The “black screen of death” refers to when an iPhone screen suddenly goes black and becomes unresponsive. This issue makes the iPhone unusable, as the screen does not display anything and does not respond to touch input. While the phone may still function, with sounds and vibrations working, the black screen makes it impossible to interact with the device or access any apps and features.
A black screen of death can occur randomly, during an iOS update, or after physical damage has been sustained. It renders the iPhone non-functional for all practical purposes, as the screen is the main way users interact with their device. This can result in data loss if the user is unable to back up the device before it shuts down entirely.
Causes of the Black Screen of Death
There are several potential causes behind the black screen of death on an iPhone, most commonly relating to hardware failure or damage, software glitches, and battery issues:
Hardware failure or physical damage to the iPhone’s screen or internal components is the most frequent cause of the black screen of death. Dropping or impacting the phone can damage connectors between components like the display and logic board, resulting in a fully black screen. Cracked or broken screens, loose cables, and faulty connectors inside the iPhone can all produce this problem as well (Source).
Software glitches, crashes, or installation issues can also lead to the black screen of death, especially after updating iOS. If the phone gets stuck in a reboot loop or fails to reload the operating system correctly, you may end up with a black screen. Jailbreaking gone wrong is another software-related cause (Source).
Finally, power and battery problems like an emptied or faulty battery can prevent the iPhone from turning on its display, showing only a black screen. Letting the battery fully discharge or using third-party batteries that don’t properly integrate with the phone’s power management system are common battery-related culprits.
Troubleshooting Steps
There are a few troubleshooting steps you can try if your iPhone has a black screen of death:
Perform a hard reset by pressing and holding the side button and either the volume up or down button at the same time until the Apple logo appears – this resets the device (source).
Connect your iPhone to a computer. If your computer recognizes the device, you may be able to restore or update the software to resolve the issue.
Reset all settings by going to Settings > General > Reset and tapping “Reset All Settings.” This preserves your data but resets system settings that could be causing problems.
Repair Costs
The cost to repair a black screen of death on an iPhone can vary significantly depending on where you get the repair done and what exactly needs to be fixed or replaced. Here’s an overview of typical costs from different repair options:
Apple Store/Carrier Repair Costs: According to Apple’s website, an iPhone screen replacement through them costs $279 for iPhone 8 and newer models that are not covered by warranty or AppleCare+. For older models like the iPhone 7 or iPhone 6s, the cost is around $129-149. Carriers that provide repairs may charge similar rates to Apple.
Third Party/Independent Repair Shop Costs: Third party repair shops generally offer lower prices than Apple, with average costs ranging from $40-$329 depending on the iPhone model. Simple screen replacements tend to start around $70-100 while more complex screen and LCD digitizer repairs can be $150-200+. Well-reviewed local repair shops often provide high quality repairs for much less than Apple.
DIY Repair Costs: For a DIY repair, replacement iPhone screens can be purchased online starting at around $50-100 for older models and $150-300+ for newer ones. With the right tools and technical skill, a DIY screen replacement is possible. However, there is a higher risk of damaging components if not done properly.
Factors Affecting Cost
The cost to fix an iPhone with a black screen of death can vary significantly depending on several key factors:
The model and year of the iPhone will impact repair costs. Newer iPhone models like the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 often have higher repair costs than older models like the iPhone 6 or 7. This is because newer iPhones use more advanced components that are more expensive to replace.
Whether the issue is due to physical damage or a software problem will also affect the repair cost. Fixing physical damage like a cracked screen or water damage requires replacement parts and will be more expensive. A software-only issue may be fixable with a restore or update at a lower cost.
Going through Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider for the repair will typically cost more than using a third party repair shop. Apple quotes average repair costs of $279 for a screen replacement and $549 for other damage out of warranty. Third party shops can often offer lower repair pricing.
Software Fixes
Before attempting more complicated hardware repairs or data recovery, it’s advisable to try some software fixes first to resolve the black screen of death. There are a few options to attempt:
Update iOS
Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes or Finder if on a Mac. iTunes or Finder should detect your device and prompt you to update or restore. Updating the iOS can potentially fix software bugs causing the issue.
Restore from Backup
Doing a full restore of your device from an iTunes or iCloud backup is another option. This will wipe your device and revert it back to a previous state which hopefully won’t have the black screen issue. Make sure you have a current backup before restoring. See Apple’s support guides for restoring an iPhone from iTunes backups or restoring from iCloud backups.
Remove Problematic Apps
Sometimes apps can cause conflicts with iOS and trigger the black screen. Try booting into safe mode on your iPhone by holding the Power button during boot until you see the Apple logo. Then go to Settings > General > Applications and remove any recently downloaded or suspicious apps. Reboot and see if removing the app fixed the issue.
Trying these software troubleshooting steps first before hardware repairs can potentially save time and money.
Hardware Fixes
There are a few common hardware issues that can cause the black screen of death on an iPhone. These usually require some type of repair or replacement of internal components:
Screen Replacement
If the screen itself is damaged or faulty, this can cause a black screen. Replacing the screen may resolve the issue. Screen replacement costs range from $129 to $279 for newer iPhone models, depending on whether you have Apple or a third party repair the screen.
Battery Replacement
A failing or depleted battery can sometimes cause iPhone black screens. Replacing the battery often fixes the problem and costs $49 to $99 depending on the iPhone model.
Logic Board Repair
Issues with the logic board, which contains the phone’s processing chips and circuits, may result in a black screen. Logic board repairs cost $99 to $349 depending on the damage and model. This requires microsoldering work to replace damaged components on the board.
Data Recovery Options
If your iPhone is stuck on the black screen of death and won’t turn on, you still have options to recover your data before attempting any repairs:
iCloud Backup – If you had iCloud backups enabled on your iPhone, you may be able to restore your device from the latest iCloud backup once you get it functioning again. This will retrieve your settings, app data, photos, and other information stored in iCloud.
iTunes Backup – Connect your iPhone to a computer it previously synced with and open iTunes. If you have an iTunes backup available, you can use this to restore your data. iTunes backups may contain more data than iCloud backups.
Third Party Data Recovery – If you don’t have a current backup available, you may need specialized data recovery software to retrieve your photos, messages, and other information directly from the iPhone. Some options include Disk Drill, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone, and others. These tools can extract data even from devices that won’t power on.
Prevention Tips
There are a few things you can do to help prevent the black screen of death from occurring on your iPhone:
Handle your phone carefully. Dropping your iPhone or exposing it to liquid can cause internal hardware damage that leads to the black screen. Use a protective case and be mindful of where you place your phone.
Keep your iOS updated. Apple releases software updates to fix bugs and optimize performance. Staying current on iOS updates reduces the chances of system errors that can cause the black screen.
Backup regularly. Backup your iPhone data to iCloud or iTunes on a regular basis. That way, if you do experience the black screen of death, you won’t lose your valuable photos, messages, and other data when repairing your phone.
Summary
In summary, the black screen of death on iPhones can be caused by a software glitch or hardware failure, with the display, logic board, battery, and other components being common culprits. While a software fix may resolve some cases, a hardware repair is often required, ranging from $100-350+ depending on the issue and if data recovery is needed.
To avoid high repair costs, the best options are trying a force restart first, then software troubleshooting, before resorting to hardware repair. Backing up data regularly is also crucial to avoid data recovery expenses. Preventative measures like avoiding drops, extreme temperatures, and installing software updates can reduce the chances of a black screen of death occurring.
The key points are that the black screen of death has various causes, software attempts should be tried first, hardware repair costs can vary widely, and backups plus prevention are essential to avoid problems and expenses.