Why won’t my phone turn on?

Smartphones are a big part of our daily lives, helping us stay in touch, get work done and just have fun. 

But sometimes, they can suddenly stop working and refuse to turn back on, which can be really annoying. Knowing why this happens and what you can do about it can save you a lot of time, money and hassle. 

Whether you have one of the best Android phones or the best iPhones, below you will find out what to do if your phone isn’t turning on. 

Why isn’t my phone turning on? 

There are several reasons why your phone might not be turning on. 

One of the most frequent reasons a phone won’t turn on is an empty or malfunctioning battery. Over time, batteries can wear out, and if your phone’s battery is completely drained, it may not power on immediately, even when plugged in. 

Check our guide on how to properly charge a phone battery to make it last longer. 

Physical damage to your phone – such as a broken power button or damaged internal components – can prevent it from turning on. Water damage is also a common reason why your phone might not work properly. 

Check out our list of the best phone cases to protect it, and also be sure to check whether your phone is IP-certified before reading our ‘What is an IP rating’ feature, to prevent such situations as drowning your phone. 

If your phone’s charging port or charger is damaged, your phone might not be receiving power. A faulty charging cable or adapter can also cause this issue. 

Use only good quality Lightning or USB-C cables that have no visible damage. You can also learn how to choose a USB-C cable for charging in our dedicated guide. 

Phones have built-in mechanisms to prevent damage from overheating. However, if your phone becomes too hot, it may shut down and not turn back on until it cools down sufficiently. 

Follow our guide on how to stop your phone from overheating, if you’re facing this problem. 

There might be also software issues, such as corrupted system files or a failed update, both of which might prevent your phone from booting up. These glitches can sometimes occur after installing new software or apps too. 

Be sure you know how to update your Android phone or how to update your iPhone, to prevent strange bugs and glitches. 

What to do if your phone isn’t turning on 

If your phone won’t turn on, here are several troubleshooting steps you can take to potentially fix the problem: 

Restart the phone 

If your phone is frozen, try restarting it normally first. For an iPhone 11 and other newer iPhone models: 

1. Press and release volume up button. 
2. Press and release volume down button. 
3. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds. 
4. Wait for the screen to turn black and Apple logo to appear. 

If you have the iPhone 8 or older, follow our guide on how to force reset iPhone. 

To restart the Pixel 8, Galaxy S24 or another Android phone that won’t turn on, perform a power cycle. 

Press and hold the Power button for about 30 seconds. For some models – like Samsung’s Galaxy phones – you may also need to hold the volume down button simultaneously, but it should only take a few seconds. 

Release the buttons once the screen turns on. 

Charge your phone 

Connect your phone to a charger and wait for at least 15-30 minutes. If the battery was completely drained, it might take a few minutes for the phone to respond. 

Ensure that the charging cable and adapter are functioning properly. 

Use different charger 

Try using a different charging cable and adapter to rule out the possibility of a faulty charger. If possible, test with a different power outlet as well. 

If you’re not sure you have the right one, we’ve put together a list of the best phone chargers for every budget, as well as the best wireless chargers. 

Connect to a computer 

You can also try to connect your phone to a computer, using a USB cable. Sometimes, the computer can recognise the device and help revive it. 

Factory reset 

Sometimes, a hard reset can resolve software issues. You can follow our guides on how to reset an iPhone, how to reset an Android phone or how to reset a Samsung phone, to restore your phone. 

However, this step erases practically all the data on your device. Only perform a factory reset as a last resort, after you’ve tried everything else. 

Remember to always back up your Android phone or back up your iPhone. You can check our guide on how to back up your data for free, if you don’t want to pay for the cloud storage. 

If your data is somehow lost, pick the best data recovery software from our list. 

Check for physical damage 

Inspect your phone for any signs of physical damage, such as cracks or water exposure. You can even follow our guide on how to dry out a wet phone, if you think there’s a chance it’ll solve the problem. 

If you suspect more serious hardware issues, it might be necessary to visit a professional repair service. 

Get professional help 

If none of the above works, it might be time to consult a professional technician. They can diagnose more complex issues and provide solutions that you might not be able to implement on your own. 

If you have an iPhone, you can contact Apple and send them your phone for repair. 

For Android devices, as an example, Samsung, Google, Motorola and OnePlus offer their own repair services.