Falls Technology ServicesA phone that won't turn on is usually a flat battery, a frozen system or a charging problem. Try these in order before you assume the worst.
Try this first
- Charge it for at least 30 minutes with a wall charger and a cable you know works. A completely flat phone can take a while to show anything
- Force a restart. On most Samsung phones, hold the side (power) button and volume down together for about 10 seconds. On a Google Pixel, hold the power button for about 30 seconds. Other brands: check the maker's help page for your model
- Look into the charging port with a light. Pocket lint packs in tight and stops the cable reaching. Clean it gently with a wooden toothpick, never metal
- If it vibrates or rings but the screen stays black, the phone is on and the screen is the problem
Stuck on the logo, or keeps restarting
- Leave it on the charger: a phone that restarts on a weak battery can loop until it has more charge
- Start it in safe mode (on most phones, hold volume down while it starts). If it works there, an app you installed recently is the likely cause
- A factory reset from the recovery menu erases everything on the phone: only do it if your photos and contacts are backed up
Stop and call if
- The back is bulging or the screen is lifting: the battery is swelling. Stop charging it and don't press on it
- It got wet: don't charge it, turn it off, and bring it in soon
- It gets hot while it's off or charging
What we usually see
Typical situations behind this problem, and what usually fixes them. Every device is different: we check yours before saying what it needs.
- Black screen, but it vibrates or rings when someone calls. The phone is on and the screen has failed, often after a drop. A screen replacement brings it back, and a screen repair doesn't touch what's on the phone.
- It shows the charging symbol only with one particular cable. Usually a worn charging port, or lint packed into it. A cleaning or a new port fixes it.
- It keeps restarting at the logo. Often a worn battery that can't hold up under load, or a bad app. A new battery, or safe mode and removing the app, sorts it out.
When to call us
If it still won't start, we test the battery, charging port and screen, tell you what it takes before we start, and repair it at our bench. If the phone isn't worth repairing, we say so, and we'll try to get your photos and contacts off it.
General self-help steps in plain English, checked when we wrote them. Try only what you're comfortable with: if you're unsure, or something smells hot, sparks or swells, stop and call a technician. This isn't professional advice for your exact device. See our website terms.
Need a hand?
More about our phone and tablet repair help. Or tell us what's going on and we'll tell you what it takes before we start.
Send us a message or call (208) 745-2981, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.