iPhones are great devices but I believe we can all agree they are far from being perfect! Besides the cools shape and the software, they also come ‘equipped’ with various issues that drive users crazy. Not to mention that service may cost hundreds of dollars, according to the type of problem you’re having!
One of the most frequent issues that may finally lead many users to switch brands is the black screen problem. In this scenario, the phone works and all its functions are available, except the screen. The screen is completely black and unresponsive to your requests.
Now, what can you do with a iPhone that doesn’t display anything? You don’t see who is calling, you can’t read your messages or emails, and you can’t procrastinate by scrolling through your Facebook/Twitter feed.
So, why is my iPhone Screen Black?
Because we got a bunch of complaints from desperate users, we decided it’s time to cover the iPhone screen problem by offering a few solutions that may work at home. If the solutions listed below are not effective, it means the problem is a bit more complicated and it’s time to go to the Apple Store and ask them for help.
But first, let’s see what you can do if you’re in the ‘my iPhone screen went black but still works’ situation.
Check for the obvious
You may laugh but it happens to the best of us. So, before the panic starts, check for the obvious reasons that your screen may be black.
The most obvious reason is a dead battery– to check for this, simply plug your phone and press the Home or Sleep/Awake (or Power) button. If this is the problem, your screen should light up. It is recommended to wait two or three minutes, just in case the battery is completely drained.
The second most obvious reason is a crashed app. If your screen went black while using an app, there may have been a problem with the app, which leads to your phone getting stuck. To remove the blockage, press the Home button twice, fast. This will display a list of apps that are currently running. Look for the one that is causing the problem and force close it. If the problem repeats with the same app, you should remove it from your iPhone.
Try a Restart or a Reset
Even though many iPhone users will say fixing problems with a restart is a behavior specific to Windows users, it also works in this case. The ‘iPhone screen went black’ problem may simply be a software glitch that will get resolved as soon as the device is restarted.
For this, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until you see the red slider. Slide towards off and wait for the phone to close completely. Next, press the Sleep/Wake button again, to start the phone.
In the case the restart didn’t work, it’s recommended to try a reset. For this press and hold both the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button for about 10 seconds. Release the buttons when you see the Apple screen.
An iOS problem
The iPhone screen problem may actually be caused by a problem in the operating system. To check if this is the case, you will have to restore your phone to factory settings.
Keep in mind: a reset will wipe all your data so it’s best to make regular backups.
For a restore, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone to iTunes, via your computer.
- When the iPhone button appears in the iTunes interface, click File > Devices > Select Back Up – this action will create a backup of your current data and you can skip it if you already have one.
- Next, go to iPhone > Summary > Restore iPhone
- Follow the prompts that show up on the screen
What to Do If the Problem Is Hardware Related
There are a couple of scenarios (besides the phone having a factory defect) that may make us think about a hardware problem.
For instance, if you recently dropped your phone and then the iPhone black screen problem showed up, it’s possible that you dislodged the backlight display cable. The most logical solution would be to open your phone but this means going to a service.
To test if this may be the problem, simply squeeze the top-right corner of the back of your phone, right by the camera. Press down firmly, trying to put back anything that might have gotten out of place. If you hear a small click, check to see if your screen is back online.
Another hardware related problem may be the state of the iPhone. If you tend to drop your iPhone wherever and the case is full of scratches, this issue may be connected to accumulated dirt and humidity. Take a smooth, microfiber cloth (it must be clean) and run it through all the phone’s surfaces. Be extremely careful with areas where dirt may reach the internal circuits. Clean everything really good and let the iPhone dry overnight. Check the screen again in the morning.
Replace your Screen
If nothing works, it may mean your screen is doomed. This should mean going to the service right away, but you always have the possibility to try doing the job yourself. The screen can be easily replaced, a replacement screen is a lot cheaper then paying over $100 for someone at the mall to fix for you! Who knows, maybe one of your friends will get the ‘iPhone screen went black’ problem in the future.
In the end, if nothing works and you don’t want to try replacing the screen on your own, the only solution remains the service. However, you will be happy to know that you’ve tried everything before deciding to call for professional help.
Leave a comment below if any of these helped, or you have another way of fixing the problem!
