Phone screen is black: fixes in order

Quick answer: Use your exact model's restart and charging instructions after checking for damage or moisture. If the screen remains blank, ask the manufacturer for a diagnosis; ringing alone does not prove a particular part needs replacement.

Before trying the video: identify your phone model and use its button instructions below. As a general safety precaution, do not charge a wet, swollen, unusually hot or visibly damaged phone; contact its manufacturer for help. A restart is not a factory reset, but you may need your passcode afterward.

Video not loading? Open the video on YouTube. It may not match your exact model; check the written guidance and device scope before following it.

First, work out what kind of black screen

The phone is on but the screen is black: you hear notifications, it vibrates, or it rings when called. This is a useful clue, not proof of which component has failed.
The phone seems completely dead: no sound, no vibration, no response to charging. A drained battery, charging problem or unresponsive system are possibilities; this observation alone does not identify the cause.

For a dry, undamaged device, try the model-specific checks below. Stop if a step does not match your phone. These restart instructions do not intentionally erase stored data; do not select an erase, restore or factory-reset option.

The fixes, in order

1Force restart

A force restart can recover an unresponsive phone; it does not establish why the problem happened. Use only the combination for your model, then check whether the screen returns.

iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation and later): press and release Volume up, press and release Volume down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This can take more than 10 seconds.
iPhone 7 or 7 Plus: hold Side and Volume down together until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation): hold Home and Side (or Top) until the Apple logo appears.
Google Pixel: press and hold the Power button for about 35 seconds to force a reboot.
Samsung Galaxy: Samsung's black-screen guide specifies holding Power/Side and Volume down together for 20 seconds. If your model's manual differs, follow that manual.

2Charge it properly

Use a compatible, undamaged charger and cable with a working wall outlet. Remove a case if it interferes with the connector or buttons. Apple's black-screen support article advises one hour of charging for an iPhone that will not turn on; Samsung also specifies at least one hour in its black-screen guidance. Google notes that a completely drained Pixel left unused for a long time may show no response for up to 25 minutes after connection. These are different device-specific checks, not a universal waiting time.

3Check the cable, charger and port

Inspect the connector and cable for visible damage or debris. Do not dig into the port with a tool or add liquid. If the connector is damaged, wet or obstructed, stop and use the manufacturer's port-care or service guidance. On a Pixel, Check charging accessory can indicate an incompatible or damaged cable/adapter; it does not prove which accessory is at fault.

4Check whether it's just very dim

Look closely for a faint interface. A low brightness setting can make the screen hard to read. If you can see and use the controls, adjust brightness normally. Being unable to see anything does not, by itself, diagnose a broken display.

5Call the phone

After a restart, allow the phone to finish starting and call it from another phone. Google's Pixel procedure says to wait about two minutes, then call or use Find Hub. If a Pixel rings but remains blank, Google directs you to an authorized repair center. Ringing establishes a symptom to report; it does not distinguish display, connection or software faults. No ring is inconclusive too: service, sound settings or battery state can affect this check.

When to ask for a diagnosis

If the screen stays blank after the appropriate checks, contact the manufacturer or an authorized repairer. Report any drop, moisture exposure, logo, charging indication or sound you observed. Ask for a diagnosis before agreeing to a screen replacement. Check any existing backup from a device you can use; do not assume the black-screen phone has synced. Tell the repairer if preserving local data matters.

When nothing works

If your model's documented restart and charging checks do not restore the screen, stop repeating them and seek support. This guide does not ask you to open the phone, enter recovery menus or erase data. Manufacturer sources were reviewed November 8, 2026; this is not a claim that each listed phone was tested by us.

What to tell support

Keep a short record of your exact device model, software or app version, the symptom or error text, and which steps you tried. Note what changed after each step. You can print this page for reference.

Do not include passwords, recovery codes or private account details in public comments.

Sources

Video by FixIt Mobile on YouTube. See the linked sources for current manufacturer guidance. Menu names and available features can vary by model and software version. How we check fixes.