Why Is My iPhone Screen Black?

There are a number of reasons why an iPhone screen may have gone black but usually the issue can be solved fairly easily. And fortunately in most cases the culprit is a software issue and not a hardware issue.

Scenario #1: Is the iPhone turned off?
This may seem obvious, but before going any further it's best to double-check that your iPhone is simply not turned off. Try to turn it on and see if that fixes the problem.

Scenario #2: Is the iPhone battery dead?
If your iPhone is turned off, the screen is black, and turning it on does not work, then connecting to a power source may solve the problem. Connect the iPhone to a charger and attempt to turn it on. If this works, continue charging the iPhone until the battery reaches a sufficient level.

In some cases, the battery may appear to already be partially charged. In that scenario it's recommended to check the health of the battery in the iPhone Settings app. It may need to be repaired or replaced at the Apple Store or by an authorized repair service.

Scenario #3: Is the iPhone turned on with a black screen?
If your iPhone is turned on and showing a black screen this usually means the phone is frozen or crashing. Restarting the iPhone will fix it in most cases.

Users of the iPhone 7 and earlier can restart by holding down the Home button and Power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen. If you have an iPhone 8 or newer, press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

Scenario #4: Is the iPhone screen only black while trying to watch videos?
This is likely due to a slow or inconsistent internet connection. Try connecting to Wi-Fi (or a different Wi-Fi network) to see if that solves the problem.

Scenario #5: Does the iPhone screen go black only when using a particular app?
If it seems as though one particular app is causing the screen to turn black, there are a couple steps to take to resolve the issue. First try force quitting the app by closing it in the application switcher. Then go to the App Store and select the Updates tab. Install any available update for the app. If that still doesn't resolve the issue try restarting the iPhone.

Scenario #6: Is the white Apple logo showing on the black screen?
The white Apple logo appears after updates or restarts, although it may appear after the iPhone or an app crashes. Try updating the affected app first. If the iPhone is just permanently stuck on the white Apple logo, it's likely the iPhone will need to be reset and restored from a backup.

Scenario #7: Is the iPhone screen black with a red line across it?
If there is a thin line (either vertical or horizontal) across your iPhone screen this might be a sign of a hardware issue. Try restarting the iPhone but if the line persists it's recommended to take the iPhone to an Apple Store for inspection.