How to Fix Samsung Galaxy A5 Black Screen of Death [Troubleshooting Guide]

Your Samsung Galaxy A5 screen is completely black, possibly unresponsive, but you can see the LED indicator flashing or feel the phone vibrate — the device is actually on, it just isn’t displaying anything. This is the black screen of death (BSoD), and it’s one of the more common failure modes on the Galaxy A5 lineup.

This guide covers all three generations of the Galaxy A5: the original A5 (2015, SM-A500), the A5 (2016, SM-A510), and the A5 (2017, SM-A520). The troubleshooting steps are ordered from easiest to most involved — work through them in sequence.

Quick note on device age: The Samsung Galaxy A5 line was discontinued after the 2017 model, and Samsung ended software support for these devices years ago. The fixes below still work on the hardware, but Samsung no longer provides warranty service for these models unless you’re in a region with specific consumer protection laws.

What Causes the Black Screen of Death on Galaxy A5

Before you start, it helps to know whether you’re dealing with a software crash or hardware damage — the fixes are different.

Software causes (fixable at home):

System crash or frozen RAM — the phone is technically on but the display service stopped responding
Third-party app conflict that crashed the launcher or display driver
Corrupted system cache after a failed update
Deep battery drain that locked the OS into a low-power state

Hardware causes (usually needs a technician):

Cracked or failed AMOLED display (common after drops — the Galaxy A5 uses a glass-on-metal unibody that doesn’t absorb shock well)
Disconnected flex cable between the display and the motherboard
Water damage — the A5 (2015) and A5 (2016) have no water resistance; the A5 (2017) has IP68 but seals degrade with age
Dead or swollen battery that can no longer power the display backlight

How to tell the difference: If the phone vibrates on incoming calls, buzzes when you tap the screen, or the LED flashes — the hardware is fine and this is a software issue. If the phone is completely silent and unresponsive even when plugged in, suspect hardware.

Fix 1: Force Restart (Solves ~60% of Cases)

A forced restart drains the residual charge from the phone’s RAM and clears whatever crash state caused the display to stop responding. This is always the first thing to try.

For all Galaxy A5 models (2015, 2016, 2017):

Press and hold the Power button + Volume Down button simultaneously.
Hold both buttons for 10–12 seconds — you’ll feel a vibration and the screen will flash.
Release both buttons when the Samsung logo appears.
Let the phone complete its normal boot sequence.

If the phone boots normally, you’re done. The cause was a temporary system crash.

If nothing happens after 12 seconds: Try the same process with the phone plugged into a charger. Sometimes a critically low battery prevents the restart sequence from triggering.

Fix 2: Charge the Phone for 15 Minutes

A completely drained battery can put the Galaxy A5 into a deep discharge state where the phone appears dead but is actually waiting for enough charge to trigger the boot sequence.

Use the original Samsung charger or a certified USB-C/Micro-USB charger (the A5 2015/2016 uses Micro-USB; the A5 2017 uses USB-C).
Plug the phone into a wall outlet — not a laptop USB port, which may not supply enough current.
Wait 15 minutes without touching the phone.
After 15 minutes, check for the charging LED (red = charging, green = full on most A5 models) or a charging icon on screen.
After the 15-minute wait, try Force Restart again (Power + Volume Down for 10 seconds).

If the phone gets warm or hot while charging: Disconnect it immediately. Heat during charging can indicate a swollen battery or short circuit — both require professional attention.

Fix 3: Check for Liquid Damage

The Galaxy A5 (2015) and A5 (2016) have no water resistance. The A5 (2017) is rated IP68, but that rating applies to new seals — after years of use, the adhesive gaskets degrade and the phone is no longer reliably water-resistant.

Remove the SIM card tray.
Look for the Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI) — a small white sticker inside the SIM card slot. If it has turned pink, red, or purple, liquid has reached the internals.
Check the charging port for moisture or corrosion (greenish residue around the metal contacts).
Check the headphone jack (on models that have one) for similar corrosion.

If liquid damage is confirmed, power off the device immediately and do not attempt to charge it. Bring it to a repair shop — charging a water-damaged phone can cause permanent damage.

