My iPhone 6 Won't Turn On! Here's The Real Fix.

David Lynch

JANUARY 15, 2018

Your iPhone 6 won't turn on and you're not sure why. You've tried pressing the power button and plugging in your iPhone, but nothing's happening. In this article, I'll explain why your iPhone 6 is not turning on and show you how to fix the problem for good!

Why Won't My iPhone 6 Turn On?

There are two main reasons why your iPhone 6 won't turn on:

  1. Your iPhone's software has completely crashed.
  2. There's something wrong with your iPhone's charging cable or charger.
  3. A hardware problem is preventing it from turning on.

At this point, we can't be certain which of these three reasons is causing your problem. A lot of the time, a hard reset and DFU restore can fix this problem.

However, since your iPhone is a slightly older model, the chances of it being hardware problem are slightly higher than they would be on a newer model of the iPhone, such as the 8 or X.

If a hard reset and DFU restore don't fix your problem and there's nothing wrong with your charger, your best option is to get your iPhone 6 repaired.

If your iPhone 6 is covered by AppleCare, that's great! Schedule an appointment and take it into your local Apple Store.

If your iPhone 6 isn't covered by AppleCare anymore, we strongly recommend a come-to-you repair company called Puls, who can meet with you and fix your iPhone today.

But before you worry about repairs, follow the steps below to fix your iPhone 6 that's not turning on!

Is It Just Your iPhone's Display?

Before going through our troubleshooting guide, make sure the problem isn't just your iPhone's display. Plug your iPhone into your computer using your Lightning cable.

If iTunes recognizes your iPhone, then there's an issue with your iPhone 6's display and you should back up your iPhone immediately.

Once your iPhone is backed up, we recommend repairing the screen as soon as you. Schedule an appointment at your nearby Apple Store (if your iPhone is covered by AppleCare) or with Puls (if your iPhone isn't covered by AppleCare).

If it isn't recognized by iTunes, follow the step-by-step guide below to diagnose and fix the real reason why your iPhone 6 won't turn on!

How To Fix An iPhone 6 That's Not Turning On

4 Steps Total
1.

Hard Reset Your iPhone

A hard reset is usually a temporary solution to a software problem. It doesn't change anything at all — it just forces your iPhone to start from scratch, and often times the problem comes back.

How Do I Hard Reset My iPhone?

  1. Press and hold the power button and the volume down button together until the screen goes blank and the Apple logo appears on the screen.
  2. When the Apple logo reappears, let go of both buttons.
  3. When your iPhone turns back on, the hard reset is complete.

Hard Reset On iPhone X or Newer

Hard reseting an iPhone X is slightly different than other models of the iPhone.

  1. Quickly press the volume up button.
  2. Quickly press the volume down button.
  3. Press and hold down the Side button.
  4. Release the Side button when the Apple logo appears on the center of the screen.
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2.

Inspect Your iPhone Charger

There are many different ways to charge your iPhone — plugging it into your laptop, wall adapter, car charger, and more. As a precautionary measure, the software of your iPhone will prevent charging if it detects fluctuations from the power source.

How Do I Inspect My iPhone Charger?

  1. Charge your iPhone with multiple different power sources. If you normally use your wall charger, try using a USB port on your laptop, and vice versa.
  2. If your iPhone charges with one power source but not the other, then you know that the charger is causing your problem.
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3.

DFU Restore Your iPhone

A DFU restore has the potential to fix software problems by completely erasing the code which may be causing your problem. The code is rewritten as if your iPhone is brand new, so the software problem may get solved.

Think of it like a house that has cracks in the foundation. Rather than try and fix the cracks, we are building an entirely new foundation.

If you can, back up your iPhone before completing a DFU restore. Any time you do a restore, it erases everything from your iPhone. However, after the restore is completed, you restore all your backed up data back onto your iPhone.

How Do I DFU Restore My iPhone?

How To DFU Restore An iPhone SE, 6s, Or Older

  1. Using a Lightning cable, plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if you have a PC or Mac running Mojave 10.14 or earlier. Open Finder if you have a Mac running Catalina 10.15 or newer. It doesn’t matter if your iPhone is on or off.
  3. Press and hold the Home button and the power button simultaneously.
  4. After 8 seconds, release the power button, but continue to hold the Home button.
  5. Let go of the power button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  6. Your iPhone’s display will be completely black if you’ve successfully entered DFU mode. If it’s not, try again from the beginning.
  7. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.

How To DFU Restore An iPhone 7 Or 7 Plus

  1. Using a Lightning cable, plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if you have a PC or Mac running Mojave 10.14 or earlier. Open Finder if you have a Mac running Catalina 10.15 or newer. It doesn’t matter if your iPhone is on or off.
  3. Press and hold the power and volume down button simultaneously.
  4. After 8 seconds, release the power button, but continue to hold the volume down button.
  5. Release the volume down button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  6. You'll know your iPhone is in DFU mode if the display is completely black.
  7. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.

How To DFU Restore An iPhone 8 Or Newer

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a charging cable.
  2. Open iTunes (PCs and Macs running macOS 10.14 or older) or Finder (Macs running macOS 10.15 or newer).
  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 goes black, press and hold the volume down button while continuing to press and hold the side button.
  7. Hold both buttons for five seconds.
  8. After five seconds, release the side button while continuing to hold the volume down button.
  9. Keep holding the volume down button until your iPhone appears in Finder or iTunes.
  10. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.
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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.
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Your iPhone 6 Is Fixed!

Your iPhone 6 is turning on again, or you have a great repair option so you can get it repaired as soon as possible! Next time your iPhone 6 won't turn on, you'll know exactly how to get the problem fixed right away. If you have any other questions about your iPhone 6, leave the UpPhone a comment down below!

Applies To: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus

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.

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his gf
his gf
9 months ago

bro, tell me why after my phone dropped it just never turned on

Elliott Ransford
Elliott Ransford
2 years ago

My iphone battery is completely dead and when I plug the charger the sign shows that it’s charging but it don’t

Casey
Casey
3 years ago

I can’t get my I phone to turn on or charge