Your iPhone is black, frozen on the Apple logo, or stuck after an update instead of starting normally. Start with power and charging checks first, then use recovery tools only when the phone still refuses to boot. The steps below follow Apple support guidance verified in July 2026.
1. Start With the Power Button
Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. That is the normal power-on step for current iPhones that are fully turned off.
On iPhone SE 1st generation, iPhone 5, or earlier, press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
2. Give the Battery a Full Hour
Connect the iPhone to power.
Leave it charging for one hour.
After that, press and hold the side button again, or the top button on iPhone SE 1st generation, iPhone 5, or earlier.
A drained iPhone needs more than a quick plug-in before it responds. If the low-battery screen appears, check the iPhone hardware and keep charging for 30 minutes or until it starts.
3. Inspect the Charging Path
If the screen stays black, prove the charger is actually delivering power before moving deeper.
Plug the iPhone into a computer, power accessory, or wall power outlet.
Next, check the charging cable and USB adapter for damage.
Use a wall power outlet and push every connection in firmly.
Then try a different outlet.
Remove debris from the charging port on the bottom of the iPhone, then reconnect the cable firmly.
Let it charge for 30 minutes. If it still does not power on, or it only shows a battery icon, force restart it and charge it for another 30 minutes.
4. Force Restart a Newer iPhone
- 1.Press and quickly release Volume Up.
- 2.Press and quickly release Volume Down.
- 3.Press and hold the side button.
- 4.Release the side button when the Apple logo appears.
Use this when the iPhone is frozen, black, or unresponsive after charging. This applies to iPhone models with Face ID and iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE 2nd generation and later. Keep holding the side button past 10 seconds when needed; Apple says the logo can take longer than that.
5. Update It in Recovery Mode
Use recovery mode when the iPhone sticks on the Apple logo for several minutes with no progress bar, sits on the Connect to computer screen, keeps restarting into Recovery Assistant, or will not update or restore. Choose the option that keeps your data. If the screen is still completely black after charging and a force restart, skip to the service step instead: Apple says that iPhone needs service.
Update your Mac. On Windows, install the latest Apple Devices app or iTunes.
Connect the iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.
Open Finder on macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, or open Apple Devices on Windows. Use iTunes on macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a Windows PC without Apple Devices.
For iPhone 8 or later, press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Connect to computer screen appears.
Select the iPhone on the computer.
When Update and Restore appear, choose Update.
Update installs the latest version of iOS without erasing the iPhone. Use it when the phone is stuck on the Apple logo, stuck on a progress bar, or will not start after an attempted update or restore.
6. Restore After Update Fails
Keep the iPhone connected to the computer.
Select it in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
Choose Restore when Update and Restore appear.
Wait while the computer downloads the software.
If the download takes more than 15 minutes and the iPhone leaves the Connect to computer screen, let the download finish, then repeat the recovery-mode steps.
Set up the iPhone after the restore completes.
Restore erases the iPhone and reinstalls iOS. Use it when Update does not solve the startup problem.
If the iPhone still appears normally in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, Apple also supports a factory restore from that screen. Back it up first, then turn off Find My from Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My [device] when the phone works well enough to open Settings.
7. Use Nearby Restore on Supported Models
Use this only when the affected iPhone shows the nearby-device restore animation.
Connect the affected iPhone to power.
Place it near another unlocked iPhone or iPad that is already connected to Wi-Fi.
Tap Continue when Restore Nearby [device] appears.
Enter the six-digit code shown on the affected iPhone into the helper device.
Tap OK when Restoring [device] appears.
This applies to iPhone 17 models, iPhone Air, iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro models, and iPhone 16e. The helper device must run iOS 18 or later or iPadOS 18 or later. Captive networks and 802.1X networks are not supported.
8. Stop When Apple Service Is Required
Get service from Apple Support when the iPhone still will not turn on after charging and force restart steps. Do the same when recovery mode cannot update or restore the iPhone, or when a stuck or broken button prevents recovery mode.
For a school or business iPhone stuck in recovery mode or missing required configuration information, an administrator with a Mac can use Apple Configurator and choose Actions > Advanced > Revive Device. Apple Configurator also supports Actions > Restore, which erases the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my iPhone black and not turning on?
Apple's supported checks cover power-off state, drained battery, charging path problems, frozen startup, failed update or restore, recovery-mode failure, broken buttons, and hardware service.
How long should I charge an iPhone that will not turn on?
Charge it for one hour, then try turning it on again. If the low-battery screen appears, keep charging for 30 minutes or until it starts.
Will recovery mode Update erase my iPhone?
No. Choosing Update in recovery mode installs the latest iOS version without erasing the iPhone.
Does Restore erase everything on the iPhone?
Yes. Apple says Restore reinstalls iOS and erases all data. After Restore completes, set up the iPhone again.
What should I do if an iPhone button is stuck or broken?
Get service from Apple Support. Apple says to use service when recovery mode cannot be used because a button does not work or is stuck.