Does your iPhone screen keep going black? If so, you’ll need to figure out what the problem is, since you won’t be able to use the device’s most vital functions until you do.
An iPhone’s screen doing this is usually the result of a hardware problem rather than a software one. In the article that follows, we’ll run through all of the possibilities, though, and explain what you need to do about each of them.
If your iPhone screen keeps going black, that’s doubtless going to frustrate you, but you can usually find a solution if you take a systematic approach to solving the problem.
Performing a Hard Reset Might Keep Your iPhone’s Screen from Going Black
The first thing you can attempt if your device’s screen is going black is a hard reset. To do it, press the Power button, also known as the Sleep/Wake button.
At the same time, press the Home button, the circular button directly below the display. Hold them both for a minimum of 10 seconds.
You’ll know that you’ve executed the reset when the Apple logo shows up on the screen. This works if you have an iPhone model 6 or an earlier version than that.
If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, you will have to press down on the Power button and the Volume Down buttons simultaneously. Again, you’ll have to hold them for at least 10 seconds or until you see the Apple logo.
If you have the iPhone 8, you must press the Volume Up button, the Volume Down button, and then hold down the Power button. If you have an iPhone X or a newer version, it is going to be the Side button. Wait for that Apple logo to appear.
If the Apple logo shows up on the screen, it will be a relief, in a sense. It means that the screen is going black because of a software crash, and probably the hard reset has fixed the problem.
If you don’t see the Apple logo, though, or it seems as though your device can’t be reset this way, it’s not exactly good news. This is a reliable indicator that the problem has to do with the iPhone’s hardware.
Hardware Issues Causing Your Screen to Go Black
To comprehend what elements might cause your iPhone’s screen to go black, you need to understand a little about how the device is put together. The logic board could be considered the brains behind the operation of the iPhone.
Essentially, every part of your iPhone is connected to it. The display shows you the images, but it’s the logic board that dictates what is displayed.
The iPhone’s display is made up of four components. There’s the Home button and front-facing camera. There’s the digitizer, which is the aspect of the phone that processes touch as you run your finger over it. Finally, there’s the LCD screen, which is the external part of the phone where you see the images displayed.
Each of these components has a separate connector that plugs into the device’s logic board. That is why, even if your screen keeps going black, you might be able to swipe across the screen with your finger. The digitizer still works in that scenario, but the LCD does not.
Why is Your iPhone’s Screen Going Black?
In a lot of these cases, your screen is going black because the cable connecting the logic board to the LCD has become dislodged. This is the display data connector cable.
It can be disconnected sometimes by your iPhone being dropped, shaken, or otherwise roughly handled. That’s why you should think about whether anything has happened to the device recently if you’re trying to figure out whether a hardware problem is to blame.
If the display data connector cable has become disconnected, but none of the other components have been damaged, it’s a relatively easy fix. All that has to happen is for someone knowledgeable to remove the LCD display and reattach the cable.
However, we don’t recommend that you try this. If your phone is under factory warranty, then taking it apart and trying to fix it could void that warranty.
Besides, even though it sounds easy enough, unless you’re an electronics expert, it’s best you don’t attempt anything of this nature. Your iPhone is full of delicate components. If you come in contact with any of them and knock them out of position, you could make things worse instead of better.
The better option is to take the iPhone to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar that’s near to you. They will be able to open the phone up and figure out what’s wrong with it. If it’s the display data connector cable that is no longer attached, the fix should take just a couple of minutes.
What Other Internal Components Might Cause the Issue?
Another thing that frequently happens with iPhones is water damage. If your iPhone is water damaged, then probably the reason the screen is going black is that the moisture has ruined the electronic components of the LCD screen. Exposure to liquid can prove fatal to this part of the phone.
You can check the iPhone’s water damage indicator to see if your iPhone has water damage.
Again, the best option is going to be the Apple Store and the Genius Bar. If your phone is not under warranty, this is going to be a more costly fix, since the LCD screen will have to be replaced rather than merely a cable being reattached.
Note that if you buy a device like an iPhone brand-new from Apple, you should get a standard one-year warranty on it. That warranty covers hardware issues. The problems we’ve been describing, like a device getting wet or a cable becoming disconnected, should be covered under that warranty.
If you got an extended warranty when you bought the device, or you got an AppleCare+ plan, those should cover a hardware fix as well. It’s only when the device is no longer covered by either an extended warranty or AppleCare+ that you will be stuck paying for the fix.
You Might Try Third-Party Repair
It’s also worth mentioning that you can take your iPhone to a third-party repair person or store if you’ve gone to the Apple Store and found out that the LCD screen needs to be replaced. Since these sorts of repairs can be costly, seeking help from a non-licensed electronic repair person might be tempting.
We won’t necessarily say that’s a poor idea. What we will say is that if you decide to go this route, check the credentials carefully of the store and individual who you plan on using to fix the phone.
Look around online for any feedback that they have. It’s also probably best to go to a real store rather than taking the phone to someone working out of their garage.
Ask them before you hand over the phone whether they’ve had experience with this sort of problem in the past. In addition, make sure that the replacement elements they’re using are real Apple replacements rather than third-party knockoffs.
Finally, be sure that they check with you to get confirmation that the cost of repairs is okay before they go ahead and do it. In certain cases, it makes more sense to sell your old iPhone and upgrade to a new one (vs. paying for expensive repairs). You can easily check the value of your current iPhone using the links below:
- Sell iPhone 6S
- Sell iPhone 7
- Sell iPhone 8
- Sell iPhone X
- Sell iPhone XS
- Sell iPhone 11
- Sell iPhone 12
- Sell iPhone 12 Pro
- Sell iPhone 13
Hopefully, one of these options will satisfactorily resolve your dilemma, and your iPhone will soon be as good as new again.
