iPhone Data Recovery

4 Proven Ways to Fix iPhone Black Screen

Written By Vishakha Singh
Approved By Tanushree Chatterjee
Updated on 9 May, 2025
Min Reading 7 Min
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iPhone’s black screen error is a common issue where users cannot access their device. They may hear the phone ring, but cannot answer it as nothing appears but a black screen. The error usually occurs due to an incomplete software update or other software issues.

Fortunately, you can get your iPhone back to life using some basic solutions shared in this detailed guide. But first, let’s understand what causes the iPhone black screen of death error.

Why my iPhone screen is black?

There are several reasons why your iPhone screen turns black:

The iPhone is out of battery
Using a faulty or third-party charger or USB-C cable to charge your iPhone
A problematic iOS update
Faulty third-party apps
A jailbroken iPhone more vulnerable to software issues
Physical Damage like accidental drops or water damage
iPhone in DFU or Recovery Mode, making the screen appear black until the device is restored or updated
Extreme heat can shut down an iPhone to protect its parts, resulting in black screen.

Ways to fix iPhone black screen of death issue

There are several ways to fix the iPhone black screen of death issue, like charging the device, restarting/ force restarting the iPhone, restoring the iPhone with DFU mode, etc. Let’s try these workarounds one by one to fix the error.

1. Charge your iPhone

If your iPhone screen turns black and does not turn on, its battery might be drained. Connect your device to its original Apple charger to charge the battery in such a situation. Charge your iPhone for an hour or more until its battery is fully charged so that your device can reboot.

Note – Avoid using any third-party charger or USB lightning cable to charge your iPhone as they damage the device and affect its battery performance.

2. Restart the iPhone

A simple restart can often fix the iPhone black screen of death issue. Doing so will reset your iPhone and eliminate the error. Here’s how to restart the iPhone:

For iPhone X, 11, 12, 13 or later

Press and hold Volume and the side button until the Power off slider appears.

Drag the power-off slider to the right and wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.
Press and hold the side button to turn your device back on until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE (2^nd or 3^rd generation)

Press and hold the side button until the Power off slider appears.
Drag the power-off slider to the right and wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.
Press and hold the side button to turn your device back on until you see the Apple logo.

Drag the power-off slider to the right and wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.
Press and hold the side button to turn on your iPhone until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone SE (1^st generation), 5 or earlier

Press and hold the top button until you see the Power off slider.

When the power–off slider appears, drag it to the right and wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.
Press and hold the top button to turn on your iPhone until you see the Apple logo.

If your iPhone doesn’t restart, force-restart your device.

3. Force Restart your iPhone

An iPhone screen turns black due to temporary glitches or minor software issues. Force restart your iPhone to fix the issue. Here’s how to do it:

For iPhone 8 or SE (2^nd or 3^rd generation), X, 11, 12, 13, or later

Press and release the Volume Up button.
Press and release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Power button until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 7

Press and hold the Power and the Volume Down buttons until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone SE (1^st generation), six or earlier

Press and hold the Power and the Home buttons until you see the Apple logo.

4. Use Recovery or DFU Mode to Fix the ‘iPhone Black Screen’ Issue

Often failed or incomplete iOS update can be reason why your iPhone screen turns black. Use Recovery or DFU Mode to restore your iPhone to the factory setting or update your device to the same or above iOS firmware version and see if the issue is resolved.

Here’s how to restore or update your iPhone using Recovery Mode

Open iTunes on your Windows or Mac.
Connect your iPhone to the computer and then put your iPhone into Recovery Mode.
Once you enter the Recovery Mode, a message will pop up: ‘You’re in Recovery Mode.’ Click OK.

In iTunes, select your iPhone and then Update or Restore your iPhone.
If you choose Update, iTunes will update your iPhone to the latest iOS version without erasing your device data or applications.

Use Recovery Mode to Fix the 'iPhone Black Screen’ Issue

Check your iPhone to see if the black screen issue is fixed and your device is functioning correctly.

Here’s how to restore your iPhone using DFU Mode:

Use a Lightning cable to connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes or Finder.
Then, put your iPhone into DFU mode.
Click Restore iPhone when the message – iTunes/Finder has detected an iPhone in recovery mode appears in the iTunes app.

Use DFU Mode to Fix the 'iPhone Black Screen’ Issue

Once the iPhone is restored, exit DFU Mode. To exit DFU Mode, force restart your device until it reboots.

Important Note:
If the Update option doesn’t help you fix the iPhone black screen of death issue, choose the Restore or Restore iPhone option. However, this will delete all your existing data and settings from your iPhone and restore it to a factory setting. This can be useful in fixing the iPhone black screen issue but will result in data loss.

If you have a backup, you’re good to go, or you can use a professional iPhone data recovery software to recover lost data after the reset.

How do you recover data lost after resetting it using iPhone Data Recovery Software?

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone is the best tool to recover lost or deleted iPhone data after reset if you haven’t backed up your data. The software efficiently recovers photos, videos, messages, WhatsApp chats, texts, contacts, notes, etc. This iPhone data recovery software is compatible with all variants of iPad and iPhone, including iPhone 16/15/14/13 and below.

