How To Fix iPhone 13 Black Screen But Phone Is On (2026)
If your iPhone 13 screen is black but the phone still vibrates, rings or shows signs of life, you are not necessarily looking at a dead display.
In many cases a short sequence of checks brings it back without losing data.
This guide walks through those checks in order, from the harmless ones to the ones that erase the phone, and says when it is time to book a repair.
Quick answer: what to try first
| What you notice | Try this first | Erases data? |
|---|---|---|
| Phone buzzes or speaks, screen black | Turn off Screen Curtain (three-finger triple tap) | No |
| No response at all | Charge for one hour, then force restart | No |
| Force restart does nothing | Recovery mode, then Update | No |
| Update fails | Recovery mode, then Restore | Yes |
| Nothing works | Request service from Apple | Depends on repair |
Why does an iPhone 13 go black while it is still on?
The cause is either software, where the display stops drawing while iOS keeps running, or hardware, where the screen or its connection has failed.
The steps below start with the software side because those fixes cost nothing and keep your data.
Step 1: Check whether Screen Curtain is on
Screen Curtain is a VoiceOver feature that deliberately blacks out the display while the phone keeps working and speaking.
- Wake the iPhone by pressing the side button.
- Quickly tap the screen three times with three fingers.
- If Zoom is also running with VoiceOver, tap four times with three fingers instead.
If the picture returns, Screen Curtain was the cause.
Apple’s guide for this feature is the Screen Curtain support article.
Step 2: Charge the iPhone for an hour
A deeply drained battery can leave a phone looking dead or only partly alive.
- Plug the iPhone into a working charger and cable.
- Leave it for one hour.
- Then try the force restart in the next step.
If a low-battery icon shows up, Apple suggests running its hardware check first and then charging for 30 minutes or until the phone starts.
Step 3: Force restart the iPhone 13
A force restart does not erase anything and clears many display freezes.
- Press and quickly release Volume Up.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
How do I force restart other iPhone models?
If you are helping with a different phone, the button combination changes with the model.
| iPhone model | Force restart buttons | Hold time |
|---|---|---|
| Models with Face ID, including iPhone 13 | Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold side button | Until Apple logo appears |
| iPhone 7 and 7 Plus | Hold side button and Volume Down together | Until Apple logo appears |
| iPhone 6s and earlier | Hold Home button and side or top button together | About 10 seconds |
Step 4: Connect the iPhone to a computer
Plug the phone into a Mac or a Windows PC with a USB cable.
- Mac: open Finder and look for the iPhone in the sidebar.
- Windows PC: open the Apple Devices app.
If the computer sees the phone, iOS is running and the display is the likely problem.
Back up from the computer now if it lets you, because the next steps can wipe the phone.
Our guide to accessing photos from a broken iPhone covers the data side.
Step 5: Use recovery mode and choose Update
Apple’s recovery-mode steps for iPhone 8 and later work on the iPhone 13.
- Update your Mac, or install the latest Apple Devices app on a PC.
- Connect the iPhone and open Finder or Apple Devices.
- Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down.
- Hold the side button until the Connect to computer screen appears.
- Choose Update, not Restore.
Update reinstalls iOS and tries to keep your data.
If the download takes more than 15 minutes, the phone can drop out of recovery mode, so let the download finish and repeat the button steps.
Step 6: Restore only if Update fails
Restore reinstalls iOS and erases everything on the iPhone.
Use it only after an Update attempt has failed and you have a backup or accept losing the data.
| Option | Where you choose it | Keeps your data? |
|---|---|---|
| Update | Finder or Apple Devices in recovery mode | Tries to |
| Restore | Finder or Apple Devices in recovery mode | No |
| Revive (Apple Configurator) | Mac with Apple Configurator | Yes, per Apple |
What about DFU mode?
DFU mode is a deeper state where iOS does not load and the data stays encrypted.
Apple’s platform guide says to try reviving, which keeps data, before restoring, which erases it.
Apple’s pages I checked give no iPhone DFU button sequence, so use Apple’s own recovery article rather than a forum recipe.
Signs that the display hardware has failed
Repair providers commonly point to the same warning signs.
- The phone was dropped or got wet before the screen went black.
- The screen flickers but will not stay on.
- Recovery mode or a restore fails.
- The computer sees the phone but the screen never lights.
Apple also says that if buttons do not respond and you cannot reach recovery mode, the phone might need service.
How do I get the iPhone 13 repaired?
Apple’s guidance for a phone that still will not start is to request service at getsupport.apple.com.
Repair cost depends on your coverage and the damage, so ask for a quote before agreeing to any work.
Compare that quote with what the phone is worth before you decide.
Related iPhone 13 guides
If the phone gets past the black screen but hangs on the logo, read how to fix an iPhone 13 stuck on the Apple logo.
For the exact button steps on other models, see Apple’s iPhone won’t turn on and recovery mode articles.