I dropped my iPhone 5 and it won't turn on. Faulty charger. Software settings are OK: what to do

According to statistics, one of the most popular queries in Internet search engines is the panic phrase – iPhone turned off and won’t turn on, what should I do? The owner’s concerns are understandable; from a smartphone costing 50-100 thousand you expect uninterrupted operation without lags. But even Apple technology fails from time to time. You shouldn’t immediately blame the manufacturer; perhaps the reason is trivial and easily corrected. Symptoms of a faulty iPhone:

  1. The iPhone turned off and does not turn on, does not respond to charging, or to buttons.
  2. The display, back panel, or connection adapter of the gadget heats up. The battery only lasts for 2-3 hours, all these are signs of a faulty battery, you need to contact a service center.
  3. The smartphone is charged, but does not load beyond the logo or goes out immediately after turning on.

If the screen flickers during use, stripes appear, colors or light transmission change, the problem cannot be solved on your own, you should contact a service center.

Checking the charge

iPhone owners are happy when the battery level is enough for a working day. But, alas, this rarely happens. But by lunchtime, the insidious battery symbols are melting before our eyes. Therefore, if the iPhone 5S turns off and does not turn on, you probably missed the moment of discharge and your smartphone simply turned off.


This problem should be eliminated immediately. Connect your smartphone to a charger or use a wireless docking station. If the gadget is low, it will take up to 1 hour for the logo or charge level to appear on the screen.

What other reasons why the iPhone turned off and won’t turn on:

  1. Mechanical damage, the gadget fell to the floor, water got into it, or improper repairs were made.
  2. The smartphone was in the cold, the battery was discharged.
  3. Factory defects of parts, when the device, in principle, cannot work with such defects.
  4. The iOS software is broken.

When connecting the device to the charger, check the condition of the wires and contact input.

Reboot

If the iPhone turns off and does not respond or vibrates when you press a button, but the screen does not light up, the reason lies in the software or hardware. If it is just an OS failure or one of the device elements is not working properly, rebooting the device will help. There are normal and hard reboots. In the first case, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

  • on models younger than iPhone X, press the “Wake Up” and “Home” keys; on iPhone X, XS and XR, press “Power” and “Volume”;
  • hold for 10-15 seconds until the logo appears.

This procedure will clear the cache and close open applications. If all else fails, it is recommended to perform a hard reboot. User information, passwords and other data will remain untouched. Recommendations:

  • connect the device using a USB cable to the computer;
  • download or open iTunes;
  • on your smartphone, press the combination of the “Power” and volume down buttons, wait until the screen goes dark;
  • press and hold the “Home” button until the iTunes logo and adapter icon appear;
  • On your computer, select the desired “Update” item and confirm the command.

The OS will reset the settings without affecting the internal contents of the device. But to be sure, it is recommended to save the files in advance in the cloud. Another item “Recovery” is relevant in desperate situations or when downloading a new version of the OS.

Battery Replacement

The battery life depends on operating conditions. If the battery is charged/discharged incorrectly, third-party software is used, or there is mechanical damage, the battery performance will decrease. Battery malfunctions appear gradually, battery life decreases, the device quickly discharges or takes a long time to charge. The only exception is when the breakdown is due to water getting into the housing. The decision to replace the battery is made only by the technician at the service center, where diagnostics are carried out. After finding out why the iPhone turned off and won’t turn on, contact the company store in your city. The conditions and cost of replacement depend on the cause of the problem, the name of the model, as well as the country and city. You can find prices on the Apple website.


Software problems

The reason why the iPhone does not turn on may be a malfunction in the OS. This situation is typical for cases when the user uses an unofficial OS or “unauthorized” applications and programs. A platform that is not updated in time can also cause the smartphone to not work properly.

If a simple and hard boot does not help, you will have to restore or update the software. In the first case, the settings will be reset to factory settings, or you can select a pre-made restore point. Both procedures are carried out through the iTunes application. You should take care in advance about saving important files, transfer them to removable media or save them in a shared cloud.

Mechanical problems

A popular reason why an iPhone turns off and won’t turn on is forced damage. Engineers are trying to create versatile and durable cases, but they are all made of metal, glass or plastic and behave like all physical bodies when in contact with a hard surface.

