Introduction
Try these solutions if your iPhone X won’t turn on. Many of these fixes apply to other model iPhones as well—check the iPhone won’t turn on wiki for more generalized instructions.
Your iPhone 10 may simply be temporarily frozen and needs a manual reset or “force restart.” Quickly press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears, and then release it. For complete instructions, see the guide How to Force Restart iPhone X.
Performing a force restart should not delete any data, but can be helpful if your iPhone X is frozen, won't turn on, or needs troubleshooting.
- 20 secondsVery easy
If the iPhone still doesn’t turn on after 30 minutes connected to power, check the charging port and cable and make sure they’re clean. If the charging port is clogged with debris or the charging cable contacts are dirty, this can prevent the battery from charging. Clean the port carefully with a toothpick and a little isopropyl alcohol, let it dry, and try a different charging cable. Alternatively, try charging your iPhone wirelessly.
If the iPhone still doesn’t turn on, it may have a dead battery or a bad charging port. Replace the battery with a partially charged one and see if the phone will turn on. If not, there may be a power button or logic board issue. If the phone does turn on, plug it in and see if the charging indication comes on. If the phone says it is charging, then the Lightning connector works, and you likely had a bad battery. But if it still doesn’t charge, you may need to replace the Lightning connector.
iPhone batteries degrade with use—over time, they lose their ability to hold a full charge. Apple's batteries are rated to hold 80% of their capacity for up to 500 charge cycles, which lasts roughly 18-24 months for most users. When your battery's chemistry is degraded, it may also cause your iPhone to run more slowly. Use this guide to replace your battery and restore your iPhone to full performance.
If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
This guide instructs you to completely detach the display and remove the lower speaker and Taptic Engine for better access to the battery's adhesive strips.
For optimal performance, after completing this guide, calibrate your newly installed battery: Charge it to 100% and keep charging it for at least two more hours. Then use your iPhone until it shuts off due to low battery. Finally, charge it uninterrupted to 100%.
- 1 - 2 hoursModerate
If the power button doesn't seem to work, plug the iPhone into a power source and see if it turns on automatically. If the phone turns on and has power, then there might be a problem with either the power button or the power button cable. Test the power button and replace it if necessary.
It’s possible that it appears nothing is happening because the display is bad. An easy way to test this is to turn the phone on and listen for a sound. Also, you can move the mute toggle switch back and forth to see if it vibrates. If it vibrates or you hear a sound but nothing displays on the screen, then the screen is most likely the problem. Try replacing it and see if the display is still black.
You can purchase a new screen here.
You can also learn how to replace the iPhone X screen yourself.
Cracked screen? Touch not working? Bad OLED display? Use this guide to restore your iPhone X to working order with a new OLED screen and digitizer. Trying a new screen may also help if your iPhone X seemingly won’t turn on.
Note: The combined earpiece speaker + sensor assembly affixed to the back of the display is paired to your individual iPhone from the factory, so you must transfer it from your old display to your new one as instructed below during any display replacement. It contains the flood illuminator, which is part of the biometric Face ID security feature. If it is damaged or replaced, Face ID will cease to function, so take extra care not to damage any of these components during this procedure. If damaged, only Apple can restore Face ID function.
Note: If your iPhone’s auto brightness feature does not work properly after your screen repair, make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 12. True Tone functionality is disabled after a screen replacement, even when using an original Apple screen.
- 1 - 2 hoursModerate
If none of the above solutions does the trick, your logic board may be faulty and needs to be replaced. You can either replace the entire board, or attempt to diagnose and repair it using microsoldering techniques. That is a whole 'nother beast!
If you’re interested in learning board-level repair, you can start your investigation here! You can also get the materials to practice microsoldering here.
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