My iPhone Won’t Turn On After an iOS Update? Here’s How To Fix It

Jason

By Jason

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My iPhone Won't Turn On

You just installed the latest iOS update on your iPhone, excited to try out all the new features. But when you go to turn your phone back on…nothing happens. Uh oh.

Don’t panic! An unresponsive iPhone that won’t power on is frustrating, but it’s a common issue that can often be fixed with some simple troubleshooting steps.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through all the potential solutions to try when your iPhone won’t turn on after an iOS update. Follow along step-by-step to get your iPhone working again in no time.

Step 1: Charge Your iPhone

Before you do anything else, plug your iPhone into the charger and let it charge for at least 15 minutes. The issue may simply be that the battery drained too low during the iOS install process.

Use the charger that came with your iPhone, or one certified by Apple’s MFi licensing program for assurance it provides sufficient power delivery. Avoid cheap, knock-off cables which could be providing inadequate power.

While it’s charging, look for the battery icon to appear on the screen, indicating it’s receiving power. If the charging icon doesn’t show up, try a different Lightning cable and USB adapter.

Ideally, let your iPhone charge for 1-2 hours to give the battery time to recover enough charge to power back on. Don’t be impatient and unplug it after just 5 or 10 minutes.

If you don’t see any signs of life after a sustained charge, move on to the next steps.

Step 2: Force Restart Your iPhone

If your iPhone still won’t turn on after charging, the next step is to force it to restart. This serves as a hard reset that can clear any glitches causing the power issue.

Force Restart the iPhone device to fix My iPhone Won't Turn On

Here’s how to force restart an iPhone 8 or later model:

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo appear.

For an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus:

  1. Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time.
  2. Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo shows up.

An iPhone 6s and earlier model:

  1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Top (or Side) button simultaneously.
  2. Keep pressing both buttons for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears.

Once you see the Apple logo, release the buttons and let your iPhone finish booting up normally. Hopefully this will be enough for it to turn back on fully so you can use it.

Tip: If your iPhone’s buttons are unresponsive, you can try force restarting it by connecting to a computer and using iTunes.

Step 3: Reset Your iPhone

If force restarting didn’t work, the next option is to reset your iPhone. This clears out any corrupted settings while retaining your data and apps.

To reset an iPhone 8 or later:

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding it until you see the recovery mode screen.
  4. When you see the option to Restore or Update, select Update to reinstall iOS without erasing data.

For an iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:

  1. Press and hold the Side button while also pressing Volume Down.
  2. When you see the recovery mode option, choose Update to reset without data loss.

On an iPhone 6s or earlier:

  1. Press and hold both the Home and Top button.
  2. Once recovery mode loads, tap Update to reset and reinstall iOS.

This should wipe clean any system files or settings that were causing your iPhone to get stuck while retaining your apps and data.

Step 4: Reinstall iOS Using iTunes

If you’ve tried force restarting and resetting your iPhone to no avail, it’s time to connect it to iTunes on a computer.

iTunes can force a restart and also completely reinstall iOS as a “clean” install. This gives you a fresh iOS system while retaining your data.

Here are the steps:

  1. Download the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC.
  2. Connect your iPhone to your computer using the Lightning cable.
  3. Open iTunes. Select your iPhone when it appears in the menu.
  4. Click Summary > Restore iPhone. This will reinstall iOS without deleting data.
  5. Alternatively, click Restore to start completely fresh. This erases your iPhone then installs a clean iOS.
  6. Once complete, set up your iPhone again through the initial setup prompts.

Hopefully after reinstalling iOS through iTunes, your iPhone will restart successfully and be working normally again.

Step 5: Repair iOS Using ReiBoot

If you’re still stuck on the question of “Why won’t my iPhone turn on after an update?”, the issue likely lies with your iOS software rather than the hardware.

Fortunately, there’s an easy-to-use tool called ReiBoot that can repair many common iOS crashes and boot loop issues that cause an unresponsive iPhone.