Common mechanical “diseases” of iPhones:

  • broken screen;
  • The back cover has fallen off and cannot be installed;
  • the matrix was damaged upon impact;
  • battery dropped out;
  • board parts broke off.

The latest iPhone models have a housing that is protected from dust and water. The devices are immersed to a depth of up to 0.5 or 1 m for up to 1 hour. But there is no talk of complete waterproofness. The stability of the smartphone is affected by operating conditions, damage or wear of the case. So often experiments with an expensive gadget turn out to be sad. Flooding with water is not considered a warranty case; expensive repairs will be paid for by the owner himself.

If the iPhone does not turn on for the above reasons, independent intervention will not help, you need to contact a service center, where the damaged parts will be replaced with new ones.


The iPhone turned off and won’t turn on - a problem that every owner of an Apple smartphone faces at least once in their life. Below we will look at all the most common reasons why a smartphone does not want to turn on. I will not touch on the reasons related to the hardware problems of the iPhone, since this is work for service centers and it will be unrealistic for an untrained user to fix it at home.

How to turn on iPhone

Before we begin to directly determine the reasons why the iPhone does not turn on, we will check 2 points that are not directly related to any malfunctions.

  1. If your phone turns off due to low battery, it will take some time to turn it back on. Keep your smartphone on charge for at least 15 minutes - this will be enough for the battery to gain the necessary charge. Try turning it on. Doesn't turn on? Read on.
  2. If you are sure that the battery charge is sufficient, but the iPhone still does not turn on, the reason may be that the firmware freezes or the smartphone goes into save mode. In this case, a hard reboot of the smartphone will help us.
  • For all models except iPhone 7, simultaneously press and hold the power and home buttons for about 20 seconds.

  • For iPhone 7, you will need to simultaneously hold down the power and volume down buttons for the same 20 seconds.

In the best case, the phone will turn on and you can continue to use it as usual. If it doesn't help, read on.

Software malfunction

And although Apple devices are rightfully considered more reliable than smartphones from other manufacturers, they are also susceptible to crashes, freezes and other software errors. The causes of such malfunctions are usually:

  • A large number of simultaneously running applications.
  • Hacking firmware using jailbreak
  • Errors during device update
  • Magnetic storms, gypsy curse and other unknown reasons...

A radical way to solve problems related to iPhone software is to flash the firmware via iTunes in DFU mode. In this case, we will need a computer and a USB cable (it is better to use the original one).

It should be understood that during the firmware update, all data from your phone will be deleted, so it is recommended to periodically create backup copies and this applies not only to iPhones.

  • Download and install the iTunes app
  • Launch the installed application and connect your iPhone to your computer
  • Press the Home and Power buttons at the same time, count to 10 and release the power button. Hold the Home button until iTunes says your iPhone is connected in recovery mode
  • In the window that appears, you need to click the “Restore iPhone” button and confirm again in the new window.

  • iTunes will download and install the latest firmware for your device.

Restoring in DFU mode is the maximum that an untrained user can do on his own. If this method does not help, then most likely the smartphone malfunction is due to hardware problems.

Hardware malfunction

If none of the methods described above helped you, with a high degree of probability we can say that the problem is in the hardware of the smartphone. There may be several reasons:

  • Natural wear and tear of electronic components
  • If water or other conductive liquids get inside the device
  • Battery fault
  • Malfunction caused by the use of non-original accessories - charger, cable
  • Damage to smartphone connectors

Do not try to disassemble the iPhone yourself, even if you suspect a specific problem. Unskilled intervention can end disastrously for your iPhone; entrust this work to professionals.

The iPhone turns off and does not turn on - contact a service center; attempting to repair it yourself will only aggravate the situation and increase the cost of further repairs.

If your iPhone 5 won't turn on, there are several reasons why this could be happening. We will look at the most common “symptoms” and the iPhone treatment process.

Interestingly, the fifth model is not very different from all the others in terms of malfunctions, but some differences are still present, so the repair will also be different.

