Updated October 3, 2026.
Five checks before you worry
Most phones that "won't turn on" have a flat battery or a bad cable. Or the phone is on, but the screen is black. Go in order. Stop when it works.
1. Check for damage first
Is the phone swollen, very hot, bent or wet? Stop here. Do not charge it. Do not press the screen back down. Do not open it. Bring it in and we check it safely.
2. Try a force restart
A force restart does not erase anything. The buttons depend on the model.
- iPhone 8 and newer: press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the logo shows.
- Google Pixel: hold the Power button for about 30 seconds.
- Samsung and most Android: hold Power and Volume Down for 10 to 20 seconds.
Not sure? Use the maker's steps: Apple or Samsung.
3. Check the cable, the brick and the outlet
Use a cable and a brick you know work. Plug into a wall, not a laptop. Leave it for 30 minutes, then try again. Stop if the phone gets hot.
Does it charge on wireless but not on the cable? Read our phone won't charge guide.
4. Look for signs of life
Call the phone from another phone. Listen for a ring or a buzz. Sound with a black screen often means the screen failed, not the phone. That is a common fix.
5. Still nothing? Let us check it
Four parts can cause the same black screen: battery, port, screen or main board. We test each one in order. You hear the price before we start.
Do not factory reset a phone just to test a black screen. Back it up first if you still can. We cannot promise data recovery.
If we cannot fix it, you pay nothing. Read the 60-day warranty and no fix, no charge.
Reviewed September 2026. Steps vary by model.