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

A completely dead iPhone 6s that shows no signs of life can sometimes be revived with systematic troubleshooting. Before assuming hardware failure, work through these steps to rule out simple issues.

Method 1: Charge for an Extended Period

A battery that is fully drained to zero may take a long time to show any charging indicator, especially if it has been dead for days.

Use the original Apple charger and Lightning cable or an MFi-certified alternative.
Plug into a wall outlet (not a computer USB port for initial charge).
Let it charge for at least 2–3 hours without interruption.
After 30 minutes, check for a charging icon or battery symbol. If nothing appears, continue.

Method 2: Try a Different Cable, Charger, and Outlet

Faulty accessories are a common culprit. Some cables or chargers provide insufficient power.

Test with a known-good cable and wall adapter.
Try a different wall outlet and avoid power strips.
If available, use an iPad charger (10W) which provides more power.

Also inspect the iPhone’s Lightning port for debris that might block connection.

Method 3: Force Restart (Hard Reset)

Sometimes the phone appears dead but is actually frozen. A forced restart can kick-start it.

For iPhone 6s and earlier:

Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (power) button simultaneously.
Keep holding for 10–15 seconds until you see the Apple logo appear.
Release the buttons and let the phone boot.

If the logo never appears, proceed.

Method 4: Check for Physical Damage or Swelling

Visible damage may indicate internal failure.

Look for a swollen battery (warped case, screen separation).
Inspect for liquid damage indicators (red dots inside ports).
If swelling is present, stop immediately—do not attempt to charge or power on. Replace the battery or recycle safely.

Method 5: Try DFU Mode Restore via iTunes

If the iPhone is recognized by a computer but won’t turn on, a DFU restore may revive it. This reinstalls iOS from scratch. Warning: This erases all data.

Connect the iPhone to a computer with iTunes (or Finder).
Perform a DFU entry:

Press and hold Home + Sleep/Wake for 10 seconds.
Release the Sleep/Wake but continue holding Home for 10 more seconds.
The screen should remain black, but iTunes should detect a device in recovery mode.

Click Restore and follow prompts.
Wait for iOS to download and install; the phone may reboot automatically.

If the phone still shows no life after this, the battery or logic board likely requires professional repair.

Method 6: Seek Professional Diagnosis

At this point, possible hardware failures include:

Completely discharged or damaged battery
Power management circuit failure
Logic board damage

Take the iPhone to an Apple Store or authorized service provider. For an iPhone 6s, repair costs may exceed the device’s current value; consider upgrading if the phone is old.

A truly dead iPhone is rare; most cases resolve with thorough charging or a DFU restore. Do not give up too quickly.