What to do when your Apple iPhone 8 does not turn on? [Troubleshooting Guide]

So you finally get a hold of Apple’s newest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 8 and you’re very happy. But then all of a sudden it gets stuck on black screen and is not turning on no matter how hard you try.  And so now you’re wondering what to do next? Keep reading and get helped.

Mobile devices particularly smartphones can succumb into various types of problems either hardware or software-related. Among the most prevalent device issues encountered by many smartphone users is on power, like when the device doesn’t turn on, won’t charge, and the like. Even high-end smartphone variants like Apple’s latest flagship — the iPhone 8 can also be in a troubled state. And you’re probably reading this post because you’re already in trouble and trying to find some means to get helped in bringing your new iPhone back to life. If so, then you might as well consider reading this entire content.

Explicated in this post are the possible reasons as to why your new iPhone 8 doesn’t power on and what should be done in order to get it fixed for good. Read on to  determine the root cause and deal with the problem by yourself before taking a trip to an Apple Genius bar.

Before we move any further, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, them drop by our iPhone 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common problems with this device. Odds are that there are already existing solutions to your problem. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need more help, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and we’ll help you with you problem.

Why does your iPhone 8 not turning on?

Many people would immediately put the blame on faulty hardware when their iPhone doesn’t power on. But in contrary, most power issues in mobile phones are triggered by software malfunctions or minor software bugs. There are however some cases where a complicated hardware issue is inflicting it.

So then you may wonder how the software can prevent your new iPhone from turning on? In response to that, try to think of what happens when a computer program suddenly crashes. When this happens, you would notice that your computer or other processes would likewise start to misbehave. Often times, the program or computer system itself becomes unresponsive while in other cases, the computer screen turns black. The same thing can happen to your iPhone when an app crashes or when a software bug affects the normal operation of your iPhone’s operating system. A software bug can cause your iPhone to get stuck on black screen and become unresponsive. Given these relevant symptoms, you might think that your iPhone is not turning on but actually it is turned on the whole time only that it’s stuck on black screen.

However, there are also other cases when you too should consider the possibility that your iPhone may have some sort of hardware damage and the reason why it is not turning on. This is most likely the case if you’ve dropped it or have it exposed to liquid. These instances might have inflicted physical or liquid damage to certain components, resulting to your iPhone not turning on. Unfortunately in this case, tech service would already be necessary.

How to fix your iPhone 8 that won’t turn on?

Considering that no damage is present on any of your iPhone components, your chance of obtaining a solution to the problem on your end is higher. Outlined below are recommended generic solutions and workarounds you can try on.

As much as possible start by thinking what has happened before the problem instigates. For example, did your iPhone 8 starts to get stuck on black screen or won’t turn on after installing new apps or software update? Doing so will help you isolate the problem, promptly apply the right solution, and save time and effort from doing unnecessary troubleshooting procedures.

However, if you couldn’t get to determine the underlying cause of the problem then you may have to give each of the following solutions a try and see how it works. Be sure to test your iPhone 8 after performing each method to determine if the problem has already been resolved. Try the next applicable solutions if necessary.

First Solution: Force your iPhone 8 to restart.

A force restart does the same with the usual reboot (soft reset). It is highly recommended to fix an iPhone that gets frozen or not responding to touches. This can also be the solution you need, especially if the problem is triggered by minor software bugs that caused an app or the iPhone itself to become unresponsive. Should this be the cause, performing a force restart on your iPhone 8 might be able to fix it. Apple has changed the method to force restart on both its latest flagship iPhones. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Finally, press and hold the Side (Power) button until the Apple logo appears.

Note: The Sleep/Wake button is now officially called the Side button for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iphone x.

Second Solution: Give it more time to charge.

If a force restart won’t do any good and that your iPhone 8 still does not power on, try to plug it in and let it charge for up to an hour. It is possible that your iPhone has completely run out of power or the battery is totally drained or emptied. Usually it will take longer for an iPhone to power up especially when it’s emptied. With that said, give it more time to charge.

Also make sure that your charger is working. If possible, try to use another charger if you have some extra charger for your iPhone. Doing so will help you determine whether it is a charger issue or power issue on the iPhone.

Normally if everything is okay, the charging indicator should appear on the screen a few minutes from charging. If you do not see the charging screen in an hour, or you see any pertinent warnings like connect to power, check the jack, USB cable, or power adapter, verify and ensure that everything is properly and firmly plugged in and not damaged.

If possible, try to charge your iPhone using multiple different power sources like from wall charger to a USB port on your laptop. If your iPhone charges with one power source but not through the other, then the problem is on that particular charger and not your iPhone.

Other Suggestions

If you still couldn’t get your iPhone 8 to power on or charge, try these other options:

  • Check your lightning cable, also known as the iPhone cable. Appeared to be among the common reasons for iPhone problems associated with charging as well as data transfers are damaged lightning cables or iPhone cables in use. To rule out the possibility of the cables inflicting the problem, try to charge your iPhone using both a USB port on a computer and the wall adapter that came with your iPhone. If the lightning cable works with one but not the other, then your cable is working. In the case where you suspect or found that the Lightning cable is damaged, you can set up an appointment at the Genius Bar for lightning cable repair or warranty, if eligible.
  • Connect your iPhone 8 to the computer and try to open it in iTunes. If your computer is recognized in iTunes, it means that your device is turning on but is stuck on black screen. You can try to restore your iPhone in iTunes, set it up as new then see what happens after doing so.
  • Put your iPhone 8 into DFU Mode. Device Firmware Update mode or DFU mode is a deeper type of iOS restore mode used to deal with unresponsive iPhones. You may opt to try using this method to access your iPhone system and restore its factory settings if possible. To get this done, you will need to connect your iPhone 8 to a computer and then use iTunes to access your device. You may refer to the steps on how to put your iPhone 8 into DFU mode and perform a DFU mode restore with iTunes, posted on our dedicated tutorials page.
  • Contact Apple Support or your iPhone carrier. If the problem persists and that your iPhone still doesn’t power on, or stuck on black screen after force restarting and charging, then you should now consider escalating the problem to your device carrier or Apple Support. You may opt to seek further assistance in performing more advanced troubleshooting procedures or avail for service or repair warranty.

1 thought on “What to do when your Apple iPhone 8 does not turn on? [Troubleshooting Guide]”

Leave a Comment