Stuck at black screen, broken power button. How to reboot?

[unagimiyagi]

Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.

 

[iamMacPerson]

Well, you could take it someplace to have it fixed but it wouldn't be genuine parts and when my brother did it, they did a poor job and screwed up the iPhone. My advice? Pay for the OOW replacement and next time buy AppleCare. Not even the Plus, just AppleCare would cover this.

 

[unagimiyagi]

I've looked at RedSn0w, which has the ability to alter a firmware so it boots directly into DFU, but my phone isn't even detected by the computer at all so I can't even get started. I think that unless I physically fix the power button, it's game over for this iPhone. Am I wrong?

 

[ionjohn]

I've looked at RedSn0w, which has the ability to alter a firmware so it boots directly into DFU, but my phone isn't even detected by the computer at all so I can't even get started. I think that unless I physically fix the power button, it's game over for this iPhone. Am I wrong?

If you can afford an iphone, you can afford to fix it. Next time, don't screw up the sleep button.

 

[iamMacPerson]

Next time, don't screw up the sleep button.

To be fair, it could happen to anybody. I've seen a few people with this issue, in fact its very common among iPhone 4/4s models, and does sometimes happen on the 5/5s. I wonder if its the same thing the old 800k floppy drives from yester-year are having, a gumed up mechanism.

 

[Fzang]

The power button is definitely repairable and it took around 30 minutes for a Chinese here in Beijing to make mine like new. Apple is just being Apple.

However, I wouldn't advice you to travel to China to repair your phone. It's easier (and quite possibly cheaper) to buy a new one, in that case.

 

[Costino1]

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

 

[Charadis]

To be fair, it could happen to anybody. I've seen a few people with this issue, in fact its very common among iPhone 4/4s models, and does sometimes happen on the 5/5s. I wonder if its the same thing the old 800k floppy drives from yester-year are having, a gumed up mechanism.

The last couple of sleep/power buttons I've replaced (iPhone 4s and 5), the 4s didn't seem dirty inside, but you couldn't press the button down (there is a point on the flex ribbon that wears away from use) while the 5 had a button that was fully press able and "clicky," but very dirty around the sleep/power button and did not recognize when it was pressed.

The replacement flex button, even if not truly a genuine part, is high quality and can be very difficult to tell apart from the original. Here is a pic of the one from the 5 that I replaced put right beside the replacement (not all parts removed from the defective original). Sent from my iPad.

 

[davelanger]

Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.

wait until it dies is probably the only free option, unless you open up the phone and try to reset it with a paper clip

 

[taldo]

I don't know if you're still looking for a solution, but something similar happened to me also.

I entered recovery mode through the "Tiny Umbrella" software, and restored my phone back to life..!
Weird thing though, I'm a Mac owner and for some reason the program didn't work on my computer...
I used my wife's PC to get the tiny umbrella working and it worked like a charm.

Hope it helps you as much as it helped me, i thought i was doomed..

 

[eclipse01]

To be fair, it could happen to anybody. I've seen a few people with this issue, in fact its very common among iPhone 4/4s models, and does sometimes happen on the 5/5s. I wonder if its the same thing the old 800k floppy drives from yester-year are having, a gumed up mechanism.

add me to this list

4S, I don't use cases (only full body skins)
Never dropped my phone once
Not a single scratch
power button went out 3 weeks ago....

i'm just going to deal with it and hope my phone does not freeze until the 6 comes out

 

[Apple blogger]

Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.

Is it still showing the connect to iTunes sign.. If yes .. Download the software "tiny umbrella" on your PC.. Plug in your iphone .. And kick your iphone out of restore...

 

[hellala]

Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.

1) Turn off your phone using Assistive touch (hold the Lock Screen till Slide to power off appear)
2) Plug it into laptop, when you see apple logo appear, keep holding down the home button

 

[C DM]

1) Turn off your phone using Assistive touch (hold the Lock Screen till Slide to power off appear)
2) Plug it into laptop, when you see apple logo appear, keep holding down the home button

Seems like assistive touch wouldn't be available in that situation where the phone essentially crashed.

 

[OrthodoxiOS]

Hello,

I'm in a pickle. My power button (the top button) is broken, meaning it doesn't work at all. My iPhone locked up and crashed (just frozen while using a particular app) so I tried to reboot but I could not b/c my power button is broken. I got desperate and decided to reformat my iPhone completely.

I hit erase my iPhone (via icloud) and sure enough, my iPhone was erased. Then upon reboot, the phone is stuck at a black screen with a activity indicator view (that spinning circle) and that's it.

Is my iphone 5 dead now? I have connected to iTunes, nothing. I can't enter recovery b/c my power button is completely broken (I had been using assistive touch to use a software power button).

How can I reset this phone to DFU mode without a functioning power button?

Advice would be much appreciated. Apple's solution is to charge me for an entirely new phone because the power button is not a repairable item.

https://ssl.apple.com/support/iphone5-sleepwakebutton/

You may see this as a good option.

 

[xyzedd]

https://ssl.apple.com/support/iphone5-sleepwakebutton/

You may see this as a good option.

Sweet - my button died rapidly over a week. Just checked the above link and:

"The iPhone 5 serial number you entered is eligible for this program. Please follow the instructions below to have your sleep/wake button replaced."

Thanks for the link

 

[elanakin]

The table top method worked!!!

This worked!!! I couldn't believe it but it did. So for anyone else in a jam and when all else has failed and you don't mind risking the device, you could try this method... like I said, it did work for me!!!

And yes, the blank screen turned back on like nothing had happened!!!

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

 

[OrthodoxiOS]

Sweet - my button died rapidly over a week. Just checked the above link and:

"The iPhone 5 serial number you entered is eligible for this program. Please follow the instructions below to have your sleep/wake button replaced."

Thanks for the link

No problem!

 

[faresalandlos]

Man you are the best i shall thank you million times

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

 

[sovit]

It worked!

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

'Costino1', you are a savior. I was going crazy to get it fixed now, as i can't move out of office at this moment. Your trick was really good. Appreciate it.

 

[Ryokated]

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

a lot of people were saying this worked for them, but it doesn't work for me. is there a certain way to hold it, or anything? or am i just super unlucky? i don't know, i didn't find any other method, so i guess this is the only one.

 

[Kev52]

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

Thank you so much for this suggestion, I couldn't believe it actually worked. I even made an account just so I could write this lmao.

 

[Costino1]

Thank you so much for this suggestion, I couldn't believe it actually worked. I even made an account just so I could write this lmao.

Ha! Glad it worked. Did for me a few years ago. Had a dead iPhone and i was like crap my button is broke i can't do a hard reset. So i broke my muscles out and smashed it against the desk for a bit and boom...worked.

Glad to help

 

[shaima131]

Ha! Glad it worked. Did for me a few years ago. Had a dead iPhone and i was like crap my button is broke i can't do a hard reset. So i broke my muscles out and smashed it against the desk for a bit and boom...worked.

Glad to help

worked for me too!! thakn you soooooooo much1

 

[Megzzxx]

This happened to me before...

This MIGHT work and it worked for me with a broken power button.

Hold down the 'home' button and simultaneously hold the phone firmly on it's top end with the 'power' button depressed against a hard surface for about 10 seconds.

You might feel like you're about to smash your phone, but you must push it firmly against a hard surface (desk/table/cabinet) and it should work.

This worked for me, thank you so much! I thought I was going to have to buy a new phone...