An Android phone or tablet with a black screen and no signs of life signals a lot of trouble and inconvenience. However, there is no need to panic or lose hope because there are some steps you can take to be able to restore your device.
1. Perform the Power Cycle process
You may have encountered a situation where your Android phone is frozen, has a black or unresponsive screen, and no buttons work. But did you know that your phone can also get stuck in a power off state? In such cases, performing a Power Cycle can help.
On older devices with removable batteries, simply remove the battery, wait a few seconds, and reinsert it. On modern phones with non-removable batteries, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. Depending on the manufacturer of your device, you may need to hold the device for anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds.
2. Troubleshooting charging problems
Sometimes the problem can be as simple as a dead battery. First, test the charging cable and charger with another phone to make sure there is nothing wrong with your device.
If there is no problem with the cable or charger, check to see if there is any dirt or debris blocking your phone's charging port. The best way to remove dirt from the ports is to use a can of compressed air. Then try charging your phone again. For more detailed instructions, please refer to our guide on how to fix an Android phone that won't charge .
3. Check for battery problems
If your phone still won't turn on, the problem could be with your phone's battery. That's because most phone and tablet batteries start to degrade significantly after a few years of use. Additionally, factors like liquid exposure, drops onto hard surfaces, and extreme temperatures can damage the battery beyond repair.
After plugging your device into the charger, wait a minute to see if the battery icon appears on the screen. If it does, the battery is probably fine and you can then check your Android phone's battery health using an app like AccuBattery when your device boots up.
If you see a small red (or other colored) light flashing, it means the battery doesn't have enough power to turn on or display content. Let it charge for 30 minutes, then try turning it on again. If you don't see the battery icon or any light, it means the battery is dead and needs to be replaced.
4. Check for any damage
Your Android phone may not turn on because the Power button is stuck or broken. Press and hold the Power button to see if there is any response. If the button is stuck or unresponsive, it may be faulty and will need to be repaired or replaced.
It's also possible that your phone is on but the screen is malfunctioning, making it appear as if the phone isn't turning on. To test this, hold the Power button for 30 seconds to make sure the phone turns on. Then wait at least two minutes for the boot process to complete.
Then, call from another device. If it rings, it may be a problem with your screen. In that case, you can replace the phone screen yourself if you are an expert or take the device to the manufacturer's service center for replacement.
5. Use a computer to troubleshoot
Another thing you can do is force your Android phone to turn on using your computer. Google provides a somewhat complicated set of steps that we’ve simplified below:
6. Enter Safe Mode
Android's Safe Mode feature allows you to run your device with only system apps. If your Android phone can't get past the boot process because of a recently installed app, Safe Mode can help identify the problem.
Since your phone is unresponsive, you'll need to use physical buttons to enter Safe Mode on Android. Press and hold the Power button until the boot process begins. Then press the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time. If these steps don't work, check online for instructions specific to your device model.
If your device boots successfully in Safe Mode, it’s possible that a conflicting third-party app is preventing Android from booting normally. To fix this, go to Settings > Apps & notifications while your phone is in Safe Mode and uninstall any suspicious third-party apps one by one. Then, reboot your phone to exit Safe Mode and see if it works.
7. Reset Android device
If you experience occasional black screen issues, a factory reset may permanently fix the problem. This will clear out any software glitches that may be preventing your device from turning on properly.
Warning : Resetting your phone or tablet will erase everything on it, so make sure you back up all the data on your Android device.
To reset your Android phone, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset and tap the Reset button at the bottom. In case your Android phone won't boot into normal mode, try performing a factory reset in Recovery Mode. After the reset, your Android phone should work as expected.
An Android phone that won't turn on can be frustrating, especially if it's your primary device, but the solutions listed above should help you fix the problem. If not, it may be time to consult a professional technician or contact the phone manufacturer for a replacement or repair.
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