How to Fix It If Your Phone Won't Turn On – A Complete Guide

You can call friends and family, surf the internet, and play games on a phone. It’s now a key part of our daily lives. It connects us, keeps us informed, and entertains us. So it is certainly frustrating when the phone simply refuses to turn on. In this blog, we will help you deal with troubleshooting problems in a stepwise manner.

8 Steps to fix a phone that won't turn on

There can be many reasons for an unresponsive phone, with a very minor possibility being the battery draining down, or something deep and serious like a broken screen or possibly damage to components inside your phone. We must discuss a few of the factors related to a dead phone and some steps for getting it back up.

1. Check Your Battery

The first thing that should be done is to determine whether the battery is charged. With the many things on which a human focuses and receives distractions, charging a phone may get neglected, and the battery might run low. Here is what should be done:

• Plugging in the charger: Use the original charging unit and let it charge for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes. If the phone is fully discharged, then it will take some time to show any signs of life.
• Check for charging signs: After some time, see if there are any charging symbols appearing on the screen or light. If you observe any such indicators, the phone is charging.
• Try a different charger or cable: it won't turn on at all, or it turns on but at an angle to the air, lying on the surface of the table. Kindly check using another one and see.

2. Force Restart Your Phone

Sometimes your phone may just freeze or become unresponsive, like a glitch in the system. In such cases, a force restart is most likely to solve the problem. Here are the steps to perform it:

• For iPhones: Quickly press the Volume Up button and release it. Then, quickly press and release the Volume Down button.  Finally, press the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
• For Android Phones: If your Android phone needs to be forcefully restarted, press and hold the Power button for 10 to 15 seconds. In the case of removable batteries, take it out and then reattach it.

3. Check for Screen Issues

Sometimes, it may be that your phone is switched on and properly functioning, but no display is visible. Screen damage or software malfunction of some kind could cause this. Below are a few checks:

• Try the force restart: The screen may be defective if you can hear sounds or feel vibrations but have nothing on your screen.
• Test your screen with another device: Get another phone or tablet and connect your phone to this device using a USB cable. If the display appears on the other attached device, the chances are that your screen is cracked.

In case of your screen damage, you will probably require mobile repairing tools to repair, and may enroll you in a mobile repairing course in due course to teach you how to make the repairs yourself.

4. Look for Software Issues

Corruption in the OS or bugs in the phone would cause it not to turn on, and in that case, the user may have to reset the phone. While doing that, one must keep in mind that it erases everything from the phone. Here is a complete guide on how to do a factory reset:

• For an iPhone, connect your phone to iTunes (on the computer) and click Restore iPhone to factory settings.

• For an Android phone, use Recovery Mode. For this, hold the Volume Up and Power buttons down together until you see the Android logo. From here, select Wipe data/factory reset.

If you're not happy with this, you can contact a mobile repair center for assistance.

5. Remove External Accessories

Sometimes accessories, such as a defective headphone jack, a casing, or an SD memory card may cause a phone not to turn on. Try removing all accessories:

• Remove the phone case: If it is too snug and fits tightly, it may be pressing against the power button.
• Unplug accessories: Remove all headphones, external storage cards, or any connected devices. 
• Try restarting your phone: If the accessories are removed, turn on the phone.

6. Check for Water Damage

Water damage is quite a common thing that may prevent a phone from powering on. Exposing a phone to water or moisture could have caused a sudden short circuit. Here are the things you should do:

• Dry your phone: Once water has entered the phone, ensure you dry it properly by using a clean cloth. Never try to use heat; a hairdryer would do more harm than good.
• Pull out the battery: If there is a battery in the phone, then you should remove it and leave it to dry on its own.
• Let it dry for 24–48 hours: Do not force the switch on until the interior is perfectly dry.

If the phone still fails to turn on even after it dries out, try seeking the help of a good repair technician.

7. Look for Hardware Problems

If your phone is still refusing to power up after all the above steps, there may be a deeper hardware problem. Some likely hardware faults are listed below.

• Internal damage: Some internal parts, such as the motherboard or battery, can become damaged over time.
• Loose connections: The links that attach different parts of your phone can be loose, thus preventing it from turning on.

To clear these issues, one needs professional help. Mobile repair centers have to repair mobile tools to check hardware problems. You can even learn to do repairs on your phone by joining a mobile repair course.

8. Visit a Professional Technician

If your phone still refuses to power up, the time has come to legitimately see a technician. A trained individual will know how to fix common mobile pitfalls, such as cracked screens, defective batteries, or software problems.

Some mobile repair centers may serve near you, or if interested, you may wish to take a mobile repair course.  The course teaches you the use of mobile repairing tools and fixing problems related to mobile phones like power problems.

Conclusion

Nowadays, having a phone that won't turn on is irritating but it can be repaired in most cases at times. First, check out all main key factors like battery and charger. If not, try rebooting or examining for software issues. 

Lastly, if that does not work, you may have to delve into hardware issues or consult a technician. If you're interested in learning how to repair mobiles, consider taking a training course. 

You will learn to use mobile repair tools. You’ll also solve common mobile problems on your own. No matter whether the issue is simple or complex, these steps will help you and your phone work again.

Frequently Asked Questions