Problem #1. Black screen

This symptom is very easy to recognize - when you press any buttons, absolutely nothing happens. The screen still remains black. In this case, you can do the following:

  • If the device worked in low temperature conditions (for example, you used it in winter at -50°C), you just need to warm it up thoroughly. To do this, you need to use some kind of heating device, just put it on a table in a warm room, for example, in an apartment. You can also, if desired, hold it for a long time in your palms, again, warm.
  • Put your smartphone on charge. If it won't charge, there is a problem with the battery, charger, or connector. The only thing you can check yourself is the battery - if it is not swollen and looks normal, everything is fine with it. If possible, put a different battery in your phone. And if even after replacing the battery the iPhone refuses to charge, the problem is in the connector or charger. Try using a different charger as well. If all else fails, you should take your iPhone to a service center.

  • In some cases, pressing the “Home” and “Power” buttons simultaneously helps. They need to be held for about 20 seconds. After this, the Apple logo will appear on the screen. Then you can release the buttons and wait for the operating system to start.

If a black screen appears after dropping your iPhone, the display will most likely need to be replaced. But there is no point in doing such a procedure yourself and it is better to contact a service center.

Advice: Contact Apple authorized service centers for repairs only! Of course, repairs from “street” craftsmen may cost less, but the manufacturer’s warranty is lost if you contact them, and in the event of an even worse breakdown, no one will return the money. Therefore, it is better not to try to save money; after all, the iPhone is quite an expensive thing.

As for moisture and cold, if you dropped your iPhone in water, even for a short period of time, it is better to completely disassemble it and let it dry. It is better to leave it disassembled overnight. Then he will most likely return to life faster.

Problem #2. The apple is constantly burning

This symptom is also quite common. It happens that the Apple logo does not just light up, but the apple blinks. It looks like it is shown in Figure 2.

In this case, here's what you should do:

  • Download and install iTunes on your computer (here is the link to the official website). Take a USB cable and run this program.
  • On your smartphone, hold down the “Home” and “Power” buttons. This way it will turn off.
  • Connect your phone to the computer using a cable and hold down the “Home” button on the device. Hold it until the picture shown in Figure No. 3 appears on the screen.

  • A new window will appear on the computer screen, in which it will be written that there is a problem with the iPhone and it can be restored. To do this, simply click on the “Restore” button.

Then just wait until iTunes does its job - downloads the necessary software, uses it and returns the device to a working state. Typically this process takes no more than 20 minutes.

This method also helps in cases where the iPhone constantly reboots or some other glitches occur.

It also happens that even after completely discharging and charging, it does not want to work normally. So then it would also be useful to use iTunes for recovery.

Problem #3. Lack of response to pressing

It also happens that the iPhone screen works quite normally, but when the user tries to press any buttons - “Home”, “Power”, volume buttons and so on - nothing happens. It feels like the device is turning into a brick.

In this case, the following may help:

  • Press the Home and Power buttons simultaneously. This way you initiate a hard reboot of the smartphone. It is quite possible that this will help bring him back to life.
  • Disassemble the phone and remove the battery from it. Then it will turn off forcibly.

If all this does not help, you will have to, again, take the iPhone to a service center. There are no other ways out of the situation.

Problem #4. The iPhone turned itself off and won't turn on

In this case, nothing lights up, does not blink, does not appear, but the smartphone simply does not turn on. That is, now it really is a real useless brick.

Here's what the user can do in this case:

  • Perform a force reboot. Let us remind you that this is done by pressing “Home” and “Power”.
  • Try using the iTunes recovery tool mentioned in problem #2.
  • Place the device on charge and wait at least a couple of hours. It happens that after a complete discharge the device will flatly refuse to turn on. And then you need to let it charge. But, again, inspect the battery yourself - if there is something wrong with it, charging will not make sense. The battery or charger needs to be replaced.
  • Press the volume up button several times in a row, and then press the volume down button. No matter how strange this method may seem, in practice it quite often helps bring the phone back to life. Although it is not really clear how this happens in general.

Usually all this helps solve the problem. If this is not the case, do not try to fix the iPhone 5 yourself. Most likely, you will simply cause even more damage to it.

