If your Motorola Moto G Power (2025) is completely black and won't respond, don't panic. I'd start with the simplest fix first, as this often gets it going again. Press and hold the Power button for a full 10 seconds or more until you feel a vibration or see the Motorola logo appear on screen.
This force restart is the same as pulling the battery on older phones. It clears out any temporary software glitches that might be freezing the system. If the screen stays dark after holding it for that long, the battery is likely completely drained.
Charge With a Powerful Enough Adapter
The Moto G Power (2025) supports 30W wired charging, but it doesn't come with a charger in the box. If you're using an old, low-power USB block, it might not be providing enough juice to wake the phone up from a deep discharge.
Plug it into a known-good 30W USB-PD charger and a quality USB-C cable. Leave it plugged in, undisturbed, for at least 30 to 45 minutes. Look for a small LED light near the charging port or feel if the back is getting slightly warm, which are signs it's taking power.
Since it lacks wireless charging, your only option is the USB-C port. Check the port itself for any packed-in lint or debris that could be blocking the cable from making a full connection. A bright light and a toothpick can help you gently clear it out.
Check for Physical or Water Damage
This phone has a MIL-STD-810H rating for durability, but a hard drop can still damage internal components. Inspect the device for any major cracks, especially around the edges or the screen, that might indicate an impact hard enough to disconnect something internally.
Also consider if it's been exposed to any moisture. While it might have some water resistance, liquid damage can cause a short circuit that prevents it from powering on. If it got wet, the best course is to leave it powered off and in a dry, warm place for at least 48 hours before trying to charge or turn it on again.
Boot Into Recovery Mode
If the phone has some charge but is stuck on a logo or won't fully boot, you can try accessing the recovery menu. First, make sure the device is powered off. Then, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
Keep holding both buttons until you see the Motorola logo, then release them. You should then see an Android robot with an exclamation mark. From here, press and hold the Power button for a second, then tap the Volume Up button to enter the recovery menu.
Use the volume keys to scroll to "Wipe cache partition" and press the Power button to select it. This clears temporary system files without touching your personal data. After it completes, select "Reboot system now."
Consider a Problematic SD Card
One great feature of the Moto G Power is the SD card slot for expanding beyond the 128GB base storage. However, a corrupted memory card can sometimes cause boot issues. If you have one inserted, try powering off the phone and removing the SD card.
With the card out, attempt the force restart again by holding the Power button for 10 seconds. If the phone boots normally, the SD card was likely the culprit. You can try reformatting it in another device, but be aware that this will erase all data stored on the card.
Perform a Factory Reset
This is a last resort because it will erase all data on your phone's internal storage. Only try this if the phone can at least boot into the recovery menu as described in the previous steps. Ensure you have exhausted all other options first.
In the recovery menu, use the volume keys to navigate to "Factory reset" or "Wipe data/factory reset." Select it with the Power button. You'll then need to confirm your choice. The process will take a few minutes, after which you can select "Reboot system now." This returns the phone to its original out-of-box state.
Test With a Different Battery
While less common, a completely failed battery can cause these symptoms. The battery in the Moto G Power is not user-replaceable in the traditional sense, but if you're comfortable with phone repair, you can open the back cover to disconnect and reconnect the battery's internal connector.
This requires a plastic pry tool and a Phillips screwdriver. Disconnecting the battery for a minute can perform a deeper hardware reset than a force restart. If you have access to a known-good battery for this model, swapping it in is a definitive way to test if the original battery is the problem.
Inspect the Power Button Mechanism
Finally, the issue could be the physical Power button itself. Over time, debris can get lodged under the button, or the internal switch can wear out. Listen carefully when you press the button. Do you hear a distinct, crisp click, or does it feel mushy and silent?
Try pressing the button firmly at different angles. If the button feels stuck or unresponsive, and you've ruled out a software issue, the physical button assembly may need to be cleaned or replaced. This typically requires opening the phone's housing to access the small component on the motherboard.
