Quick Answer
If your iPhone 6’s screen is not responding or working, there are a few ways you can force it to turn off:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button together for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears.
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons together for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears.
- Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes open. iTunes will detect the iPhone is in recovery mode and you can use it to restore the device.
The two button combinations will force the iPhone to restart, which will turn it off if it’s having screen issues. Connecting to iTunes via a computer will also turn it off by putting it in recovery mode.
Steps to Hard Reset iPhone 6 With Non-Responsive Screen
If your iPhone 6’s screen suddenly becomes unresponsive or frozen, don’t panic. There are a few different steps you can take to hard reset and turn off the iPhone when you can’t use the touchscreen:
Method 1: Force Restart with Power and Home Buttons
The quickest way to hard reset an iPhone 6 with a non-working screen is to press and hold both the Sleep/Wake button and Home button together for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo appear.
Here are the detailed steps:
- Simultaneously press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on the right side and the Home button on the front.
- Keep holding both buttons down firmly for at least 10-15 seconds.
- After this time, release both buttons when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
This will force your iPhone 6 to restart, which should resolve any temporary software glitches that may be preventing the screen from responding.
Method 2: Force Restart with Sleep/Wake and Volume Buttons
If the first method doesn’t work, try using the Sleep/Wake button and Volume Down buttons instead:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and Volume Down button together.
- Keep holding for at least 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
- Let go of both buttons once the Apple logo appears and let the phone reboot.
Holding these two buttons will also force restart the iPhone, so try this if the first combination did not successfully reset your device.
Method 3: Connect to iTunes on Computer
If neither hard reset method works, you can also turn off your iPhone 6 by connecting it to a computer with iTunes installed:
- Use the original USB cable that came with your iPhone and connect it to a computer that has iTunes installed and running.
- iTunes should detect that your iPhone is in recovery mode and needs to be restored. Click Okay.
- In recovery mode, iTunes will turn off your iPhone in order to restore it. Let the process complete.
- Once the restore is done, your iPhone will turn back on, hopefully with a working screen again.
Connecting to iTunes essentially forces your iPhone to turn off and enter recovery mode so it can be restored. This should resolve any software-related issues that may be occurring.
What to Do if iPhone Screen is Still Not Working
If you’ve tried all three methods to reset your iPhone 6, but the screen still does not turn on or start working again, there are a few additional things you can try:
- Charge the battery – One issue may simply be that your iPhone is out of battery. After resetting with the above methods, plug your iPhone into a charger for at least 30 minutes to give the battery time to charge in case it was fully depleted.
- Check for water damage or physical damage – If your iPhone got wet or was dropped, physical damage could be preventing the screen from working. Look for any cracks, dents, or other external damage.
- Erase the iPhone – Use iTunes on a computer to do a factory reset and erase all contents and settings. This may resolve any software issues causing the problem.
- Take it to Apple Support or a repair shop – If all else fails, the screen hardware itself is likely damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced. Take it to an Apple Store or third-party repair shop.
Be sure to backup your iPhone data beforehand if possible, as erasing or repairing it may wipe the device.
Preventing iPhone Screen Issues
To avoid iPhone screen issues happening again in the future, here are some tips:
- Always keep your iPhone in a protective case to reduce the chance of drops causing physical damage.
- Avoid exposing your iPhone to moisture or getting it wet to prevent water damage issues.
- Update to the latest iOS version to ensure you have the most recent software and bug fixes.
- Don’t force quit apps if they become unresponsive – reboot your iPhone instead.
- Replace your iPhone’s screen protector if it becomes damaged to avoid further cracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my iPhone 6 screen stop working?
Some common reasons an iPhone 6 screen may stop working include cracked or damaged screen hardware, water damage causing a short circuit, software bugs causing the screen to freeze or become unresponsive, or issues with the screen cable connectors inside the phone becoming loose or disconnected.
Will my data be deleted if I reset my iPhone 6?
Using the hard reset methods by holding certain button combinations will not delete any data on your iPhone 6. However, if you need to restore your iPhone 6 through iTunes, doing this will completely wipe the device and erase all of your data and settings unless you have a backup.
How can I backup my iPhone 6 if the screen isn’t working?
If your iPhone 6 screen stops working but you need to backup your data, connect it to iTunes on a computer. iTunes will detect the phone and allow you to click Backup Now to backup your data through the program before resetting or restoring the device.
Why won’t my iPhone 6 turn back on after resetting it?
If your iPhone 6 won’t power back on after trying to reset it, the main reasons are likely an empty battery that needs recharging, a serious software glitch that requires connecting to iTunes to fully restore, or hardware damage that is preventing the phone from booting up properly again.
Should I take my iPhone 6 to Apple if resetting doesn’t work?
Yes, if you’ve tried force restarting your iPhone 6 and restoring it through iTunes but the screen is still not functioning, your next step should be to take it to Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They can properly diagnose the underlying problem and will have the necessary parts and tools to repair your iPhone if needed.
Conclusion
If your iPhone 6 screen becomes unresponsive or frozen, don’t panic. First try the force restart methods by holding the Sleep/Wake + Home or Sleep/Wake + Volume Down buttons for 10+ seconds to hard reset it. If that doesn’t work, connect it to a computer with iTunes to enter recovery mode and restore the device. Check for any physical damage, recharge the battery, and erase the iPhone if needed. As a last resort, take your iPhone to Apple support for diagnosis and repair if the screen still isn’t working properly. With the right troubleshooting steps, you can get your iPhone 6 powered off and hopefully back up and running again.
