How to fix an iPhone 5 that’s stuck on white Apple logo

One of the dreaded problems that’s been plaguing several iOS device users is on the iPhone that’s stuck on white Apple logo. It’s when the phone couldn’t get past the Apple logo screen for some reason. Oftentimes, software-related factor such as bad updates, data corruption, rogue apps, malwares and system bugs are the main triggers. Memory-related issues like when the device is running low on internal storage are also another factor to consider. In worst cases, a damaged component would cause an iPhone to be stuck on white Apple logo.

Lined up below are recommended procedures to eliminate software-related factors that caused an iPhone 5 to get stuck on white Apple logo. You can try these workarounds before taking a trip to an Apple Genius bar for iPhone repair.
Before we proceed, if you’re looking for a solution to a problem with your phone, try to browse through our troubleshooting pages to see if we support your device. If your phone is in the list of our supported devices, then go to the troubleshooting page and look for similar problems. Feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. Don’t worry it’s free. But if you still need our help, then fill up our iOS issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us. 

Ruling out software-related factors that cause your iPhone 5 to get stuck on white Apple logo

The following procedures will help you eliminate software-related attributes that might have barred your iPhone from getting past the white Apple logo.

First solution: Force restart to fix your iPhone 5 that’s stuck on white Apple logo.

Problems on random stuck displays that are attributed to minor firmware crashes are often remedied by a forced restart. It is a simulated battery removal procedure that’s used to forcibly shut down and restart an unresponsive operating system. The process does not affect the internal data so there’s no need to worry of permanent data loss. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously for about 10 seconds or so.
2. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

In some cases, the Apple logo could take longer to appear so you may have to press the buttons for more than 10 seconds and then release when the Apple logo shows up on the screen.
If your phone managed to get past the Apple logo from a forced restart, move on to the second solution, third and fourth solutions to eliminate common culprits like bad apps and corrupt system data. Otherwise, skip to the fifth solution.

Second solution: Check and manage your iPhone storage.

As mentioned earlier, memory issues like when your iPhone is running low on storage could also be the main reason why your iPhone 5 randomly gets stuck on the white Apple logo. In this case, the transpiring symptom is deemed among other performance issues that’s memory-related. To fix the problem, you have to free up some space of your iPhone by deleting unwanted apps and files. To make sure this isn’t the underlying cause, follow these steps to check and manage your iPhone storage:

1. Open the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Tap General.
3. Then tap Storage & iCloud Usage.
4. Navigate to the Storage section then tap Manage Storage.

On the next screen you should see a list of installed apps along with the information on how much storage space each of the apps is using. Check the available storage space and see the available amount of storage on your device. If the number is less than 1 gigabyte, then that’s an indication that your iPhone is running low on memory and therefore more susceptible to performance issues like sluggishness, random crashes and reboots, as well as unresponsiveness. The last symptom could occur on any screens like when your iPhone gets stuck on a white Apple logo, blank screen and black screen,.

ALSO READ: How to fix an iPhone 5 that keeps losing Wi-Fi signal

Third solution: Install pending app updates and iOS update, if available.

Again, if your iPhone managed to boot up successfully after performing a forced restart, check and install any pending software updates. This is usually needed if the problem is attributed to software bugs and malwares. Updates usually embed fix patches that are programmed to get rid of stubborn bugs that caused recurring symptoms including random crashes and system unresponsiveness. To rule out bad apps, check for any pending app updates to download and install. Just follow these steps:

1. Tap to open the App Store from your Home screen.
2. From the App Store screen, scroll down to the bottom then tap the Updates tab. Doing so will open a new screen containing a list of apps with pending updates.
3. To update individual apps, tap the Update button next to the name of an app.
4. To update all apps at once, tap the Update All button on the upper-right side

Aside from installing app updates, also check for any new iOS version available for your iPhone. Software updates also offer fix patches to address existing device issues that are inflicted by stubborn bugs and complex system errors. To check for updates, simply follow these steps:

1. From the Home screen, tap Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Tap Software Update.

If an update is available, you will see a notification containing the update details and system requirements. Just follow the onscreen commands to download and install new update for your iPhone. Make sure your iPhone has ample storage, sufficient battery life and a stable Internet access. 

Fourth solution: Reset all settings on your iPhone 5.

