Summary: The blog sheds light on 5 solutions to fix iPhone black screen of death and at the end, highlights a reliable approach to recover files just in case things go south.
iPhone Black Screen of Death
“It goes like this. I always check my iPhone 14 within five minutes of waking up but this time the screen is completely black. I hold down the lock and home button multiple times but is of no use. Immediately I kept my phone on the charger and fortunately, it turned on but is stuck on the Apple logo for like 4 hours and nothing else. There’s more to it, I don’t have any backup of my phone and have some important documents and pictures in it. Can someone suggest to me how to fix the iPhone black screen of death but more importantly, how can I recover my data?”
-Anthony Aldo
In this particular case, there are two issues to be resolved.
- To fix iPhone black screen of death
- To recover all files
Black screen in iPhone arises due to software or hardware issues. Firmware modifications, dropping the iPhone on the surface, iOS upgrade/downgrade, jailbreaking it, etc., are some of the common incidents that lead to black screen errors. But these 5 effective solutions can definitely fix the iPhone black screen of death error effectively.
Five Troubleshooting steps to Fix iPhone Black Screen of Death:
- Drained Battery
- Crashed App
- Force restart your iPhone to fix the iPhone black screen of death
- Restore iPhone in iTunes
- Hardware fault
Method 1: Drained battery
One of the reasons why your iPhone is stuck on black screen could be due to the drained battery. Connect your iPhone to a power adapter and then press the ‘Home’ button, wait for a few minutes till the icon appears.
Method 2: Crashed App
If the screen went black just after launching a particular app, then that app is the cause of the problem. To fix black screen of death, quickly press the ‘Home’ button twice, then swipe the screen left or right to see a list of recent apps. Swipe on that particular app to close it, and press the ‘Home’ button again to return to the home screen. Now, launch that app to check whether the issue is resolved or not.
If the issue repeats, contact the app developer (Apple support).
Method 3: Force restart your iPhone
Follow these steps to force restart your iPhone to fix the issue:
For iPhone 7/7 Plus and above: Press and hold the power and volume button for a few seconds until the Apple icon appears.
For other iOS devices: Press the Power and Home button for at least 10 seconds until the logo appears.
After the reboot, the black screen will disappear.
Method 4: Restore your iPhone via iTunes
You can restore your iPhone to Factory Settings via iTunes but doing so might wipe out all data. If you have a backup, then you’re good to go else you need to consider an iPhone data recovery software to recover lost data after the reset.
Follow these steps to reset your iPhone:
- Connect your iPhone to the system and launch iTunes
- Head to the Summary tab and click Restore iPhone
- Proceed by clicking Restore. iTunes will fix the iPhone black screen of death error but will also erase its data
Method 5: Contact Apple Store
If all the above-mentioned methods didn’t fix the black screen of death, it is much likely a hardware issue. A Hardware fault is beyond to fix at your end, hence, take your iPhone to Apple for warranty coverage.
Reminder: These 5 methods may fix black screen of death but in the process, you may end up losing all your data. In case, you haven’t backed up your data, you can leverage Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. A tool specifically designed to recover your lost data from your iOS device, iTunes, and iCloud backup.
Once the black screen error is fixed, run this tool and in 4 simple steps recover your data.
1. Connect your iPhone to your system and run the software
2. Select the appropriate option (Recover from iPhone, Recover from iTunes Backup, Recover from iCloud Backup, and Import file to iPhone)
3. Scan the connected device or the backup files
4. Preview files and save them at the preferred location
Try the Demo version to preview the lost data:
All Together
Now you know the 5 best solutions to fix the iPhone black screen of death error, you hold all the cards. Nonetheless, your objective is not only constrained to fixing the issue but to safeguard your data. Backing up your data will avert the disaster of data loss and just in case, you don’t have a backup, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone works as an antidote.
About The Author
Sumona is a tech blogger, avid photographer, & technogeek with vast experience in writing about media file recovery tips and tutorials. She has over 10 years of experience in media file recovery/media file repair technology. She is passionate about Photography, Creative Designing, Music, and Exploring lesser-known destinations.
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
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!