This wikiHow teaches you how to turn on your phone, as well as troubleshooting a phone that won't turn on when you press the power button.
Step
Part 1 of 7: Turning On iPhone
Step 1. Locate the power button (“Power”)
This button is also known as the “Sleep/Wake” button. The location of the buttons differs depending on the iPhone model:
- iPhone 6 and later models – You can find the power button on the top right side of the phone.
- iPhone 5 and earlier models – The power button is on the top end of the phone.
Step 2. Press and hold the power button
If the phone is already on, the screen will be activated and you can unlock the screen. If your iPhone is off, you need to press and hold the button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Step 3. Release the power button once the Apple logo is displayed
This logo indicates that the iPhone is being loaded/prepared. It may take a minute or a few minutes before the lock page is displayed on the screen.
Step 4. Unlock the screen
Once your phone is loaded, you can unlock the screen before using your iPhone as usual.
- iPhone 5 and later models – Press the “Home” button to unlock the screen and enter the passcode if you have it enabled.
- iPhone 4 and earlier models – Swipe to unlock, then enter the passcode.
Part 2 of 7: Turning On Samsung Galaxy Devices and Other Android Models
Step 1. Locate the power button (“Power”)
On Samsung Galaxy devices, the power button is on the right side of the device, about a third of the bottom from the top of the phone.
- Most Android phones have the power button in a similar position, or above it.
- LG G series phones have a power button on the back panel of the device.
Step 2. Press and hold the power button
If the device is already on, the screen will be activated immediately. Otherwise, you need to hold down the power button until the device turns on.
Step 3. Release the power button when you see the phone logo
The Samsung or other manufacturer's logo will be displayed on the screen once the phone boots up and starts loading. The phone may also vibrate when it is successfully turned on.
Step 4. Swipe the screen to unlock the screen
Touch and drag the lock icon to unlock the screen.
Step 5. Enter the passcode (if prompted)
If you activate a passcode or pattern lock on your device, you will be asked to enter the code/pattern after turning on your phone.
Part 3 of 7: Charging Phone
Step 1. Connect the phone to the charger for a few minutes
One of the most common causes of a phone not turning on is a completely empty battery. Connect the phone to the charger and wait for at least 15 minutes before trying to turn it back on.
Step 2. Try a different wall outlet if the phone doesn't charge
If the phone still won't charge, there may be a problem with the power outlet you're using.
Step 3. Use another charger and USB cable
The power adapter or USB cable you are using may be damaged. Try a different charger to see if the phone can charge.
Step 4. Check for fine lint on the charging port
Fine lint usually accumulates in the charging port if you often keep your phone in your pocket. Use a flashlight to observe the pores and remove any fine fibers using a toothpick.
Part 4 of 7: Reboot Phone
Step 1. Locate the phone's power button
Different phones, different locations / positions of the power button. If you're using an iPhone, the power button is on the top end of the phone. Android devices have a power button in the top right corner of the phone (or sometimes on the back panel).
If you don't know the exact position of the power button on your phone, do an internet search using the phrase "power button phone model" to quickly find the information you need
Step 2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds
When unresponsive, the phone will be forcibly turned off. The phone will also look as if it is in a dead condition.
Step 3. Press and hold the power button again for a few seconds
After the phone is forcibly turned off, press and hold the power button to turn it back on.
Step 4. Press and hold the power and “Home” button for 10 seconds (iPhone)
If you have an iPhone and the device won't turn on, press and hold the power and “Home” buttons for 10 seconds. The “Home” button is the large circular button at the bottom of the device. This procedure will force restart the device so that it can fix an unresponsive device that seems to be in a dead state.
If done correctly, the Apple logo will appear on the screen and the phone will restart
Part 5 of 7: Checking Device Battery
Step 1. Check if the phone has a removable battery
Some Android phones have a battery that can be removed by opening the back panel of the device. If your phone has a removable battery, you can reinstall or replace it so that the phone can get back to work/power on.
- The iPhone battery cannot be removed without disassembling the device.
- Newer models of Android devices have non-removable batteries.
Step 2. Reinstall the battery if the battery can be removed
Sometimes, you can fix power issues with your phone by removing the battery and putting it back in the device. Make sure you reinsert the battery in the same position as before.
Step 3. Replace the device battery (if possible)
If you've been using your phone for a long time, it's possible that the battery is no longer working properly. If the battery is removable, you can purchase a replacement battery so that the phone can get back to work or turn on.
If the battery cannot be removed, you can still replace it by disassembling the phone. However, this procedure is very complicated and carries a lot of risk of permanent damage to the device
Part 6 of 7: Using Recovery Mode (iPhone)
Step 1. Connect iPhone to computer
You can use recovery mode to reset your iPhone and solve problems with the initial loading (boot) process. The data on the device will be erased, but you can get the device back to work or work.
You can use any computer as long as it has the iTunes program. You don't have to sync your phone with your computer first
Step 2. Open iTunes
If you're using a Windows computer that doesn't have iTunes installed, you can download it from the Apple site.
Step 3. Press and hold the power button and the “Home” button
If you're using an iPhone 7 or later model, press the power and volume down buttons.
Step 4. Hold down both buttons until the iTunes logo is displayed
Don't let go of your finger when the Apple logo appears. Keep holding both buttons until you see the iTunes logo.
If the screen won't turn on and you don't see any logos, and you've tried the other steps in this article, you'll need to contact Apple or have your device replaced
Step 5. Click Restore on the iTunes window
You will see a prompt once iTunes detects an iPhone that has entered recovery mode.
Step 6. Click Restore again to confirm
The iPhone will be reset and the device's operating system will be restored. This process takes about 20 minutes and all data on the iPhone will be erased. Once the restore process is complete, you will be prompted to set up the device as a new iPhone.
You can sign in to your Apple ID during the initial setup process and restore data from iCloud to iPhone (e.g. contacts, calendar entries, and app purchases)
Step 7. Swipe the screen to start the initial setup process
You'll be taken through the initial setup pages you've previously seen when you first bought and used an iPhone. When you sign in to your Apple ID, you can recover all data from iCloud, such as contact and calendar entries, as well as content purchases from the App Store and iTunes.
Part 7 of 7: Using Recovery Mode (Android)
Step 1. Connect the device to the charger
It's a good idea to make sure your device has constant power throughout the recovery process. This procedure also helps ensure that the error on the device is not caused by a low power supply.
Step 2. Press and hold the power and volume down buttons
These two buttons are the most commonly used combinations to access recovery mode or recovery mode on Android devices. However, some devices may use different key combinations.
If you are using a Samsung Galaxy device, press and hold the power, volume up, and “Home” buttons
Step 3. Hold down both buttons until the recovery menu is displayed
You can see the Android mascot and text menu on the screen.
If your device still won't turn on and displays a recovery menu, and you've tried various steps in this article, it might be time to replace your phone
Step 4. Use volume up and down keys to move on the menu
By pressing these buttons, you can browse the available options.
Step 5. Mark recovery mode and press the power button
The power button is used to select marked menu options.
Step 6. Mark wipe data/factory reset and press the power button
Step 7. Mark yes and press the power button
The recovery will be confirmed and the data erasing process will begin. All data will be deleted on the device reset process.
Step 8. Wait for the device recovery process to complete
This process takes about 20 minutes.
Step 9. Start the device initial setup process
Once the restore is complete, you will be taken to the new device initial setup procedure. If you log back into your Google account, all data from Google Cloud such as contact and calendar entries will be returned to the device.