If your iPhone 5 started to experience the problem of being stuck on white Apple logo after installing software updates, it’s possible that the recent updates contained some bugs and caused the device to act up. In this case, performing an all settings reset can help. This reset clears out all your recent settings and customization including automatic update overrides that caused the system go rogue. Here’s what you should do then:

1. Go to the Home screen then tap on Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to and tap on Reset.
4. Select the option to Reset all settings.
5. Enter your device passcode if prompted.
6. Then tap to confirm that you want to reset all settings on your iPhone.

After the reset, your phone should restart on its own and then loads up the original values and options. To use necessary features, particularly those that are disabled by default, you will need to re-enable them individually.

ALSO READ: How to fix iPhone 5 no sound problem, no audio outputs

Fifth solution: Remove and reseat the SIM card.

When my iPhone 5 was still alive, I also bumped into the same issue wherein my phone would just crash, then reboot on its own and got stuck on the white Apple logo. The symptoms started when I removed the SIM card from the phone. It then turned out that having no SIM card was the main trigger. So when I put the SIM card back in, the problem was fixed and the phone has stopped crashing, rebooting and no longer gets stuck on the white Apple logo. To make sure that the problem you’re dealing with isn’t due to a dislodged SIM card, try to remove and reseat the SIM card on your iPhone. Just follow these steps:

1. To get started, turn off your iPhone completely.
2. While your iPhone is turned off, insert the SIM ejector tool or a small bent paperclip into the tiny hole on the SIM tray, located on the side of your phone.
3. Gently push the ejector tool until the tray pops out.
4. Then pull the SIM card out from the SIM tray.
5. Examine the SIM card for any visible signs of damage like scratches and liquid traces.
6. If there’s none, put the SIM card back into the tray. Make sure it’s properly seated.
7. Then push the SIM tray back into the phone until it locks.

Once the SIM tray is secured and locked in place, turn your iPhone back on and see if it gets past the white Apple logo.

Last resort: Restore your iPhone in iTunes (standard iOS restore).

Restoring your iPhone in iTunes is usually considered among the last options if none of the previous procedures is able to solve the problem. The problem might be due to some complex system errors that require more advanced solutions including a total system wipe out and iOS restoration. To get this done, you will need to use a computer either Windows or Mac with the latest version of iTunes app installed. Once you’re ready, follow these steps to start restoring your iPhone in iTunes:

1. Open iTunes on the computer to get started.
2. Then connect your iPhone to the computer using the Apple-supplied USB cable/Lightning.
3. Wait for iTunes to recognize your iPhone and starts syncing.
4. Select your iPhone when it appears in iTunes.
5. Click the button to Restore Backup.
6. Locate the iOS backup file that you want to restore your iPhone from.
7. Then click Restore.

Follow the rest of the onscreen prompts to finish the system restore process. Don’t disconnect your iPhone from the computer unless the syncing process is finished.
If the above procedure isn’t applicable, you may opt to carry out a recovery mode restore. This will put your device in a recovery state and allows iTunes to restore and restore any damaged system files.
Here’s how to put your iPhone 5 in recovery mode and restore from a previous iOS backup in iTunes:

1. Turn off your iPhone, if it’s not already.
2. While it’s powered off, press and hold the Home button then plug it into the computer. Make sure iTunes is already running on your computer.
3. When you see the Connect to iTunes screen, release the Home button. 

Your iPhone should now be in recovery mode. A few seconds later, you should see an iTunes message prompt saying that it has detected your iPhone in recovery mode and then allows you to restore your device. Just follow the onscreen commands to proceed.
The deepest type of iOS restore you can do if a recovery mode still failed to get your iPhone out from being stuck on the white Apple logo would be a DFU mode restore. This will put your device in a special state that allows iTunes to access and repair fatal system errors even without activating the boot loader.
Both a recovery mode restore and DFU mode restore wipe all data from your iPhone storage and thus, likely result in permanent data loss. If possible, try to back up critical files from your iPhone to iTunes.

ALSO READ: How to fix an iPhone 5 that has no Internet connection

Is your iPhone still stuck on white Apple logo?

Stuck display issues that persists after exhausting all prior procedures are more likely to be tied to hardware damage, if not, wear and tear. This isn’t impossible, especially after several months or years of normal usage of your device. To clear this out, you can take your phone to the nearest Apple-authorized service center for hardware assessment. Getting an iPhone upgrade can also be deemed among the next options, especially the problem is found to be due to wear-and-tear.