iPhone black screen of death? Try 6 proven fixes - force restart, iTunes restore, DFU mode, and more. Plus a tool to back up your data before you start. Step‑by‑step.
iPhone's black screen after iOS upgrade? iPhone rings, but can’t answer the call, and the screen goes black during calls? iPhone stuck on black screen with spinning wheel? Some Apple users have reported a series of issues surrounding the iPhone stuck in the black screen of death. Today, we will elaborate on these issues, including the reasons and solutions.
A black screen can happen for a few different reasons:
Most of the time, the culprit is software, and software problems are fixable without replacing parts.
Try these solutions in order. The first few are quick and safe; later ones involve more advanced steps like restoring your iPhone.
Before assuming the worst, make sure your iPhone isn't simply out of battery.
If the screen still doesn't light up, move on to the next fix.
If the black screen appeared right after you opened a specific app, that app might be the problem.
A force restart clears out temporary system glitches without deleting your data. The steps depend on your iPhone model.
iPhone 8 and later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Side button for about 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold both the Home button and the Top (or Side) button until the Apple logo appears.
If your iPhone restarts and the screen comes back on, the issue is resolved.
If the screen stays black but your iPhone is still recognized by your computer, you can try restoring it through iTunes. This will erase all data on your iPhone, so only use this if you have a backup or if nothing else works.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on newer Macs).
Step 2. Click the device icon near the top left. In the Summary tab, click Restore iPhone.
Step 3. Follow the on‑screen instructions. iTunes will download the latest iOS and install it on your iPhone.
This wipes your iPhone. If you have a recent backup, you can restore from it afterward.
If a standard iTunes restore doesn't work, a DFU (Device Firmware Update) restore is the next step. It completely reinstalls the iPhone's firmware and is often the final fix for software-related black screen issues.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder).
Step 2. Enter DFU mode according to your iPhone model:
Step 3. Once your iPhone is in DFU mode, iTunes will prompt you to Restore. Click it and wait for the process to finish.
Your screen will stay completely black during DFU mode, that's normal. If you see any logo or text, you're not in DFU mode and need to try again.
If your iPhone screen occasionally turns on but then goes black, a factory reset might help. This erases all content and settings, so back up first.
Step 1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Step 2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode and confirm.
Step 3. Wait for the reset to complete. Set up your iPhone as new or restore from a backup.
Restoring your iPhone, whether through iTunes, DFU, or factory reset, wipes all your data. If you don't have a recent backup, you could lose photos, contacts, messages, and more. AOMEI FoneBackup is a free Windows tool that lets you back up your iPhone quickly and selectively.
Selective backup. Back up only what matters, photos, contacts, messages or do a full backup.
No data loss. Your backup is stored safely on your PC.
Works with all iPhones. iPhone 4 up to iPhone 17 and iOS 18.
Easy restore. Add data back to your iPhone without wiping anything else.
Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FoneBackup on your Windows PC. Connect your iPhone with a USB cable and tap "Trust This Computer" when prompted.
Step 2. Open AOMEI FoneBackup. Click Phone Backup, then choose Selective Backup and click Get Started.
Step 3. Click the icons for the data types you want to back up - Photos, Contacts, Messages, etc. Preview and select the specific files. Click OK.
Step 4. Click Backup Storage Path and choose where to save the backup (your PC, an external drive, etc.).
Step 5. Click Start Backup. A few minutes later, your data is safely stored.
To restore later, go to "My Backups" and click Restore next to the backup you need.
That's it, 6 effective solutions to fix iPhone black screen of death. If your iPhone is black screen after getting wet or water, there may a serious hardware problem. You should go to the Apple After-sales Center for professional repairs. It is strongly recommended to backup your iPhone before repairing it to keep your data safe.