Fix 4: Boot into Safe Mode

Safe mode temporarily disables all third-party apps, which can reveal if a downloaded app is causing the display crash. If the phone boots in safe mode with a working screen, a third-party app is the culprit.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2015, 2016):

Power off the device completely.
Press and hold the Power button.
When the Samsung logo appears, release the Power button and immediately press and hold the Volume Down button.
Continue holding Volume Down until the phone finishes booting.
“Safe mode” will appear in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017):

Power off the device.
Press and hold the Power button until the Samsung logo appears.
Release the Power button, then immediately press and hold Volume Down.
Keep holding until boot completes. “Safe mode” appears in the bottom-left corner.

If the screen works in Safe Mode: A third-party app is causing the crash. Go to Settings → Apps, tap the three-dot menu → Sort by last used, and uninstall the most recently installed or updated apps one at a time until the issue stops.

Fix 5: Wipe Cache Partition via Recovery Mode

System caches can become corrupted after software updates, causing the display service to crash on boot. Wiping the cache partition clears these files without deleting your personal data.

For all Galaxy A5 models:

Power off the device completely.
Press and hold Volume Up + Home button + Power button simultaneously.
When the Samsung logo appears, release all three buttons.
Use the Volume Down button to navigate to “wipe cache partition”.
Press the Power button to select it.
When the wipe completes, navigate to “reboot system now” and press Power.

Note for A5 (2015) owners: A small number of SM-A500 units use Volume Up + Power (no Home button) to enter recovery. If the three-button combo doesn’t work, try this two-button variant.

After the cache wipe, the phone will take slightly longer to boot for the first time as it rebuilds the cache. This is normal.

Fix 6: Factory Reset via Recovery Mode (Last Resort)

A factory reset erases all data on the phone and restores it to its original state. Only do this if all previous steps have failed and you’re certain the issue is software-related.

Before resetting: If you can get the screen to turn on briefly — even for a few seconds — back up your contacts, photos, and important files to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive.

Power off the device.
Press and hold Volume Up + Home button + Power button simultaneously.
When the Samsung logo appears, release all three buttons.
Navigate with Volume Down to “wipe data/factory reset”.
Press Power to select.
Navigate to “Yes — delete all user data” and press Power to confirm.
After the reset completes, select “reboot system now”.

The phone will restart to the initial setup screen. If the screen works at this point, the problem was a software or firmware corruption.

Hardware Diagnosis: When Software Fixes Won’t Help

If none of the software fixes above have resolved the black screen, the issue is hardware. Here’s how to narrow down which component has failed:

Symptom	Likely Cause
Screen backlight glows dimly but no image	AMOLED panel failure
Phone vibrates and LED flashes but screen stays black	Display flex cable disconnected
Screen works briefly then goes black	Battery failing (voltage drop under load)
Phone completely unresponsive even on charger	Motherboard or charging IC failure
Screen works in recovery but not in Android	Software/firmware issue — do factory reset

Display flex cable: If you dropped the phone before the black screen appeared, the impact may have dislodged the flex cable connecting the display to the motherboard. This is a common repair on the Galaxy A5 unibody design — a technician can reseat it in 20–30 minutes.

Battery replacement: The Galaxy A5 uses a non-removable battery. If the phone is 5+ years old and shows symptoms of battery failure (overheating, sudden shutdowns before the black screen, rapid drain), battery replacement is the most cost-effective hardware fix. iFixit rates the Galaxy A5 as moderately difficult to repair, requiring heat tools to open the back panel.

Repair and Replacement Options in 2026

Samsung no longer provides warranty service for the Galaxy A5 line. Your options for hardware repair are:

Third-party repair shops can typically fix a broken display or replace the battery on the Galaxy A5 for $40–$100 depending on your location. Replacement AMOLED screens for the A5 (2017) are still available through parts suppliers.

Samsung Authorized Service Centers in some countries will still service out-of-warranty Galaxy A5 units for a fee. Find a location at samsung.com/us/support/service.

DIY repair: iFixit has complete teardown guides for all Galaxy A5 generations. Screen replacement kits are available for $15–$30. The process requires heat guns, suction cups, and spudgers — intermediate skill level.

When to consider replacing: If the repair cost exceeds $60–$70, a budget replacement makes more practical sense. The Samsung Galaxy A15 and A25 (both available new under $200 as of 2026) offer significantly better performance, cameras, and years of continued software support.

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