If your iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on, follow these proven tips to get your device back in action.
See also: iPhone 13 Pro not charging? How to fix it
Every iPhone owner’s worst nightmare is trying to fire up your device and finding that nothing happens. In this case, your iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on. A black screen with no sign of life spells disaster.
What are the reasons your iPhone 13 Pro might not turn on? Let’s have a look at some causes and solutions.
The tips discussed on this article applies to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max that won’t turn on.
Why is my iPhone 13 Pro not turning on?
If you’re sitting there thinking, ‘why is my iPhone 13 Pro not turning on don’t worry. As you will find out, an iPhone 13 Pro not turning on is a common issue. A lot of people are quick to make the assumption of the dreaded black screen of death, in-fact, here is a list of reasons why the iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on.
Faulty Charger
The iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on if the charger is faulty. This is more often the case if you own a third-party charger, which have a tendency to malfunction more easily. If it is an official Apple charger, then you may be able to get it replaced provided you’re still within your 1-year warranty , if not you may need to buy a new one, if your charger is at fault. But how do I know it’s the charger’s problem, you may ask?
The easiest way to determine charger issues is by using a working charger from friends or family.
Physical Damage
It’s not uncommon for people to drop their iPhones and unfortunately, the internal hardware of an iPhone 13 Pro is not impenetrable. There are two possible outcomes of dropping your iPhone; either the screen is broken or the motherboard is damaged. You can personally test for the first scenario, by using the Find My Apple device app to see if your iPhone is on, but the screen is not working. If your iPhone 13 Pro is not responsive, then it’s likely to be a problem with the internal hardware.
Liquid Damage
We all know that one person who takes their iPhone 13 Pro into the bath. But realistically, liquid damage is incredibly common, and sometimes unpreventable. So if you find your iPhone 13 Pro not booting up, have a think about whether it has had any contact with liquid, because even a small drop can damage the internal hardware. Unfortunately if your device is water damaged, it won’t be covered by the 1-year Apple warranty.
Software issues
Sometimes your iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on because of software issues. This is usually the case after a failed software update or if you’ve jailbroken your iPhone, both of which can lead to an unresponsive iPhone. Most of the time, software issues can be resolved easily by a bit of self-troubleshooting.
Use these tips to fix iPhone 13 Pro not turning on issue
Here are the steps you can take if your iPhone 13 Pro won’t power on:
Recharge your iPhone for hours
Firstly, check the obvious points. Did you definitely remember to charge your iPhone? Has the charger become partially dislodged from the wall socket? And is the power socket turned on?
Sometimes, when you try to turn on your iPhone 13 Pro and it just doesn’t power up at all.
If it doesn’t show anything except a black screen, then most likely your iPhone just ran out of battery.
All you have to do is connect your iPhone to a wall charger for at least 1 hour, preferably more. Make sure you do not use your device during this charging–that’s critical.
Also, some readers report success when charging their iPhone, for a full two days! This case seems especially true for people who recently updated their hardware, like replacing a cracked screen or another hardware update.
Make sure that your charger and cable is Apple Certified (MFI) and working effectively. MFi Program Apple Certified Cables and Accessories Badge or Icon MFI
MFI is Apple’s certification process for third-party products to work with iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Many cheap iDevice charges that are not MFI certified end up damaging your device’s charging hardware and chip so stay away from using any non-MFI chargers. If you don’t see that label, don’t use it, period!
Additionally, check your charger model–are you using the correct type of charger for the iPhone 13 Pro?
And rest assured, even if you accidentally charge your iPhone 13 Pro with the incorrect charger–it won’t destroy your device or brick it.
Check the Charging Cable and the Port
Lightening cables are notorious for malfunctioning on a whim. You can check the integrity of your cable by using it with another iOS device and seeing if it works.
Next, ensure there’s no dust, dirt, or other gunk clogging up either the USB port on your charging cable or your iPhone’s charging port.
Remember, the connections are delicate. The best way to remove grime from ports is to use a can of compressed air.
Try a hard reset
If your iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on, one solution is to perform a hard reset. Follow these steps:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and immediately release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. Let go when the iPhone restarts and the Apple logo appears.
Check the Screen
Of course, your iPhone might be powered on without you realizing it. A broken screen can give the impression that there’s no power.
Thankfully, it’s easy to know whether your screen is to blame. Hold the Power button for 30 seconds to ensure your iPhone is definitely powering up, then wait for at least 30 seconds to allow the boot process to complete.
Now, simply call yourself from another phone. If the iPhone rings, your screen is to blame. If it doesn’t, you need to keep going.
Remember, you can sometimes replace the screen yourself, but you will void your warranty.
Connect to iTunes
If your iPhone 13 Pro screen is black, showing the Apple logo, try connecting your iPhone to iTunes or Finder.
First, for folks using iTunes, update iTunes on your computer to the latest version. Then connect your iPhone to your computer. If your iPhone shows up in iTunes or Finder normally without any messages or warnings, that means your device is working, and the most likely culprit is your screen or the display connecting cable. These are hardware problems that need repairs and/or replacement.
Recover and Restore with iTunes
If iTunes/Finder shows a message or warning when you connect your device, follow the on-screen instructions to Update or Restore your iPhone. It’s possible that a software issue is causing your problem. If so, iTunes/Finder attempts to fix it.
If nothing happens when you connect your device to iTunes or Finder, try Recovery Mode.
- Turn OFF your iPhone
- Turn ON your computer (make sure it’s running the latest iTunes)and open iTunes or Finder
- Connect the Lightning cable to your computer. Leave the other end unplugged
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and immediately release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the connect to iTunes screen
- When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Update. iTunes tries to reinstall iOS without erasing your data.
Restoring your iPhone from iTunes or Finder may lead to data loss. Hopefully, you have a backup available via iCloud or iTunes/Finder (or another backup option of your choice.) If you do not have a backup, your current data might be lost for good.
Put your iPhone into DFU Mode
If you still can’t get your iPhone 13 Pro to boot, you might be able to force it to turn on using DFU mode. DFU mode is a mode where the iPhone is forced to restore the firmware. Getting your iPhone 13 Pro into DFU mode is a little challenging, requiring patience and practice. Timing is essential when placing iDevices into DFU mode so carefully follow the instructions.
Steps to Doing a DFU Restore
- Make sure you have a valid backup in iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone 13 Pro to your computer using a USB cable.
- Press Volume up and release.
- Press Volume down and release.
- Press and continue holding the Side button for 10 seconds.
- While still holding the side button, press and hold the Volume down button for 5 seconds.
- Release the Side button and continue holding the Volume down button for an additional 10 seconds.
When you successfully enter DFU mode, your iPhone should remain on a black screen, (if not start the process again from the beginning.)
Your iPhone 13 Pro Might Be Broken
If nothing here has fixed your iPhone 13 Pro not booting issue, then visit the nearest Apple store. There may be a hardware issue that you are unable to solve yourself. It is likely that your iPhone has a hardware issue that cannot be repaired without extensive troubleshooting from the professional. An Apple technician will help determine why your iPhone 13 Pro won’t turn on and how to fix it.