Android Phone Has a Black Screen and Won’t Turn On? Try These Fixes
5 min read
Key Takeaways
- It’s a good idea to perform a power cycle and rule out any battery or charging-related issues with your Android phone before trying other steps.
- Check for any signs of physical or water damage and ensure your phone’s Power button isn’t stuck.
- You can boot your Android phone into safe mode to check if a third-party app is causing the problem or perform a factory reset if necessary.
A dead Android phone or tablet with a black screen and no signs of life spells trouble and inconvenience. However, there’s no need to panic or lose hope, as there are several steps you can take to potentially revive your device.
1. Perform a Power Cycle
You may have experienced a frozen Android phone where the screen is black or unresponsive, and none of the buttons work. But did you know that a phone can also freeze in its powered-off state? In such cases, performing a power cycle can help.
On older devices with a removable battery, you can simply remove the battery, wait a few seconds, and reinsert it. On modern phones with non-removable batteries, press and hold the Power button for several seconds. Depending on your device’s manufacturer, you may need to hold it down for anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds.
2. Fix Charging Issues
Sometimes, the issue might be as simple as a depleted battery. First, test your charging cable and adapter with another phone to ensure there’s nothing wrong with your charging equipment.
If there are no issues with the cable or adapter, check for any dust, dirt, or debris obstructing your phone’s charging port. The best way to remove grime from ports is to use a can of compressed air. After that, try charging your phone again. For more detailed instructions, feel free to refer to our guide on fixing an Android phone that won’t charge.
3. Check for Battery Issues
If your phone still won’t turn on, the issue may be related to your phone’s battery. That’s because most phone and tablet batteries start to degrade significantly after a few years of use. Also, factors like exposure to liquids, drops onto hard surfaces, and extreme temperatures can irreparably damage the battery.
After plugging your device into the charger, wait for a minute to see if the battery icon appears on the screen. If it does, your battery is likely fine, and you can then check your Android phone’s battery health using an app like AccuBattery when it boots up.
If you see a small red (or another color) light flashing, it indicates that the battery doesn’t have enough power to turn on or display content. Allow it to charge for 30 minutes, then try turning it on again. If you don’t see a battery icon or any light, it could mean your battery is dead and needs to be replaced.
4. Check for Any Damage
Your Android phone may not power on due to a stuck or damaged Power button. Press and hold the Power button firmly to see if there’s any response. If the button feels stuck or unresponsive, it may be malfunctioning, and you’ll need to repair or replace it.
There’s also a chance that your phone is turning on, but the screen is malfunctioning, making it seem like it’s not powering up. To check this, hold the Power button for 30 seconds to ensure the phone is powering up. Then, wait at least two minutes for the boot process to complete.
After that, call your phone from another device. If it rings, the problem is likely with your screen. In that case, you can replace your phone’s screen yourself if you’re an expert or take it to your manufacturer’s service center for a replacement.
5. Use Your Computer to Troubleshoot
Another thing you can do is force your Android phone to turn on using your computer. Google provides a somewhat convoluted series of steps, which we’ve simplified below:
- Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Let it charge for 15 minutes.
- Disconnect the cable from your phone and then reconnect it within 10 seconds.
- Charge your device for a further 30 minutes.
- Press and hold the Power button for five seconds.
- Tap Restart on your screen. If you don’t see Restart, hold the power button for another 30 seconds.
6. Enter Safe Mode
Android’s safe mode feature allows you to run the device with only system apps. If your Android phone can’t get past the boot process due to a recently installed app, safe mode can help identify the issue.
Since your phone isn’t responding, you’ll need to use the physical buttons to enter safe mode on Android. Press and hold the Power button until the boot process starts. Then, immediately press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously. If these steps don’t work, check online for specific instructions for your device model.
If your device boots successfully in safe mode, it’s likely that a conflicting third-party app is preventing Android from starting up normally. To fix this, head to Settings > Apps & notifications while your phone is in safe mode and uninstall any suspicious third-party apps one by one. After that, reboot your phone to exit safe mode and see if it works.
7. Reset Your Android Device
If you experience the black screen issue intermittently, a factory reset might permanently resolve it. This process will clear up any software glitches that could be preventing your device from powering up properly.
To reset your Android phone, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset and tap the Reset button at the bottom. In case your Android phone isn’t booting in normal mode, try performing a factory reset in Recovery Mode. Following the reset, your Android phone should function as expected.
An Android phone that won’t turn on can be frustrating, especially if it’s your primary device, but the solutions listed above should help you resolve the issue. If not, it might be time to consult a professional technician or contact your phone’s manufacturer for replacement or repairs.