It is also worth considering that if the iPhone turns on, but all sorts of errors appear on it, these are the ones you need to solve. You should not immediately restore or reboot the device; it is better to try to solve the problem point-by-point.

If some methods of solving problems are not clear to you, write about it in the comments.

The video below shows how specialists can solve the problem with an iPhone that refuses to turn on.

Apple is famous for the quality of its products; unfortunately, even its smartphones and tablets do not last forever. And if you are reading this article, it means that you are faced with a terrible problem - the display has stopped working, while the smartphone itself continues to function perfectly. Is it possible to overcome this problem on your own? Or is a trip to the service center guaranteed? Well, let's look at these questions in detail.

A number of different factors can cause your iPhone screen to become inoperative. First of all, these are, of course, physical defects: falls on a hard surface, water, etc. And if there is salvation from water - dry the device in time, then in the event of a strong impact, the iPhone screen will not work in most cases.

The screen on the iPhone does not work, but the phone itself works, what should I do?

To begin with, we suggest considering situations when the display can be considered inoperative:

  • The gadget’s touchscreen displays an image, but in certain areas does not respond to finger presses;
  • The iPhone screen takes too long to recognize taps;
  • The sensor is visually functional, but does not respond to touches at all;
  • The display randomly taps into the menu, types messages - in general, it lives independently, regardless of the actions of the owner of the device.

    Solving the problem yourself

    But what to do if the screen on the iPhone does not work, while the phone itself continues to work?

    Let's look at all the possible options before going to the service center:
    - If the touchscreen starts typing text on its own (as in the fourth point), recognizes touches with a long delay (as in the second point) or does not respond to touches in a zone (as in the first point), a simple reboot can help. Yes, yes, you didn’t think so. She really helped us out in similar situations many times.

    But here's the problem. How to perform it if the smartphone does not allow you to get to the reboot menu?

  • Simultaneously press the central HOME button (the one with the fingerprint scanner) and the power button;
  • We hold them until the device reboots (about fifteen to twenty seconds);

    If you see the company logo, then the procedure was successful - check the functionality of the touchscreen.


    Perhaps you recently bought a new bumper, film or protective glass. It is possible that this acquisition was the root of the problem. Try to return everything to normal, rid the gadget of “protection”.

    Well, the display still doesn’t work? Then there is only one way out - going to the service center. Or, alternatively, you can do it yourself, but then you risk damaging the gadget even more. Therefore, we still recommend spending a little money by contacting an experienced specialist who has hundreds of repaired gadgets behind him!

    In order not to look stupid in the eyes of a specialist, remember that all the latest Apple devices are equipped with touch glass, consisting of three parts - protective glass, touchscreen and screen. These elements cannot be replaced individually!

  • This is all that your favorite branded smartphone will show you if it suddenly stops turning on. When users of a mobile phone from a reputable manufacturer encounter a similar situation, they immediately begin to panic, thinking that something irreparable has happened. In fact, everything is not quite like that.

    The problem “iPhone 5S won’t turn on” can be resolved quite simply and without large material and time costs. The main thing is to correctly identify the damaged element. Any user can easily carry out initial diagnostics at home.

    Primary diagnosis of iPhone 5S when it does not turn on

    You should start by checking the status of your mobile battery. More than likely, it simply ran out of charge and you forgot about it. Insert the USB plug into the iPhone and wait about half an hour.

    If after thirty minutes the characteristic battery icon appears on the display, then feel free to postpone panic until next time. Leave the device to recharge for 5 hours. After that it will work perfectly again.

    However, events can develop differently. Yes, after half an hour an image will also appear on the screen, but it will only be the corporate logo of the Apple company.

    Maybe the iPhone 5S won't turn on due to iOS?

    Despite the fact that over the years of communicating with Apple technology, the bitten apple has become familiar to us, now its appearance does not bode well. This means that the device's OS has been damaged and the iPhone 5S needs to be flashed.

    Of course, at this stage you can try to force a reboot of the gadget, that is, hard reset iPhone 5S, but, let's be honest, it does not always help. In addition, a hard reboot completely clears your smartphone of any information you have saved. So if you previously did not save important information anywhere, after a hard reset it will be difficult.