Phone won't turn on — 6 fixes to try before you panic.

Fix 1: Force restart (fixes 60-70% of cases)

The most common reason a phone appears dead is a software freeze — the phone is actually on, but the screen and buttons are unresponsive. A force restart bypasses the frozen software and reboots the hardware directly.

If the phone restarts and works normally, the issue was a one-off software crash. No repair needed. If it happens regularly (weekly or more), there may be a rogue app or software issue — a factory reset in safe mode usually resolves it.

Fix 2: Charge it properly (fixes 15-20% of cases)

The second most common cause of a "dead" phone is simply a completely flat battery. But here's what people miss: a phone with a deeply discharged battery won't show any sign of life for the first 5-15 minutes of charging. No charging icon, no vibration, no light — nothing. People plug it in, see nothing after 30 seconds, and assume the phone is broken.

What to do: Plug the phone into a wall charger (not a computer USB port — wall chargers deliver more power). Use the cable that came with the phone or a known-good cable. Then walk away for 30 minutes. Don't touch it, don't try to turn it on, don't unplug and replug. Just leave it.

After 30 minutes, try a force restart (Fix 1 above). If the battery was simply dead, you'll see a charging indicator or the boot screen.

If it still shows nothing after 30 minutes of charging: Try a different cable and a different wall charger. Cables fail far more often than phones do — a broken cable looks identical to a dead phone. If you have a wireless charger, try that too (this bypasses the charging port entirely and helps diagnose whether the port is the problem).

Fix 3: Check for signs of life

Even if the screen is completely black, the phone might be partially alive. Check for these signs:

Does it vibrate? Press and hold the power button. If you feel a vibration — even a faint one — the phone is on but the screen is dead. This is a screen or display connector issue, not a "dead phone." Screen repair pricing: $109-$619 depending on model.

Does it make sound? Ask someone to call your number. If you hear the ringtone or vibration, the phone is alive with a dead screen. Same diagnosis as above.

Does the charging cable get warm? Plug in the charger and feel the cable near the connector after 5 minutes. Slight warmth means power is flowing into the phone — it's charging but the screen isn't showing it. This usually resolves with Fix 2 (give it more time).

Does your computer recognise it? Connect the phone to a computer via USB. If the computer shows a new device, the phone is alive. You may be able to recover data even if the screen is dead.

Fix 4: Clean the charging port

If Fix 2 didn't work and you suspect the phone isn't actually charging, the problem might be a clogged charging port. Pocket lint, dust, and debris accumulate in the USB-C or Lightning port over months and can prevent the charging cable from making a proper connection.

What to do: Use a wooden or plastic toothpick (never metal — it can short-circuit the port contacts) and gently scrape out any debris from the port. You'll be surprised how much lint compacts in there. Shine a torch into the port to check. Then try charging again with a firm cable connection — you should feel a click when the cable seats properly.

If the port is damaged (bent pins, corrosion, physically broken), that's a professional repair. USB-C port replacement costs $69-$149 at independent shops.

Fix 5: Check for physical damage

If none of the above worked, look for physical signs of damage:

Is the phone swollen? Look at the phone from the side — is the screen lifting away from the frame, or is the back glass bulging? This is a swollen battery and it's a safety issue. Do not try to charge or restart the phone. Take it to a repair shop immediately. Battery replacement costs $69-$169 and the phone is usually fine once the battery is swapped.

Was the phone dropped recently? A drop can disconnect the display cable from the logic board internally — the phone is on but the screen is disconnected. A repair shop can reseat the cable in 10-15 minutes (often free or $20-$30 diagnostic fee).

Was it exposed to water? Even brief water exposure can cause the phone to shut down as a safety measure. See our water damage guide for what to do.

Fix 6: When it's a hardware failure

If you've tried all five fixes above and the phone is completely unresponsive — no vibration, no sound, no heat from charging, computer doesn't recognise it — then the issue is likely hardware. The most common hardware causes:

Dead battery ($69-$169): Lithium-ion batteries can fail suddenly, especially in phones 3+ years old or phones that have been deeply discharged multiple times. A battery replacement is the first thing a repair shop will try and it's the cheapest potential fix.

Faulty charging port ($69-$149): If the port is damaged and the battery has fully drained, the phone can't charge and can't turn on. Port replacement plus a full charge usually resolves this.

Logic board failure ($149-$399): The most serious cause. Logic board failures can result from water damage, power surge (faulty charger), drop damage, or component ageing. This requires micro-soldering repair — not all shops offer it. At this price point, the repair vs replace calculation becomes important.

What a repair shop does: Most shops offer a free or low-cost diagnostic ($0-$39) where they open the phone, check the battery voltage with a multimeter, inspect for visible board damage, and test with a known-good battery. This tells you exactly what's wrong before you commit to paying for a repair. Always get the diagnostic before agreeing to a repair price.

The decision tree

Force restart worked? → No repair needed. One-off software crash.

Charged for 30 min and booted? → Battery was flat. Check your charger and cable. If it happens regularly, check battery health.

Vibrates or makes sound but black screen? → Screen or display connector issue. Screen repair: $109-$619 by model.

Phone is swollen? → Swollen battery. Stop using it. Battery replacement: $69-$169.

No signs of life at all? → Take it to a shop for diagnostic. Could be battery ($69-$169), port ($69-$149), or board ($149-$399).

For pricing on your specific phone, use the repair calculator or see all 75+ models with pricing. For city-specific pricing, see our city pages.