My iPhone 8 Won't Turn On! Here's The Fix.

David Lynch

AUGUST 21, 2017

Your iPhone 8 won't turn on and you're starting to get frustrated. At this point, we can't be certain whether a software or hardware issue is causing the problem. In this article, I'll help you diagnose the real reason why your iPhone 8 is not turning on and show you how to fix it using a step-by-step guide.

Why Your iPhone 8 Won't Turn On: Software vs. Hardware

There's a possibility that your iPhone 8 software crashed, making it look like your iPhone is turned off because the screen is black. If this is what happened, then your iPhone has actually been on the entire time! The first step in our guide will show you how to fix this issue by performing a hard reset.

However, there may also be a hardware issue with display when your iPhone 8 won't turn. You can test to see if this is the issue by plugging your iPhone into a computer using a Lightning cable (the charging cable).

If your iPhone 8 is recognized by iTunes, but the display is still black, you may have found the problem! We recommend backing up your iPhone 8 immediately if its recognized by iTunes, and step 2 of our guide will show you how to do so.

If neither of these steps fix the problem when your iPhone 8 is not turning on, work through the rest of our comprehensive troubleshooting guide!

How To Fix An iPhone 8 That's Not Turning On

5 Steps Total
1.

Perform A Hard Reset On Your iPhone 8 Or 8 Plus

Although you shouldn't rely on hard resets to turn your iPhone off and back on, it can be a reliable way to turn your iPhone off and back on when its unresponsive, frozen, or experiencing a software crash.

  1. Quickly press the volume up button on the side of your iPhone.
  2. Quickly press the volume down button on the side of your iPhone.
  3. Press and hold the power button.
  4. Release the power button when the Apple logo appears on the display. Your iPhone 8 will turn back on shortly after.
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2.

Back Up Your iPhone

It's important to back up your iPhone before doing any major restores (such as a DFU restore). If something goes wrong while you're trying to fix your iPhone, having a back up means you won't lose any of your data (such as contacts, photos, apps, and more). Restoring from a back up is a lot more convenient than having to go and reenter all the information that was saved on your iPhone.

How Do I Back Up My iPhone?

There are a few different ways to back up your iPhone:

Backup Your iPhone Using iCloud

  1. If you have a WiFi connection, you can back up your iPhone using iCloud.
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Tap on Your Name at the top of the screen.
  4. Tap iCloud.
  5. Scroll down and tap on iCloud Backup.
  6. Make sure the switch next to iCloud Backup is on. You'll know the switch is on when the switch is green.
  7. Tap Back Up Now.
  8. A status bar will appear to tell you how much time is remaining.

Backup Your iPhone Using iTunes

  1. Plug the Lightning connector on your Lightning cable (charging cable) into the Lightning port on your iPhone.
  2. Plug the other end of your Lightning cable into a USB port on your computer.
  3. Open iTunes on your computer.
  4. Click on the iPhone icon in the upper left hand corner of iTunes.
  5. Click the circle next to "iCloud" or "This computer" to select whether you want to backup your iPhone to iCloud or your computer.
  6. Click Back Up Now to backup your iPhone.
  7. When the backup is complete, you'll see the time and date updated under Latest Backup.

Backup Your iPhone Using Finder (Macs Running Catalina 10.15 or newer)

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a charging cable.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. Click on your iPhone under Locations.
  4. Click the circle next to Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
  5. Click Back Up Now.
  6. When the backup is complete, you'll see the time and date updated under Latest Backup.
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3.

Look For Debris In Your iPhone's Charging Port

If debris, gunk, or lint has gotten stuck in your iPhone's charging port, it may get stuck in headphones mode — even if headphones aren't plugged in! When your iPhone is stuck in headphones mode, you won't hear it ring.

How Do I Look For Debris In My iPhone's Charging Port?

  1. Use a flashlight to take a close look inside your iPhone's charging port.
  2. Use an anti-static brush or unused toothbrush to remove any debris from inside the port.
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4.

Try Charging Your iPhone With Multiple Chargers

There are a lot of tools you can use to charge your iPhone — a wall charger, car adapter, or a USB port on your iPhone. Sometimes, your iPhone will charge with one of these chargers, but not another.

How Do I Try Charging My iPhone With Multiple Chargers?

  1. Using your Lightning cable (charging cable), attempt to charge your iPhone with multiple different charges.
  2. If you're using a wall charger, try plugging into multiple different outlets.
  3. If your iPhone charges with one charger, but not another, there's probably an issue with that charger.
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5.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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Turn! Turn! Turn On!

Your iPhone 8 has turned back on! It's incredibly frustrating when your iPhone 8 won't turn on, so make sure you share this article on social media to save your friends and family similar headaches. Feel free to leave a comment down below if you have any other questions about your iPhone! Thanks for reading.

  1. Perform A Hard Reset On Your iPhone 8 Or 8 Plus
  2. Back Up Your iPhone
  3. Look For Debris In Your iPhone's Charging Port
  4. Try Charging Your iPhone With Multiple Chargers
  5. Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Applies To: iPhone 8

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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