If you’re an iPhone user, you’re bound to be aware of one thing; the iPhone is most definitely a very durable smartphone. If you buy an iPhone once, it’ll definitely last you in the years to come making it in all honesty, a worthwhile investment.
However, even if the iPhone is a durable device in itself, longevity lies in good maintenance of the device. You can stretch out the functional duration of the phone if you actually look after it with care. This doesn’t mean in any way that taking care of your device will result in life-lasting performance of the phone. Eventually, most smartphones end up with one issue or the other due to the wear and tear that comes from its usage.
One such issue that sometimes springs up is the iPhone Black Screen of Death, where the iPhone screen goes black but still running. Sometimes, the screen might be off too and regardless of trying, the screen remains off. From what we’ve seen, this issue is not too uncommon and it can happen due to multiple reasons. Why’s my iPhone screen black? A few of these reasons include:
- Hardware issues
- Software Issues
- Breakage
- Issue with a particular app
- Low battery
Luckily, there’s no need to panic. At least not yet.
Before you start losing your mind and stressing out, there are a number of things you can do to try and resolve the issue while sitting at home. Even though there’s a probability that there’s a hardware issue at play here, we recommend you try some troubleshooting first. If nothing else, you’ll have a fairly better idea of why you’ve been cursed with the iPhone Black Screen of Death.
Some things that you can do to get the phone working again, are discussed below:
1. A Drained Battery
This is probably the first and the most obvious thing that came to your mind and you did it already. Regardless, it’s still important for us to mention this. This is usually the case if not just the screen but the phone is off altogether. For this problem, as simple as it seems, just plug your iPhone into a charger and press the home button. If the Apple logo appears, you’re safe and have just averted a rather uncomfortable experience.
2. Software issues
If you’re experiencing a situation where your iPhone’s screen is black but the iPhone still works, there’s still something you can do. You’ll know your iPhone is turned on because you’ll be able to hear notifications from text messages or calls, but the screen will be pitch black with darkness and also be unresponsive. This is not an uncommon problem and has been reported by many iPhone X users in particular. The problem has been experienced in other iPhone models as well.
If you’re stuck where the screen is black but the iPhone still works, a potential reason for this to be happening could be because of a software issue. This problem usually suggests that the iPhone is frozen or is crashing. Luckily what you can do here is reboot your device. What’s even better is that rebooting an iPhone is a very simple task with almost non-existent difficulty. Restarting your iPhone will depend on the model you have. Methods for force restarting all models have been explained below:
The Complete iPhone Shutdown & Restart Guide (w/ iPhone 16/17 Rumors)
▸ Basic Shutdown
• Full-Screen Models (X to 16):
→ Buttons: Hold side + volume buttons → slide power-off slider
→ Settings: Settings > General > Shut Down
• Home Button Models (8/earlier): Hold top/side button → slide slider
▸ Force Restart (Frozen Fix!)
→ iPhone 8/16+: Tap vol up → tap vol down → hold side button ’til Apple logo
→ iPhone 7: Hold vol down + power 10 sec
→ Older/SE: Hold Home + power 10 sec
⚠️ Special Cases
• Broken power button: Mash side button 5x fast → emergency slider
• Unresponsive screen: Use AssistiveTouch (floating button) → Device → Long-press virtual power
• Dead battery/cold: Charge 10+ mins before retry
🔥 iPhone 16 Confirmed
→ Identical shutdown steps as iPhone 15
→ Stronger haptic feedback on presses
🚨 iPhone 17 Rumors
• No physical buttons! Solid-state touch controls for volume/power
• Force restart? Triple-click Action Button
• AI-powered optimization to prevent freezes
💡 Pro Tips
• Save unsaved work before restarting!
• Store long-term at ~50% battery
• Frequent crashes? Visit Apple Support
👉 Official guides: support.apple.com
If this tactic works, then congratulations! You’ve just solved the problem.
3. Issues with an App
If you’re experiencing the iPhone screen black but still works then there’s a high probability that this is an isolated software issue with the app you are using. The other possibility is that the app could be loading something. This happens many times with streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube, particularly if you have a slow internet connection. In such a situation, the best thing to do would be the following:
-
- Exit the app, close it, and go to the home screen.
- Open the App Store and tap on the Updates section. If there are any available updates specifically for the app that is crashing on you, install them.
- Restart your iPhone.
In most cases, doing this will fix the issue. If the problem persists, we advise you to contact the developer of that app or uninstall the app to maintain your device’s health.
4. DFU recovery mode
- Connect Your iPhone to the Computer with a cable.
- Put Your iPhone into DFU Mode: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black. Keep holding the Side button and start holding the Volume Down button for 5 seconds.
- iTunes or Finder will detect your iPhone in recovery mode and prompt you to restore or update. Choose “Restore.”
5. Repair the iPhone
If you’ve tried all of the above and it hasn’t helped, then we suggest you contact an expert to handle the problem. In this case, the most probable cause for the iPhone Black Screen of Death could be a hardware issue on the inside. It could be a result of wreckage in case you dropped your phone. There’s a chance the LCD cable has been dislodged due to the physical impact. If that is the case, you don’t need to worry because the repair procedure is fairly simple. However, if the damage is more extensive such as the LCD breaking, it could take a heavy toll on your wallet. Sometimes, both these situations can occur from water damage as well.
Under no circumstances, do we advise you to try and repair your iPhone by yourself. We don’t advise it because you’ll probably end up doing more harm than good without the proper tools or knowledge. Don’t make things worse by attempting self-repair just so you can save money on repairs by an expert. However, if you’re a rebel and wish to challenge the system, we recommend you use a repair guide. You can find a lot of those online. Most of them are excellent too.
We still, recommend you to reach out to an expert. If you’re worried about the costs, you don’t have to be too worried. Luckily, there are many experts out there in the market who can repair your iPhone for considerably less cost. Regardless of what issue it is, they’ll deliver quality work and it won’t be too heavy on your wallet either. These days, there are some repair companies who’ll come to your doorstep within an hour or two after you call them and repair the phone right there and then. That way, you won’t be too worried about privacy concerns either!
We acknowledge that reading this article may not have magically worked in fixing your iPhone’s black screen because the issue is in most cases, driven by a hardware fault. We still hope that you found this article helpful.
How do I get rid of the black background on my iPhone?
To prevent iPhone black screen of death issue, you can do the following:
- Keep iOS updated to prevent software-related glitches.
- Avoid jailbreaking or your iPhone will be vulnerable.
- Use official apps to avoid security risks and software conflicts.
- Protect your device physically, such as using a Phone case or screen protector.
- Back up data so iTunes or DFU recovery can help you.
- Restart regularly to clear memory and refresh the system process.
- Beware of malware.
- Seek professional help if needed.
- Avoiding overheating
How much does it cost to fix a black screen of death on an iPhone?
It depends on the cause of your iPhone black screen of death and where you go for help. For example, if you seek help from an Apple Store, you may pay between $199 and $329.
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