Phone Won’t Turn On? 7 Things to Try Before Visiting a Repair Shop

📸 Featured Image: Black phone screen / dead phone

Few things are more frustrating than a phone that won’t turn on. You press the power button, and… nothing. Black screen. No response. Is it dead? Is it broken? Should you panic?

Before you rush to a repair shop in Singapore, try these 7 troubleshooting steps. In many cases, a “dead” phone can be revived with simple fixes that take just a few minutes. We’ll walk you through each solution, from the most common to the more technical.

Step 1: Force Charge Your Phone for 30 Minutes

Why this works: The most common reason a phone won’t turn on is a completely drained battery. If your battery drops to 0%, it may need time to gather enough charge before it can even display the charging indicator.

What to do:

1. Plug your phone into a wall charger (not a computer USB port—wall chargers provide more power)
2. Use the original charger if possible, or a high-quality certified charger
3. Wait at least 30 minutes without touching it
4. Look for a charging indicator—even a brief flash of a battery icon is a good sign
5. After 30 minutes, try pressing the power button

Step 2: Try a Different Charger and Cable

Why this works: Faulty charging cables and adapters are extremely common. A damaged cable might look fine on the outside but have broken wires inside that prevent charging.

What to do:

• Borrow a friend’s charger (make sure it’s the right type for your phone)
• Try multiple wall outlets in your home—sometimes the outlet is the problem
• Check your charging cable for visible damage: fraying, bent connector, loose fit
• Try charging from a different power source: different room, different building

How to test if it’s the cable: If you have another device that uses the same charging cable (like a tablet or second phone), test the cable with that device. If that device also won’t charge with the cable, you’ve found your problem.

Step 3: Clean Your Charging Port

Why this works: Lint, dust, and pocket debris accumulate in your phone’s charging port over time. This buildup can prevent the charging cable from making proper contact, stopping your phone from charging even though everything else works fine.

What to do:

1. Turn off your phone (if it’s still responsive enough to turn off)
2. Get a wooden or plastic toothpick (NEVER use metal—it can cause shorts)
3. Gently scrape around the inside of the charging port
4. Use a flashlight to look inside—you might be surprised how much debris is there
5. Remove any visible lint, dust, or debris
6. Try compressed air if you have it (short bursts, not too close)
7. Let it sit for a minute, then try charging again

Step 4: Force Restart Your Phone

Why this works: Sometimes phones freeze or crash so badly that they appear completely dead. A force restart (also called hard reset) forces your phone to reboot without needing the touchscreen, which can bring it back to life.

How to force restart (varies by phone):

For iPhone 8 and newer (including iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, X, XS, XR):

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button
3. Press and HOLD the Side button (power button)
4. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo (10-20 seconds)
5. Release and wait for the phone to restart

For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus:

• Press and hold both Volume Down + Side button
• Hold for 10-20 seconds until Apple logo appears

For iPhone 6s and older:

• Press and hold Home button + Power button
• Hold until Apple logo appears

For Samsung Phones:

• Press and hold Power button + Volume Down button
• Hold for 10-20 seconds
• Wait for the phone to restart

For Most Android Phones (Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, Huawei):

• Press and hold Power button for 10-30 seconds
• Some models: Power + Volume Up or Power + Volume Down
• Keep holding until the phone vibrates or shows logo

Step 5: Check for Physical Damage

Why this matters: If your phone recently took a hard fall, got wet, or suffered physical damage, the problem might be hardware-related and require professional repair.

What to check:

• Screen damage: Cracks, chips, or shattered glass (see our screen repair guide)
• Water exposure: Did your phone get wet recently? Check water damage indicators
• Swollen battery: Is the back cover bulging or lifted? This is dangerous—get battery replacement immediately
• Bent or warped frame: Sometimes dropped phones have subtle bending
• Loose buttons: Power button feels broken or unresponsive

Water damage indicators: Most phones have small stickers that turn red or pink when exposed to water. On iPhones, look in the SIM card tray. On Android phones, they’re often near the charging port or under the battery (if removable).

Step 6: Let It Cool Down or Warm Up

Why this works: Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) can prevent phones from turning on. Phones have built-in safety features that shut them down to protect the battery and components.

