Having a black screen on your iPhone can be incredibly frustrating. Not being able to see anything on the display makes the phone unusable for anything other than taking calls using voice control. Fortunately, there are some software solutions that can help fix an iPhone with a black screen and get it working normally again without having to take it to a repair shop.
What Causes a Black Screen on iPhone?
There are a few potential causes of a black screen on an iPhone:
- Software crash or glitch – A software problem like an app freezing or iOS crashing can cause the screen to go black.
- Hardware failure – An issue with the display hardware components can lead to a black screen.
- Faulty proximity sensor – The proximity sensor detects when your face is close and turns off the display. A faulty sensor will think something is covering the screen.
- LCD connector issue – If the ribbon cable connecting the LCD panel to the logic board comes loose, it can cause a black screen.
- Digitizer failure – The digitizer registers touch input on the screen. If it fails the screen will go black.
In many cases, software tools can help users diagnose and fix black screen issues caused by software crashes or glitches. However, hardware failures will likely require professional repair service.
Software to Reset an iPhone with Black Screen
The first step in trying to fix an iPhone with black screen should always be to reset the device. Resetting clears out any corrupted data or software glitches that could be preventing the screen from turning back on. Here are some software options for resetting an iPhone with black screen:
iTunes
Connecting the black screen iPhone to a computer and resetting it through iTunes is one of the easiest software options. To do this:
- Download and install the latest version of iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC.
- Use a Lightning cable to connect the iPhone with the black screen to the computer.
- Open iTunes and select the connected iPhone.
- While holding the Home button, reconnect the Lightning cable.
- Let go of the Home button once you see the “Recovery Mode” screen.
- In iTunes, click “Restore” to wipe and reinstall iOS.
This will erase the contents of the iPhone and reinstall a clean version of iOS. If the black screen was caused by a software glitch, this should resolve it.
iCloud
If you can’t connect the iPhone to a computer, you can also use iCloud to reset it remotely. This requires access to the iCloud account associated with the iPhone.
- On another device, log into iCloud.com with the appropriate Apple ID
- Select “Find iPhone”
- Pick the iPhone showing the black screen
- Choose “Erase iPhone”
After the remote erase is complete, you can then set up the iPhone again when it boots back up. This method also reinstalls iOS to potentially fix software issues.
Recovery Mode
You can force an iPhone into Recovery Mode to complete a reset. This requires connecting the iPhone to a computer via a Lightning cable.
- With the iPhone connected, hold down the Home button while reconnecting the Lightning cable.
- Keep holding the Home button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
- In iTunes select the iPhone in Recovery Mode and choose “Restore.”
Recovery Mode will reinstall the iOS firmware and restore the iPhone to factory default settings. If you don’t have access to a computer, Recovery Mode unfortunately won’t be an option.
Software to Diagnose iPhone Black Screen
Resetting your iPhone will hopefully resolve any software errors causing the black screen. But if the issue persists, you’ll need to dig deeper to diagnose the specific problem. Some software tools can provide helpful diagnostic information in this situation.
Analytics Data
iPhones keep detailed analytics data on crashes, errors, and anomalies in the device logs. Analytics data continues recording even when the screen is black. Software that provides access to this analytics information can give clues about what’s wrong.
For example, You can access analytics data using:
- Apple Configurator on Mac – Connects to iPhone in Recovery Mode
- Xcode on Mac – Connects to iPhone in Recovery Mode
- iMazing on Mac/PC – Extracts iPhone backup data
With access to analytics logs, you can search for system errors, crashes, and hardware issues temporally associated with the black screen appearing. Any debug information could help narrow down the cause.
System Status
Some black screen repair software tools can check the current system status of an iPhone and report back information that can assist with diagnostics. For example, PhoneRescue iOS Repair software provides the following system status data:
- iOS version
- Baseband version
- Bluetooth status
- WiFi status
- Capacity and available storage
- Serial number
- Battery cycle count
Reviewing system information like this can reveal inconsistencies or issues that give hints about what’s malfunctioning. Particularly important are details related to hardware components involved with the display and touch input.
