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

When your iPhone 6s won’t turn on at all, it usually means the battery is deeply drained, the system is frozen, or there’s a hardware problem. Here is how to troubleshoot.

Method 1: Force restart

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both for at least 10 seconds.
3. Release when the Apple logo appears.

Method 2: Charge with a known-good cable

1. Use a certified Lightning cable and a wall adapter (not a low-power computer USB port).
2. Plug in and wait at least 15 to 30 minutes. A deeply drained battery needs time before showing any sign of life.
3. Look for the charging icon. A red battery icon means the phone is charging but critically low.
4. Try a different cable and adapter if nothing appears after 30 minutes.

Method 3: Clean the charging port

1. Inspect the Lightning port for lint, dust, or debris.
2. Gently clean with a wooden or plastic toothpick. Do not use metal.
3. Try charging again after cleaning.

Method 4: Connect to a computer

1. Connect the iPhone 6s to a Mac or PC with iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina+).
2. If the computer recognizes the phone, try a restore or update.
3. If not recognized, try putting it into DFU mode and restoring from there.

If nothing works

• The battery may be completely degraded and unable to hold a charge, especially on older units.
• A battery replacement is often the fix for a phone that won’t power on at all.
• If the phone suffered water damage or a hard drop, take it to a repair center for diagnosis.