If Your Phone Got Too Hot:

In Singapore’s climate, this is common. If you left your phone in a hot car, direct sunlight, or it overheated during heavy use:

• Move it to a cool, air-conditioned room
• Remove the case to help it cool faster
• DO NOT put it in the fridge or freezer (condensation can cause water damage)
• Wait 20-30 minutes for it to reach room temperature
• Then try charging and turning it on

If Your Phone Got Too Cold:

Less common in Singapore, but possible in heavily air-conditioned environments:

• Let it warm up naturally to room temperature
• Don’t try to heat it up artificially (no hairdryer, no heater)
• Wait 15-20 minutes

Step 7: Boot Into Recovery Mode

Why this works: If your phone powers on but won’t boot into the operating system (stuck on logo screen), booting into recovery mode can help you troubleshoot software issues.

For iPhones (Recovery Mode):

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes/Finder installed
2. For iPhone 8+: Volume Up (quick press), Volume Down (quick press), then hold Side button
3. Keep holding until you see the recovery mode screen (cable + computer icon)
4. iTunes will give you options to Update or Restore
5. Try “Update” first (keeps your data)

For Android Phones (Recovery Mode):

1. Turn off the phone completely
2. Press and hold Power + Volume Up (some models use Volume Down)
3. Hold until you see the recovery menu
4. Use volume buttons to navigate, power button to select
5. Try “Wipe Cache Partition” first (doesn’t delete data)
6. Last resort: “Factory Reset” (erases everything)

When DIY Troubleshooting Isn’t Enough: Hardware Issues

If you’ve tried all 7 steps and your phone still won’t turn on, the problem is likely hardware-related. Here are the most common hardware failures:

Dead Battery

If your battery is completely dead (failed, not just drained), your phone won’t turn on even when plugged in. This is especially common in phones 2+ years old. Battery replacement takes just 30 minutes and costs from $30.

Faulty Charging Port

If the charging port is damaged (bent pins, broken connector, corrosion from water), your phone can’t charge at all. Charging port repairs are relatively simple and affordable.

Motherboard Issues

This is more serious. Problems with the power management IC, CPU, or other chips on the motherboard can prevent your phone from turning on. Motherboard repair requires chip-level diagnostics and specialized equipment.

Display/Screen Connection

Sometimes your phone IS turning on, but the screen isn’t lighting up. This could be a faulty display or loose screen connector. You might hear notification sounds or feel vibrations even though you see nothing.

How to Know If It’s Hardware or Software

Here’s a quick guide to help you determine if you need professional repair:

What to Expect at a Repair Shop

If you’ve exhausted all DIY options, it’s time for professional help. Here’s what happens when you bring your dead phone to a repair shop in Singapore:

Free Diagnostics

Reputable shops offer free diagnostics. The technician will test your phone’s components to identify the exact problem. This typically takes 15-30 minutes.

Common Diagnoses & Costs:

• Battery replacement: $30-$150 depending on model
• Charging port repair: $40-$100
• Screen replacement: $80-$400 (if display connection is the issue)
• Motherboard repair: $80-$500 depending on complexity

Repair Time

• Battery replacement: 30-45 minutes
• Charging port: 30-60 minutes
• Screen replacement: 30-60 minutes
• Motherboard repair: 1-3 days

Preventing Future “Dead Phone” Situations

Once you get your phone working again, here’s how to prevent it from happening again:

1. Never let battery drain to 0%: Charge when you hit 20-30%
2. Use quality chargers: Stick with original or certified accessories
3. Clean charging port monthly: Prevent dust buildup
4. Protect from physical damage: Use a good case and screen protector
5. Keep phone cool: Avoid direct sunlight and hot cars in Singapore
6. Update software regularly: Updates often fix bugs that cause crashes
7. Back up your data: So you’re not stressed if you need a reset

Conclusion: Don’t Panic, Troubleshoot First

A phone that won’t turn on feels like a disaster, but it’s often fixable with simple troubleshooting. Work through these 7 steps systematically:

1. Charge for 30 minutes
2. Try different charger/cable
3. Clean charging port
4. Force restart
5. Check for physical damage
6. Let it cool/warm up
7. Boot into recovery mode

If none of these work, it’s time for professional diagnostics. The good news? Most hardware issues are repairable, and you’ll have your phone back within a few hours or days.