Screen of Death?
As you might imagine from the name, the dreaded black screen of death is a red flag that there are issues with your device serious enough to cause it to stop working.
You’ll know you’re dealing with this severe iPhone malfunction when you pick up your device and the screen remains black and unresponsive.
First, charge the device to ensure it isn’t due to a drained battery. If you know it’s fully charged, but the screen is still black, you’re likely dealing with the black screen of death. You may notice signs that the phone is on, such as vibrations and sounds, but you won’t see anything on the screen.
Thankfully, there are ways to repair these issues.
What Causes the iPhone Black Screen?
There are several causes of the black screen of death.
It’s a common problem that can occur when you drop your device on its screen. Accidents like these cause hardware issues, damaging the internal components and leaving your display black.
Dropping a phone in water may also cause the black screen if it’s submerged long enough. Newer iPhone models are water-resistant up to a certain depth and time limit. However, no phone is completely waterproof.
If you drop your device and notice cracks along the screen, you’ll need to repair it.
Sometimes users report the black screen of death after charging the device overnight. If the issue isn’t due to a hardware problem, it may be a software glitch.
In some instances, downloading the wrong iOS update or an incomplete update can result in an unresponsive screen.
Fixing the Black Screen of Death
If you did some troubleshooting and you’re sure the problem isn’t due to a drained battery, it’s time to try some basic iPhone repair techniques.
Here are the next steps to take.
Try a Forced Restart
Although it’s frequently used as a joke, the common tech advice of turning the device off and on again is incredibly useful.
A force restart reboots the device, including the apps and software. It forces a power cycle and clears the phone’s short-term memory.
Sometimes, this is all you need to do to clear all the open applications and get your device back in working order. If the problem is caused by a rogue app, this solution may clear the malfunction and give you control again.
These are the steps to take for iPhone 8 and newer models:
- Quickly press and release the volume up button
- Quickly press and release the volume down button
- Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo
- Release the side button
Restore to Factory Settings in iTunes
If the above solution doesn’t work, you may have to restore your phone to its factory settings. The downside to this method is that you’ll lose all data.
We strongly recommend keeping up with iPhone cloud backups in case you run into an issue like this. You can back up your iPhone even if it says “not enough iCloud storage” with these tips.
If you need to reset your device, connect your phone to your computer using Wi-Fi or a USB cable. Open the iTunes app on your computer and click on the device button near the top left of the window.
Select “Summary” and then “Restore.” You’ll see some on-screen instructions to follow.
Pro Tip: Always click the eject button before disconnecting your device from the computer.
iTunes can fix the black screen of death, but this route will erase your phone’s data. If you have an iCloud backup, you can restore your phone to a previous version.
Contact an iPhone Repair Company
If the above solutions didn’t work, the issue is mostly likely hardware-related. Your phone is full of delicate components that can malfunction for various reasons. Drops and accidents are two of the most common causes, but sometimes we’re not sure why a phone breaks.
Leave the hardware repairs to the professionals. Attempting to fix an iPhone yourself can result in damaging the device further or breaking it entirely. You often need special tools to open and repair an iPhone.
You have two options at this point. You can take your phone to an Apple Store or go with a third-party repair service.
If your device is still covered under warranty, you need to read the details of your agreement. Getting a phone fixed through a third party may void your warranty.
However, if your phone isn’t covered anymore, going to a third-party repair service is an excellent way to save you money. Here at Fruit Fixed, we have a low-price guarantee.
iPhone Damage? Take It to Fruit Fixed
The black screen of death is one problem you don’t want to ignore. However, it doesn’t mean you have to toss your device!
If you have tried the above solutions and can’t figure out how to restore your phone to working order, bring it to us at Fruit Fixed. Our professional technicians have the skills and expertise to fix phones, tablets, computers, and more.
Get started on a repair today and start using your phone again.
