My iPhone 12 suddenly turned off and won’t power back on. I’ve tried charging it and doing a hard reset, but nothing seems to work. Any ideas on how to fix this or what might be wrong?
First, did u try the Volume Up + Volume Down + Side Button hard reset sequence? iPhone 12 sometimes needs this combo instead of the usual hard reset method.
If that fails, check if ur charger and cable are working fine; maybe borrow a friend’s or head to an Apple Store. Faulty charging gear can sometimes masquerade as a dead phone.
Sometimes, the phone can get into a deep discharge state, and connecting it to a computer via USB and using iTunes can sometimes force a wake-up.
Also worth noting: Is your phone under warranty? An Apple Store visit might be inevitable; if it’s a hardware issue, expert help will be necessary. But before heading out, you can try booting into recovery mode: Connect the phone to a computer, press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, and then hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen. This might help the phone revive itself with a software restore via iTunes.
Don’t forget to backup regularly once you get it to work again! Avoid juggling multiple issues in the future.
Did you try plugging it into a different power source? Sometimes, the outlet might be the culprit. I’ve seen instances where a power strip went bad but the charger was fine. Also, leaving it connected to a charger for a longer period, like an hour or two, might help. Contrary to the user suggestions above, some devices wake up after extended charging even if they appear non-responsive initially.
Another idea: consider swapping out power adapters. I’ve had cases where even though the cable was fine, the power brick had somehow failed. Florescent lights and other electrical interference can sometimes impact charging—this is rare, but electronics can be finicky.
Lastly, if your device has sustained any physical trauma or extreme temperature conditions recently, internal components could be at fault. Extreme cold or heat impacts battery performance drastically.
Regarding the deep discharge mentioned, resetting SMC (System Management Controller) doesn’t apply to iPhones but was worth the mention for other devices. Just, whatever you do, don’t open the device yourself unless you’re Absolutely Sure you know what you’re doing. Being delicate is key.
Explore less obvious options before heading to the store; saves time if it’s something simple!
@jeff and @reveurdenuit already dropped some solid suggestions, no doubt. But let me tell ya, you might be overlooking one critical step: sometimes, software glitches need a more aggressive fix, like a ‘DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode’ restore. Trust me, it’s a different ballgame compared to regular recovery mode.
Here’s how to enter DFU mode:
- Connect your iPhone 12 to a computer with iTunes or Finder (macOS Catalina or later).
- Press and release the Volume Up button quickly.
- Press and release the Volume Down button quickly.
- Press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black, then press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for about 5 seconds.
- Release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button until iTunes/Finder recognizes the phone in recovery mode.
In DFU mode, the iPhone’s screen will be completely black. If iTunes/Finder prompts you to restore the phone, follow the steps to do so.
Let’s tally pros and cons of this little trick:
Pros:
- Can fix deep software corruption
- Bypasses some common software barriers
- Your phone might spring back to life
Cons: - You’ll lose all data if not previously backed up
- A failed DFU mode might indicate deeper hardware issues
As @jeff noted, charging gear can be a sneaky problem source, but going to the Apple Store is a failsafe. Compared to @reveurdenuit’s idea of swapping out chargers and outlets, DFU mode is your last line of defense before hitting the Apple Store.
Also, if you’re on iOS 14 or higher, sometimes settings and configurations can act up with sudden firmware misalignments, stuff a lesser-known iTunes feature might resolve. But hey, regular iOS updates minimize these quirks, so keep updating!
DFU mode might just be your golden ticket before considering it toast or braving a store visit. If not, well, at least you’ve explored every possible avenue!
So, no need to stress too much—it might not be as dire as it seems. Try DFU mode, and hope it gets you back on track!