Here’s a quick overview of how ReiBoot works to fix iPhone startup problems:

ReiBoot - Standard Repair
  • Download and install ReiBoot on a Windows or Mac computer.
  • Connect your unresponsive iPhone to the computer.
  • ReiBoot will recognize your device and display options to repair iOS.
  • Click the “Standard Repair” button to fix software issues without data loss.
  • The tool will download iOS firmware and install it correctly on your iPhone.
  • Within minutes, your iPhone should be repaired and working properly again!

The benefits of using ReiBoot are that it quickly fixes iOS issues without deleting any of your data, and it installs the proper firmware your iPhone needs to run optimally again.

So if basic troubleshooting steps weren’t enough, give ReiBoot a try before taking more drastic measures.

Besides, don’t get frustrated when your iPhone compass is not working, as in this article, there are surefire solutions you can try if your iPhone compass is broken.

Step 6: Contact Apple Support

If you still can’t get your iPhone powered on despite all the troubleshooting methods above, it’s time to get help directly from the source.

Contact Apple Support by calling (800) 275-2273 or initiating a chat at https://support.apple.com.

Be prepared to answer some diagnostic questions. Have your iPhone nearby in case they can walk you through other recovery options.

You can also schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store. Make sure to back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes beforehand in case a restore is needed.

Apple’s technicians have specialized tools and software to fully diagnose your iPhone’s issues. They can test its hardware thoroughly to determine if a component failure is preventing it from turning on.

Getting professional support directly from Apple is the best way forward if you’ve hit a dead end troubleshooting yourself.

Prevent This Issue in the Future

No one wants to repeatedly deal with an iPhone that won’t power on properly. Here are some tips to avoid this headache down the road:

  • Always keep your iPhone’s iOS version fully up-to-date. Updates often fix bugs that cause crashes and boot problems.
  • Be cautious about clicking on prompts to update iOS before verifying the software is a legitimate release from Apple.
  • Use authentic Lightning cables and chargers to avoid problems from faulty power delivery.
  • Avoid exposing your iPhone to moisture or extreme temperatures which can damage components.
  • Install a protective case and screen protector to prevent cracks and breaks in the exterior.
  • Backup your iPhone regularly in case you ever need to fully restore and erase it.

Following best practices for handling and charging your device will go a long way towards preventing frustrating issues like it not turning on properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I wait before assuming my iPhone is bricked?

Give your iPhone about 15 minutes of charging before further troubleshooting if it won’t turn on. Let it charge for 1-2 hours if possible, as the battery may simply be drained too low.

Will resetting my iPhone erase all my data?

Doing a reset via the keypad combination and recovery mode retains your data while erasing settings and reinstalling iOS. Only using the Restore option in iTunes fully erases your iPhone and brings it completely back to factory settings.

Can I force restart an iPhone with unresponsive buttons?

If your iPhone’s buttons don’t work, connect it to a computer and use iTunes to force restart it instead. iTunes will be able to restart it even with unresponsive hardware buttons.

Why does my iPhone keep turning off after I restart it?

If your iPhone keeps powering off shortly after turning it back on, the issue is likely with the iOS software crashing, not the hardware itself. Use ReiBoot to properly reinstall iOS and stop the constant crashing.

How do I back up my iPhone before a restore?

You can back up your iPhone’s data either through iTunes on your computer, or using iCloud Backup over WiFi. Be sure to have a current backup before doing any restore procedure.

Key Takeaways:

  • Give your iPhone plenty of time to charge before troubleshooting further.
  • Force restart it using the button combinations for your specific model.
  • Reset the device using iTunes or the recovery menu.
  • Reinstall iOS by connecting to a computer with iTunes.
  • Try the ReiBoot software to cleanly repair iOS problems (including iPhone stuck in recovery mode).
  • Contact Apple Support if you’ve tried everything else with no results.
  • Prevent future issues by keeping your iPhone maintained, updated, and handled with care.

Hopefully with the steps in this guide, you’ll get your iPhone successfully turned back on and working again after an unresponsive black screen. Don’t panic or give up too quickly! Just walk through these solutions one by one until normal operation is restored.


Jason
Jason

Skilled software testing specialist with expertise in comparisons and research, passionate about blogging, reviews, and creating video tutorials.

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