My iPhone 11 Screen Is Black! Here's The Real Fix.

David Lynch

OCTOBER 14, 2019

You're dealing with an iPhone 11 black screen problem and you don't know how to fix it. No matter how many times you press the side button, your iPhone won't turn back on. In this article, I'll show you what to do when your iPhone 11 screen is black!

Is My iPhone 11 Broken?

At this point, we can't be sure whether or not your iPhone 11 screen is black because of a software or hardware problem. Our guide will first help you diagnose and fix a potential software problem, then recommend some repair options.

A lot of the time, iPhone 11 screens go black because of a software crash. It's possible your iPhone has been on this whole time! The first step in our guide will show you how to hard reset your iPhone 11.

If a hard reset doesn't work, try connecting your iPhone 11 to your computer to see if shows up in iTunes. If it does, back it up immediately and try putting it in DFU mode.

When your iPhone shows up in iTunes, but the screen remains black, there's usually a hardware problem. You'll want to get help from one of the companies we recommend at the bottom of our step-by-step guide.

How To Fix An iPhone 11 Black Screen

4 Steps Total
1.

Hard Reset Your iPhone 11

A hard reset can temporarily fix minor software glitches and crashes.

How Do I Hard Reset My iPhone 11?

  1. Press and release the volume up button.
  2. Press and release the volume down button.
  3. Press and hold the side button. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears on the display.
View More
2.

Back Up Your iPhone

It's important to back up your iPhone before doing any major restores (such as a DFU restore). If something goes wrong while you're trying to fix your iPhone, having a back up means you won't lose any of your data (such as contacts, photos, apps, and more). Restoring from a back up is a lot more convenient than having to go and reenter all the information that was saved on your iPhone.

How Do I Back Up My iPhone?

There are a few different ways to back up your iPhone:

Backup Your iPhone Using iCloud

  1. If you have a WiFi connection, you can back up your iPhone using iCloud.
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Tap on Your Name at the top of the screen.
  4. Tap iCloud.
  5. Scroll down and tap on iCloud Backup.
  6. Make sure the switch next to iCloud Backup is on. You'll know the switch is on when the switch is green.
  7. Tap Back Up Now.
  8. A status bar will appear to tell you how much time is remaining.

Backup Your iPhone Using iTunes

  1. Plug the Lightning connector on your Lightning cable (charging cable) into the Lightning port on your iPhone.
  2. Plug the other end of your Lightning cable into a USB port on your computer.
  3. Open iTunes on your computer.
  4. Click on the iPhone icon in the upper left hand corner of iTunes.
  5. Click the circle next to "iCloud" or "This computer" to select whether you want to backup your iPhone to iCloud or your computer.
  6. Click Back Up Now to backup your iPhone.
  7. When the backup is complete, you'll see the time and date updated under Latest Backup.

Backup Your iPhone Using Finder (Macs Running Catalina 10.15 or newer)

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a charging cable.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. Click on your iPhone under Locations.
  4. Click the circle next to Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
  5. Click Back Up Now.
  6. When the backup is complete, you'll see the time and date updated under Latest Backup.
View More
3.

Put Your iPhone 11, 11 Pro, Or 11 Pro Max In DFU Mode

A DFU restore is the last step you can take to completely rule out a software problem with your iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max. If you were to head into the Apple Store, the first thing they'd do is put your iPhone in DFU mode. That's why we recommend doing it at home first!

How Do I Put My iPhone 11, 11 Pro, Or 11 Pro Max In DFU Mode?

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a Lightning cable.
  2. Open Finder (Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15) or iTunes (Macs running macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier and all PCs).
  3. Quickly press and release the volume up button.
  4. Quickly press and release the volume down button.
  5. Press and hold the side button until the screen goes black.
  6. When the screen turns black, press and hold the volume down button while continuing to hold the side button.
  7. After 5 seconds pass, release the side button while continuing to hold the volume down button until your iPhone appears in Finder or iTunes.
  8. Release the volume button as soon as your iPhone appears in Finder or iTunes. Your iPhone is in DFU mode!
  9. Click Restore to DFU restore your iPhone.
  10. Keep your iPhone connected to your computer during the DFU restore.
View More
4.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
View More

iPhone 11: Working Again!

You've fixed the iPhone 11 black screen problem on your iPhone and it's working again. Make sure to share this article on social media to teach your family, friends, and followers to teach them what to do when their iPhone 11 screen is black. Leave us a comment down below if you have any other questions!

  1. Hard Reset Your iPhone 11
  2. Back Up Your iPhone
  3. Put Your iPhone 11, 11 Pro, Or 11 Pro Max In DFU Mode
  4. Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Applies To: iPhone 11

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
WILANGE
WILANGE
2 years ago

Hi I just replaced the screen on my iPhone and the phone is working but the screen is black. I tried the methods above and still no logo but I can hear the phone when I put it on a charger.

1
Reply