Steps: How to Recover Lost Data using iPhone Data Recovery

Download, install, and launch Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your Windows or Mac.
Select the Recover from iPhone option from the left pane on the main screen. Next, select the type of data you want to recover and click Next.

Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable.

Next, select your device and click Scan.

If your iPhone is encrypted, enter your iPhone password and click OK.

Now, you can see the scan progress in the progress bar at the bottom.

Once the scanning is completed, click OK in the Scan Complete dialog box.

A list of recoverable data will be displayed on the left. You can preview the data and select the files you want to restore. Click Save to browse any desired location to save recovered iPhone data.

Tips to prevent the ‘iPhone black screen of death’ issue from occurring

Always charge your iPhone using an Apple-certified charger and USB cable.
Ensure to update your iPhone with the latest iOS updates.
Try not to drain the iPhone’s battery completely.
Be careful while using multiple apps on your iPhone simultaneously, as they can contribute to overheating.
Regular data backups should be made on iTunes or iCloud to prevent data loss.
Avoid using iPhone while charging.
Use a good quality case and screen protector for your iPhone to minimize the risk of physical damage.

EndNote

If your iPhone screen turns black, there are a couple of solutions. You can try charging your iPhone using an Apple-certified charger and USB cable or hard resetting your device to see if it turns on. Moreover, if it is due to failed updates, restore your iPad to a previous version using Recovery Mode or DFU Mode.

But, if all the above measures fail, you should visit your nearest Apple Genius Bar for assistance.

Hope it helps! Please let us know if we missed an important tip in this blog.

Why is my iPhone 11 screen black all of a sudden?

Your iPhone screen might suddenly go black due to battery issues, software glitches, overheating, or physical damage.

Can the ‘iPhone 14 black screen of death’ issue be fixed?

Force restart or charge your iPhone and use Recovery or DFU Mode to fix the iPhone black screen of death issue.

Why is my iPhone 12 screen black but still vibrating?

If your iPhone 12 screen is black but still vibrates, it means there is an issue with the display or its connection, possibly due to a hardware problem or physical damage.

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About The Author

Vishakha Singh

Vishakha Singh is a Senior Writer at Stellar Data Recovery with half a decade of experience in writing content in diverse verticals. She's a tech enthusiast who loves creating photo/video recovery & repair tutorials. Vishakha also specializes in writing full-blown iPhone and Android guides.

26 comments

Farheen says:

December 11, 2023 at 9:32 am

I have bought iPhone 12, 15 months ago and facing issue with the black screen and and it’s not under warranty pls suggest something and also it showings multiple lines on it

Reply
1. Aruna Attri says:
  
  December 12, 2023 at 10:22 am
  
  Hi Farheen,
  
  Thankyou for reaching out to Stellar.
  
  I understand that you are facing the Black Screen issue which I know is very annoying and is pretty unexpected from an iPhone 15 months old. To resolve the issue, if you have tried all the potential solutions, such as updating the iPhone’s software and resetting the network settings. However, these solutions are more likely to be effective if the black screen or lines are caused by a software issue. If the problem is caused by a hardware issue, then the force restart, DFU mode restore, or a repair will be the most likely solutions.
  
  It is well recommended to take the iPhone to a qualified repair technician. If the force restart and DFU mode restore did not fix the problem, then the iPhone may need to be repaired. A qualified repair technician will be able to diagnose the problem and determine the best course of action.
  
  It is important to note that your iPhone is not under warranty, so you will likely have to pay for any repairs. However, the cost of repairs may be worth it if the iPhone is otherwise in good condition.
  
  I hope it helps!
  
  Reply
Neda says:

December 8, 2023 at 1:38 am

I have a new iphone 11 and issue with black screen. The method 3 works but not permanently, black screen keeps coming back out of blue. Should I try method 4? Authorised service says all is fine with the phone, after the check up, but I still have the black scree issue. Thank you!

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  December 9, 2023 at 6:33 am
  
  Hi Neda,
  Thanks for reaching out. I know how annoying it might get you to face this issue rigorously. As you mentioned, it’s your new iPhone 11, and I suppose it is under Apple Warranty. So please use it because even if you followed Methods 3 and 4, there wouldn’t be any assurance that the issue would get permanently resolved. The best advice is to replace your new iPhone 11 with the authorized Apple Service Center, which they will do for free.
  I hope it gets resolved.
  
  Reply
  1. Milda says:
    
    November 29, 2022 at 9:26 pm
    
    I have bought Apple 13 pro three month ago and facing an issue with the black screen, also incoming and outgoing calls. I went to the Apple Store in Stratford Westfield Centre and they could not help, after diagnostic tests. The store manager refused to change my phone even under one year varianty. I am devastated with Apple support service and the new phone I have is not working.
  2. Sumona Chatterjee says:
    
    November 30, 2022 at 12:39 pm
    
    Hi Milda,
    I understand your concern and would suggest you to please escalate the matter to that store’s superiors. You may even contact Apple customer care and tell them the scenario and let them know that your iPhone is under warranty. As a proof, if you can then try to record this issue while using it. If this Apple store in Stratford was unable to resolve it then there might some other way to figure this out.
    I hope it helps!