Generate Diagnostics Report
Some black screen repair apps can run diagnostics tests on an iPhone and generate a detailed report. For example, PhoneRescue has a “Generate diagnostic report” option that probes various components and checks for issues.
The diagnostic report can detect problems with the following:
- Touch ID
- Home button
- WiFi
- Cellular
- Bluetooth
- Cameras
- Microphone
- Speaker
- Vibration
- Proximity sensor
- Light sensor
- Battery
- RAM
- Storage
Having detailed test results for each hardware component can reveal exactly what hardware defect might be responsible for the black screen on the iPhone.
iOS System Recovery Software
If resetting and diagnostics don’t uncover the cause of the iPhone black screen, the nuclear option is to reinstall the full iOS firmware. This essentially reloads the operating system like it was brand new. IT completely wipes all data and resets all settings in the process.
Some software tools have the ability to download the iOS firmware files from Apple and reinstall them from scratch on an iPhone. This gives you a completely clean, up-to-date software environment. It can overcomeserious software issues that standard resets can’t fix.
Examples of black screen repair software able to reinstall iOS firmware include:
- AnyFix – iOS System Recovery mode performs a deep reinstallation of the latest iOS firmware version.
- iMyFone Fixppo – Has an Advanced iOS System Recovery option to fix severely damaged or bricked iOS systems.
- Dr. Fone – iOS System Recovery installs the iOS firmware in Normal or DFU mode.
This iOS system recovery tool provides a last resort to attempt software repair before needing to take the iPhone for physical or board-level repairs. But it will wipe all user data, so make sure to have a backup.
Third-Party Display Software
For black screens caused by physical display failures, software tweaks can sometimes help restore partial functionality as a temporary workaround. It won’t fix the underlying hardware defect, but may get the screen working well enough in a limited capacity.
Options like enabling VoiceOver, Zoom, and AssistiveTouch can operate the iPhone without needing to see the display. You can turn these on remotely using iTunes screenless configuration if you have the appropriate Apple configurator profile.
Some third-party apps also provide alternative display output options. For example, View HDMI can divert the iPhone’s screen video feed to connect to an external monitor or TV using an HDMI adapter.
And Air Display software can wirelessly transmit the iPhone’s screen to another device like a Mac or iPad. This could allow you to control and use the iPhone with its own screen blacked out.
These display workarounds require some additional hardware and setup. But in a pinch they can provide temporary assistance if you absolutely need access to an iPhone with display failure.
Professional Repair Service
If all software troubleshooting options have been exhausted, then the iPhone likely has underlying hardware defects. Attempting do-it-yourself physical repairs risks further damage unless you have specific experience and tools.
For hardware-related black screens, or software issues you can’t resolve, specialist professional repair shops may be able to fix the problem. Repair technicians have experience with common issues like:
- Reseating display connectors
- Replacing display cables
- Swapping the LCD and digitizer
- Microsoldering new pins
- Reballing connections
- Replacing logic boards
Sending your iPhone to a reputable repair company can give you the best chance of correcting even serious hardware defects causing a black screen. The right technicians have specialized tools and microsoldering skills to properly diagnose and fix the underlying problem.
Conclusion
Dealing with a black screen on your iPhone can be stressful. But don’t panic yet – software tools provide some options you can try before paying for expensive hardware repairs.
Reset your iPhone using iTunes or Recovery Mode and see if that resolves any glitched software. Run diagnostics and check system logs for clues. Reinstall iOS firmware as a last resort software fix.
If software options don’t work, seek professional iPhone repair service for hardware issues. Specialists have the microsoldering expertise and proper tools to accurately troubleshoot and fix physical defects contributing to the black screen.
With some patience and gradually trying software fixes before hardware repair, you have a good chance of cost-effectively restoring normal function to an iPhone with black screen problems.