1. Charge it for 30 minutes
A fully flat battery can take several minutes before the phone shows any sign of life. Use a cable and plug you know work, and leave it for half an hour.
2. Force restart
iPhone 8 and newer: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Samsung: hold the side button and volume down together for about 10 seconds.
3. Is it on with a black screen?
If you hear sounds, feel vibrations, or it rings when you call it, the phone is on and the screen has failed. That's a screen repair, not a dead phone.
4. Stuck on the logo
A phone stuck on the Apple or Samsung logo can be a software problem or a failing battery. Don't keep restarting it. Book a diagnostic and we'll find the cause.
When to book a diagnostic
If none of this works, or the phone got wet or was dropped, book a diagnostic. We'll tell you what's wrong and the price before doing any work.
Quick answers
My phone vibrates but the screen is black. What's wrong?
The phone is working but the display has failed, usually after a drop. A new screen will fix it.
Can you recover my photos from a phone that won't turn on?
Often, if we can get the phone running. We'll tell you what's possible after diagnosing it.
Written by the technicians at Rugby Phone Repair Hub, who repair phones at customers' homes and workplaces across Rugby every day.
More help
- Phone won't charge? What to check first
- Dropped your phone in water? Do this now
- Cracked phone screen? What you need to know
- iPhone battery health: when to replace it
- Green line on your Samsung screen?
- How much does a phone screen repair cost?
- Phone screen flickering or showing lines?
- iPad won't turn on? Try this first
- Is it worth repairing my phone?
- iPhone "unknown part" message explained
- How to back up your phone before a repair