How to revive a dead iPhone 6 that will not turn on

When your iPhone 6 won’t turn on at all, it can feel like the phone is completely dead. In most cases the problem is a deeply drained battery, a frozen system, or a hardware issue. Here is how to work through the fixes.

Method 1: Force restart

A force restart can break a frozen state even when the screen is completely black.

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (power) button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both buttons for at least 10 seconds.
3. Release when you see the Apple logo.
4. If the logo appears, wait for the phone to boot normally.

Method 2: Charge with a known-good cable

A deeply drained battery can take several minutes before the phone shows any sign of life.

1. Use a certified Lightning cable and a wall adapter (not a computer USB port).
2. Plug in the phone and wait at least 15 to 30 minutes before trying to turn it on.
3. Look for the charging icon on screen. If you see a red battery icon, the phone is charging but critically low.
4. Try a different cable and adapter if nothing appears after 30 minutes.

Method 3: Check the charging port

1. Inspect the Lightning port for lint, dust, or debris.
2. Use a wooden or plastic toothpick to gently clean out any buildup. Do not use metal.
3. Try charging again after cleaning.

Method 4: Connect to iTunes or Finder

If the phone still won’t respond, try connecting it to a computer.

1. Connect the iPhone 6 to a Mac or PC with iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
2. If the computer recognizes the phone, try a restore or update through iTunes/Finder.
3. If it’s not recognized, try putting the phone into DFU mode: hold Home + Sleep/Wake for 10 seconds, then release Sleep/Wake while continuing to hold Home until iTunes detects a device in recovery mode.

If nothing works

• The battery may be completely dead and unable to hold a charge. iPhone 6 batteries degrade significantly after several years.
• A battery replacement at an Apple Store or authorized repair shop is often the fix for an iPhone 6 that won’t power on at all.
• If the phone suffered water damage or a hard drop, internal components may need professional diagnosis.